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Mrs. Green Tea, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 30, Tea Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee Critic Engagement Date: November 17, 2006 Wedding Date: August 23, 2008 Blogging Since: June 10, 2008 Venue: Vineyard on the Delta About Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
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DIY Topiary

June 24th, 2008 @ 4:41 pm by Mrs. Green Tea

Topiaries are very classic pieces, and they are not as intimidating to DIY as they look! Here are pics (courtesy of my brilliant brother) of one that I made using leftover scrap flowers from a wedding:

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(Click on image to enlarge)

As promised, here are instructions to a very basic topiary:

Materials

1. Pot (here I’m using a 6″ terra cotta)
2. Plastic grocery bag
3. Disposable chopstick or sturdy and relatively straight tree branch
4. Plaster (available at your local hardware store)
5. Disposable container, stir stick, gloves, and water for mixing plaster
6. Wet floral foam
7. Floral moss
8. Floral Tape
9. Ribbon, wire, pins

1. Get your pot

2. Line pot with a plastic bag

3. Mix plaster per instructions on box

4. Pour plaster in lined pot leaving a 1.5″ to 2″ space from the rim (see brother GT hard at work here in my hot garage)

5. Place chopstick or branch in the middle, make sure it’s straight (approx. 1″ in plaster).
I also painted the chopstick brown so it’d blend in better.

6. Let plaster dry (per instructions on box, I leave it overnight to be safe)

7. Trim grocery bag

8. Cut floral foam to fit the pot to the brim

9. Water the foam thoroughly

10. Cover foam with moss

11. Peel back moss in the middle to give room for arrangement

12. Cut flowers to desired height and stick each stem in foam surrounding the stick

13. Tape together the stems at desired height with floral tape (make sure you’re taping where the stick still reaches for max support)

14. If you want, you can make a floral bow to add to the arrangement.

15. Cover floral tape with ribbon and pin the ends

 16. Arrange more flowers on the bottom and add bow as desired

Viola! (and keep the foam wet to maximize the life of the arrangement!)

9 Responses to “DIY Topiary”

1.
GorgesViola says:

AMAZING!!!!! I am totally going to use this for our chuppah supports. Thanks so much, Miss GT!

2.
vicky says:

OMG!!! your family might as well be the new Martha Stewart of the world. =O Everything you guys do is absolutly incredible. I was just in shock. It’s just so unbelievable that you guys just know how to do those things. And you share all the detailed step by step instructions of all the creations you do.

3.
rzblna says:

Neat!

4.
no thanks says:

and THIS is why I like you Miss GT. We don’t have to pull the information out of you. You give us every detail!

5.
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Miss Pomegranate says:

Miss GT - this turned out fantastic! I’m sure this will be very helpful to the readers. Yay - you’re so awesomely crafty!

6.
AliCherri1 says:

Thank you!

7.
Christine says:

Thanks! I love it!!! I’m going to save this post to use for my wedding next year.

8.
MissyJenn says:

OMGosh! That is so brilliant!

9.
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Miss Margarita says:

wow these came out great. you are amazing with all your diy skills!


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Mrs. Green Tea Mrs. Green Tea, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 30, Tea Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee Critic Engagement Date: November 17, 2006 Wedding Date: August 23, 2008 Blogging Since: June 10, 2008 Venue: Vineyard on the Delta About Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!