DIY Mantel Topiaries

Topiaries and tv too!

As you can see the tv has finally been installed but it was looking very lonely all by itself above the fireplace so I made some topiaries. Below is how I made the topiaries, of course there are lots of tutorials on how to construct these all over the Internet but here’s my version.

Supplies:
– (2) styrofoam balls
– (2) sticks
– (2) clay pots
– (1) garland length of boxwood faux greens (Michael’s – don’t forget your coupon Mom!)
– cement mix of some sort
– plastic container to hold stick and cement
– styrofoam or floral foam to keep plastic container in place in clay pot
– spanish moss or other covering
– raffia or other ribbon

First I pulled all the boxwood stems off the garland and divided my pile in two in order to make two topiaries.

Then I just started poking the stems into the styrofoam ball with some spacing between each stem. I left a bare spot on the bottom side of the ball because I ran out of stems and it won’t be seen.

Next to prepare the sticks I simply put them in the plastic drink containers and poured cement in. I did put some small rocks in too for added weight. And for some reason the cement I had took forever to dry.

All pieces ready for assembly:

Then I placed the plastic containers in the center of the clay pots (which I did put felt on the bottom of the pot so as not to scratch any surface). I stuffed some styrofoam pieces all around for a snug fit.

Then I made a hole in the greenery covered styrofoam ball and pushed in onto the stick with some hot glue. Next I covered the styrofoam pieces in the pot with spanish moss and tied on some raffia.

This was really a ‘make with what I had’ project so it’s not perfect but it definitely livens up the lonely tv.