Topiary Tutorial - Darice and Core'dinations

Hello everyone!  Ah, summertime!  I so adore being out of school...long lazy days and beautiful weather.  I think a trip to the beach is in order.  But before I go, how about I share with you this topiary I made for Darice with Core'dinations paper and a few basic craft supplies.

Spring DIY topiary supplies:

• Core'dinations Signature Series Graphic 45 paper pack
• Flower Shoppe Cricut cartridge 
• 3 1/2 inch Styrofoam ball
• Dowel rod
• White flower pot
• Styrofoam disk
• Lavender satin ribbon
• Preserved moss
• Sand It gadget
• Hot glue

Step 1: The first step is the most fun – creating the flowers.  I chose three beautiful colors of Core’dinations cardstock for my paper flowers. Then, I used my Cricut electronic cutting machine and the Flower Shoppe cartridge to create a ton of flower die cuts.  I cut each of the spiral flowers to 2.5 inches.  I was able to get 16 flowers per sheet of cardstock.

Step 2: Assemble the flower die cuts.  Each assembled flower should measure approximately 1 1/4 inches across.  You don’t want to roll them too tightly.

Step 3: I sanded each flower to expose the lighter core of the paper as well as open up the flower.  You can see the difference below.

Step 4: When you complete the sanding process, begin gluing the flowers to the Styrofoam ball in a random pattern.

Step 5: If you would like to make a double DIY topiary like mine, cut the dowel rod into multiple pieces. The lower rod should be 12 inches and the top rod 3 inches.  Stick one dowel rod into each of the flower balls and then the shorter lollipop into the longer. Place the Styrofoam disk into the flower pot and then the lollipop flower through that.

Step 6: Add some moss to the top of the pot to hide the disk.

Step 7: Add a pretty satin bow to the base of the DIY topiary flower ball.

 I hope you give this spring DIY topiary a try.