I’m going to show you how to make topiary trees the super easy and affordable way today. You won’t need many supplies or time for this project either!
9 Winter DIY Projects
Today I am joining 9 of my blogging friends to bring you some fresh ideas for your winter decorating. If you are visiting here from Anne and Ann Marie of SImply2Moms aren’t they great…imagine living across the street and working with your bestie!!!
If this is your first time visiting Cottage On Bunker Hill…welcome, I’m Jennifer and I love to DIY and decorate! You can see all my projects here.
Let’s Make Topiaries
OK, OK… I know it’s January but I miss my garden and need to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside to brighten my mood!! To be honest, I become a plant hoarder in January…oh I’m not kidding…I’ve never met a plant I haven’t wanted to put in my carriage!! I just feel better when I have plants and flowers around me during this long stretch of winter.
So for a fun project, I wanted to make some topiaries to spruce things up around here. I wanted them to be easy and affordable to make…let’s see if I can do it!
This post may include affiliate links; you can read my disclosure policy here.
Supplies for making topiaries
- Small Terra Cotta Pots
- Spackling Compound/ Paint
- Greenery and Floral Picks
- Sticks
- Floral Foam Block
- Floral Tape & Floral Wire
step 1. preparing the terra cotta pots
I had a few terra cotta pots in my stash already but they are readily available at craft stores year-round.
I wanted the pots to have the look of old pottery. The trick I am using is to spread the spackling compound onto the terra cotta pots. I purposely didn’t cover every part of the pot with the spackle.
This step is optional, you could skip this and just move on to the painting…it will still come out looking great!
The spackling compound goes on pink and dries white.
Once the spackle was dry it was time to paint the pots. For my pots, I chose off-white chalk paint.
Once the paint was completely dried, I lightly brushed a dark antiquing wax (Waverly Antique Wax) lightly over the pots. The dark wax helped to highlight the texture that I created with the spackle.
Then I popped a piece of floral foam into each of the pots. (cut off from a large floral foam block)
adding the greenery
For each topiary base, I am using 2 thin sticks from my yard. I cut the sticks down to about 1 foot each. Using small pieces of floral wire, I twisted the wire at the top and bottom of the sticks to secure them together.
Now to make the topiary part. For this topiary I’m using 4 greenery picks from Hobby Lobby ($1.99)
Now, I held 1 pick at a time to the top of the sticks and wrapped the brown floral tape around the picks to secure them to the sticks.
Once I had the first one secured I added the next one and continued wrapping the floral tape around the sticks.
You want to make sure the green floral picks are covered with the brown tape completely…no green peaking out.
Then I just popped the sticks into the center of the floral block in the pot and pushed it through to the bottom.
To cover the floral foam, I added green moss ( I also pushed some of the moss down into the spaces around the foam).
Once I had the pot filled with green moss, I added a small bunch of Spanish moss around the base of the sticks.
making a lavender topiary
For a second topiary, I wanted to make a lavender one. I followed all the same steps as the one I made using the greenery picks but this time I’m using 4 lavender picks (also from Hobby Lobby)
After I had the topiary together, I shaped the lavender picks to mimic real lavender topiaries.
I bent the picks into almost an L shape.
For the greenery topiary, I bent some of the stems downward
And here’s the finished topiaries! Didn’t they come out pretty?? So for under $20 I made 2 unique topiaries that I can use year-round in my home.
I had another small pot that I used to make a short topiary. This time I popped a herb stem right into the floral foam to make it look like a plant.
It’s always better visually to have an odd number of items placed together when you are decorating.
Next up on our WInter DIY Project hop is my friend Jennifer from Midwest Life & Style. She is going to show you how to make beautiful winter hurricane candle holders.
Then be sure to check out all the projects today!
Winter DIY Home Decor Blog Hop
Cottage On Bunker Hill | Midwest Life And Style | Open Doors Open Hearts
Vintage Home Designs | Loving Grace Home | Amy Sadler Designs
Jennifer Howard
cottage on bunker hill
Thanks for stopping by today! Being able to share my projects, DIYs, and decorating ideas with you is amazing. Leave a comment below; I love hearing from you! Feel free to drop me a note here if you have any questions.
get to know me
here are a few fun facts…
- I’ve lived in New England my entire life! This is good because the beach is my favorite place to be…even in the winter I love to go breathe in the salt air.
- I am an EARLY BIRD!!! I rarely sleep past 4…it’s my favorite time of day and those wee hours are my most productive. (plus, I LOVE coffee!!)
- I am a total Hallmark Christmas movie nut!! Seriously, I know, I know, they are a little sappy but they make me happy!
These are so pretty and perfect for this time of year when we need a little greenery in our homes! Thank you so much for sharing at Tuesday Turn About! Wishing you a wonderful weekend! xo
Yes, between these topiaries and my houseplant addiction it’s pretty green around here!!
These topiaries look SO good!!! I love the spackle technique you used on the pots! It’s one of my favorite things to make!
Thanks friend!!
I love both of these, but especially the lavender. You always make things look so easy! Nice job, friend!
Chuck is really behind the scenes doing it all….LOL…LOL
Jennifer these turned out darling! I love the variety and I miss my garden too! Beautiful as always my friend!
Well, it will be fun seeing what you do at the new house this year!
These are very pretty. I’ll be starting spring crafts in 2 weeks.
I have a laundry list
Me too Cindy!! Thanks for stopping by!
These are precious! I never would’ve thought of this so thank you for sharing!
You would have…you have a crazy creative brain!!
These are beautiful! I love how you aged the pots. The texture they have is awesome!
Thanks Emma!! I’m still swooning over your photography style…it’s memorable!
Oh, I love topiaries and these are perfect for brightening winter. Love the spackling technique!
Thanks Leslie!! I need a little brightening up here right about now!
These topiaries are so pretty Jennifer. Love the pots too! I’m definitely going to use that method to transform terracotta pots. Thanks for sharing! Pinned!!
Thanks! Yes, super easy…and cheap way to get vintage-looking pottery.
Jennifer, your topiaries turned out so pretty! I love the lavender one. Such a breath of fresh air during the dreary winter months. Hope you are staying warm and cozy, friend!
I’m like a groundhog right now…everyone will see me in March!!
Love the topiary DIY! It’s beautiful Jennifer!
Thanks Stacy!
Jennifer,
These are so cute. I love topiaries.
Thanks Rachel! I needed to brighten up my kitchen a little bit.
These are so cute Jennifer! Love the pots!
Thanks Michele!!
Hi Jennifer. Love the topiaries and you have inspired me to do this. I have several evergreens and also my lavender is looking great even in January. I’m going to go forth and do this with living plants. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Love your blog. .
OOh, yes definitely do it and send me a picture! I can’t wait for fresh lavender in the garden.
Jennifer! I’m with you. I need a little bit of life in my house to get me through until March/April when I can get back outside into the garden. PS last night Justin and I were talking about LAVENDER!! We’re gonna try to add a bunch of it to our garden this year ❤
Yes, grow it!! I had a big pot by my play area and the little kids would all rub it on their hands and sniff before their parents came…calmed them down a little!!