Spring Topiaries

After setting out my decorations, I decided my Easter mantle was looking rather bare. It just needed a few things to fill it out and as we're in the mist of decluttering and reorganizing in preparation for the baby, I wasn't in the mood to go buy anything else.

While cleaning out my craft closet, I found two bunches of silk flowers bought on off season clearance. When I'd purchased them I'd had another project in mind, but upon rediscovering them I knew they were just the thing to finish up the long planned for project from Lolly Chops.

Mine is rather loosely based on hers, in that the only thing remaining is I also stuck flowers into a foam ball. But I'm still giving her credit for it, as had I not seen it way back when, I wouldn't have thought to do it at all nor bought the pot, foam ball, and foam chunk that have been sitting in my closet for two years

I have the felt, flower die cut, and metal brads too but to save time I just pulled off the flowers and leaving the centers intact, stuck them into the ball. Most have stayed without anything else, you just have to make sure you really give 'em a good shove into the foam. A few fell out, a little dab of hot glue in the hole before pushing them in again has taken care of that!

My "stem" is made out of five candy sucker sticks, leftover from my failed attempts to make Bakerella's cake pops, and secured with hot glue in both the foam ball and chunk. I added a few clear pebbles to the bottom of the dollar spot bucket I put it all in. This helps it from being too top heavy and toppling over. A little Easter grass and ribbon finish off the topiary that I plan to keep out all spring long. The second topiary I made was even easier. Using another chunk of foam and the pot I'd originally bought for the Lolly Chops project I just stuck in one of the little moss bunnies from Pier 1 that are all the rage across bloggerland. I still have two bunnies left to make the additional decorations I saw on Jenny's blog Our Nifty Notebook.

Shared at: Strictly Homemade's very first Strictly Homemade Tuesday - there's even a giveaway to celebrate so hurry over to link up and enter!!!  Also sharing at Flamingo Toes and my own weekly linky party A Crafty Soiree - have you joined us lately? C'mon we'd love to have you!