What can you do in a topiary pot? DIY decorative trees: ideas and master classes

At first, topiary simply meant a garden in which decorative trees were trimmed short with adjacent garden sculptures. In the current understanding, topiary means an original small tree. If you want to quickly get a small tree perfect shape, you can do it yourself.

At least four elements are needed for this craft. Such a small list is just a base, without which a sort of flower globe on a stem will not work.

Required items:

Pot/stand;
Trunk;
The basis;
Crown.

The main craft is usually a ball. Man has an inherent desire to comprehend perfection, and strict geometry sometimes brings him closer to this. But in the photo you can see other forms of topiary, for example, a heart.

Today, a foam blank is used as a base. In order not to make the ball himself, the master buys several at once in craft stores, and this, of course, simplifies the work.

For the trunk, thick wire is usually taken, it needs to be wrapped with twine (twine is used most often), or with decorative braid or ribbon.

Flower ball for topiary (video)

Making your own topiary: the basics step by step

The most interesting stage of work, where great opportunities open up, is the manufacture of the crown. Paper is often used, from corrugated paper to multi-layer napkins. Creating such a crown requires care.

Fabric crafts are also interesting; in the photo you can see all the nuances of this work. The now popular felt is widely used in the creation of topiary; cotton and satin ribbons are also used.

The fabric crown will be complemented by beads, seed beads, and buttons. What is the crown not made from? most interesting works can be made from pistachios. European wood (as these products are also called) turn out to be very natural. True, you will need a lot of pistachios, unless you are planning to make a mini-tree.

In addition to pistachios, coffee beans are actively used. This technique is in such demand because it can kill two birds with one stone. The bonsai tree will not only be beautiful, it is important that it also emits a special aroma.

DIY thread topiary

A separate story is topiary made of different thicknesses of threads. Usually the threads serve as the basis for the future crown. To make such a tree, you need to wrap it with threads balloon, moreover, it is important that the threads sit on the glue. The balloon is then deflated (just poke a pin through it) and you are left with a round, porous figure of thread. Such a thread globe. Just wait until the glue dries!

Other threads can be used to decorate the trunk of a tree. You should not use the same threads from which the globe is made. The structure of such thread structures is used not only in the creation of topiary. This is often how a lamp is made - quickly and easily.

DIY topiary base (video)

Topiary made from coffee beans: fragrant decor

Coffee beans themselves are an excellent decorative material. In their color and texture, they are not inferior to the decor made of glass beads, beads, and even the incredible aroma is associated with the benefits of coffee.

There is also this one fashionable look coffee topiary made from coffee like a coffee gentleman. This tree has handles, a butterfly or a whole tailcoat, and a cylinder on the head-crown.

Coffee topiary is characterized by:

Selection of grains - large and beautiful ones go to the upper layer of the crown, and small and chopped ones to the lower layer;
Instead of a pot or vase, you can use a beautiful coffee cup;
Chocolate candies can complement this topiary.

The grains can be spray painted or varnished.

Coffee tree (photo master class)

The main stage of making the base for the crown is already known to you. The crown may not necessarily be in the shape of a ball. If a “heart” topiary is planned, the base is made using a cardboard template covered with crumpled paper or cotton wool.

Napkin topiary: delicate flowers

Modern paper napkins are more of a decorative product than a household one. The structure of the napkin and the pattern inspire craftsmen to widely use these same napkins. Including in the manufacture of topiary.

How can you use napkins in this case:

Make flowers, buds, roses from fragments of a napkin, and then create compositions from them;
Cover the smooth base ball for the crown with the top layer of a napkin (decoupage principle), cover with a layer of varnish;
Creating numerous miniature lumps from a napkin and pasting these lumps over the base ball to form a textured crown.

Napkins - good material and to decorate a tree trunk or pot. And here you will need to use decoupage techniques. New Year's topiaries made from napkins and textured Christmas trees are especially elegant.

DIY topiary made from napkins (video)

Topiary made of pine cones: New Year's decoration or memories of autumn

This topiary will be great winter decoration, and pine cones are somehow related to autumn decor. Most often, the cones themselves are subjected to decorative processing. So, for topiary they are often painted with golden spray paint (or silver). And with the help of a simple bleach, ordinary buds can be turned into snow-white without any coloring.

Pine cone topiary is most often a tree with a round crown covered with cones. Sometimes the crown can be heart-shaped. New Year's topiary can be made in the form of a snowflake from cones. In this case, it is advisable to cover the snowflake with artificial snow. This can be ordinary coarse sea salt fixed with PVA glue.

As an autumn craft, this topiary also includes chestnuts, acorns, nuts and leaves.

Cone decor: tree of happiness (photo master class)

Let's take a closer look at the process of making a tree of happiness from cones in autumn theme. The base will be used foam ball, which can be replaced with a homemade ball made of any material.

Product made from satin ribbons: DIY tree of happiness

Satin ribbons are an inexpensive and accessible material that can be used on different stages making topiary. Most often, ribbons are used as additional decor. They are tied around pots, trunks, and bows made of satin ribbons complement the crown.

But this type of topiary is also popular, as a souvenir tree with flowers made of satin ribbons.

The principle of creating such a tree is simple:

A bud is formed from satin ribbons of different colors, the components of which are sewn together with hidden seams;
The required number of flower buds is made, which are fixed with hot glue on the base ball;
The trunk of the tree is tied satin ribbon or a combination thereof;
The pot can also be tied with a thin ribbon.

The video master class will show the process of making a tree from ribbons in more detail.

Topiary made of satin ribbons (video MK)

Autumn topiary: memories of the golden age

An autumn tree or a souvenir topiary decorates the house like nothing else, if you want to bring accents of the lyrics of autumn into it. Most often, natural materials are used, which can be found literally under your feet.

Cones, chestnuts, acorns, dried flowers, berries, rowan and, of course, leaves are actively used.

This type of topiary is popular as a tree with a crown of roses made from leaves. To prevent the leaves from wilting, they can be soaked in a glycerin solution. True, this process is not so simple, if only because for two to three weeks glycerin will be absorbed into the leaf through a slightly cut twig. And then the leaves will dry for another three weeks.

DIY topiary “School tree” (video)

Sea topiary: souvenir made from shells

Topiary can be made as follows:

Cover the crown with beautiful shells, decorating such a ball in one place with a decorative starfish;
Wrap the trunk with a satin blue or turquoise ribbon;
The pot can be a souvenir mug bought just on vacation, and if there is some kind of symbolic inscription on it, even better;
You can throw smooth pebbles or sea sand into the pot.

Instead of a round crown, there may be a heart-shaped crown. And this, in turn, could be a photo frame where a canvas of shells frames a photograph from a seaside holiday.

Topiary in a marine style (photo master class)

MK with step by step photos will show you how to make a shell topiary in detail.

Topiary made of corrugated paper

Corrugated paper is cheap, and the number of handicraft items where it can be used is huge. Making topiaries also could not do without the use of corrugated paper (or crepe paper).

Having made the required number of flowers from corrugated paper, they are glued to the base ball with a hot-melt gun, forming a flower crown.

Corrugated paper has the most wonderful property - it is flexible and stretches well, making the petals incredibly lifelike.

Master class: corrugated paper topiary (video)

Topiary “Money Tree”: how to attract financial well-being

The topiary itself is often called the money tree, although it was originally considered the tree of happiness. But you can also turn such a lucky souvenir into a money symbol - for this you use either coins or banknotes (souvenir, finite).

Coins can become beautiful decor crowns You just need to take ten-ruble coins that appear to be gold. They do not need to be additionally decorated, varnished or undergo other procedures. Coins are glued on according to the principle of scales, first one coin, then two more on top of it, so that the first one is in the middle. And around these three coins others are stuck.

The money tree of their bills also looks great, but the bills need to be presented gracefully. Buds, rolls, “birds”, etc. are formed from them. This money tree is an excellent gift option for a young family that has yet to build their family budget.

Money tree: topiary made from coins (photo master class step by step)

New Year's topiary: decorate the house for the holiday

New Year's souvenir trees are special topiaries that can be made from the most different materials. Most often, topiaries are made in the form of a Christmas tree, that is, the usual round crown is replaced by the shape of a Christmas tree.

Cones are used as materials for New Year's topiary:

Cones– both in natural form and decorated;
Tulle or organza, from which you can make so-called pounds;
Felt- in itself, in its texture, which is an excellent decor;
Sequins, from which “Christmas tree scales” can be created;
Textile;
Christmas tinsel and sweets;
Chocolate candies and beautiful wrappers.

New Year's topiary is a special decor. The use of rhinestones, beads, bugles, buttons, braid and satin ribbons is welcome. As a pot, you can use cups that are decorated with cotton wool, napkins on New Year theme, tinsel, etc..

Master class: New Year's tree of happiness (video)

Other options: what topiary can be made from

Almost anything can make a great decorative base for topiary. You can combine materials, create eclectic trees, etc.

Examples of topiary:

Topiary made of buttons. Buttons different sizes and flowers can become a crown for a tree. They are easy to glue, easy to work with, and assembling the buttons is not at all difficult.
Paper rose topiary. Paper roses from old sheet music (many people have collections lying around on the mezzanine) look very beautiful - this is vintage, which is so relevant now.
Pistachio topiary. Pistachio shell, both decorated and natural, can decorate the crown of a tree.
Pasta topiary. Pasta is an excellent material for decoration. They are easy to paint, varnish, and glue together. All that remains is to choose the pasta of the desired shape.

Sometimes not the most ordinary materials complement traditional topiary.

Unusual topiary design

European trees serve as excellent home decorations. For the kitchen, the living room, and other rooms, such trees will serve as natural decor. And e If the material from which the topiary is made is difficult to surprise anyone today (although it is possible), then it is definitely possible to impress with the form.

Topiary Ideas:

Rowan bonsai. Autumn craft, elegant, natural, simple to perform. Rowan has a beautiful texture and color that can always be complemented with other autumn vegetation. To build such beauty yourself, watch the video master class. A red rowan tree is an ideal autumn interior gift.
Heart. Topiaries made from burlap and beads in the shape of a heart look great. Often such topiaries are used as an accessory for themed photo shoots.
Bonsai made of lush fabric. And this tree will become the decor for such celebrations as weddings. You can build many mini topiaries, the creation of which does not take much time.
Tree-lamp. A cozy decoration for the home - a cute option for both the kitchen and the bedroom.
Topiary for birthday. WITHToday, topiaries are popular not with a crown ball, but with numbers indicating the number of years they have turned. You will get two trunk-stems, on each of which a number “sits”. For example - 30. This could be the same topiary made from coffee beans, with crowns with numbers. Well, the pot in which such an unusual tree grows is decorated in an appropriate way for the birthday.
Poppy flower made of coffee and burlap. A beautiful topiary is made from coffee beans and fabric, which together can make up a poppy flower, where the grains are the core and the fabric is the petals. You can use crepe paper instead of fabric.

You can create a real mini-garden from such trees at home with your own hands. You can take pictures from the Internet, video instructions, and kitchen decor catalogs as a basis.

Express topiary: master class for beginners (video)

DIY topiary (photo)

Making a real tree of happiness with your own hands is the dream of every child, but what about a child, and an adult is not averse to mastering this task. And all handmade artists have this opportunity. Topiary made from artificial flowers is like a tree of happiness, which can be created from simple materials, at random or to fulfill a wish.

Look at examples of trees in the gallery of photos and videos, master class - elegant, delicate trees with a beautiful crown, thin legs, and a cutely decorated pot. And as a wedding decoration, and as a bedside souvenir, and as a gift to a friend - no matter how you use it, this topiary looks equally convincing and fresh.

There are several ways to make such a tree with your own hands. It all depends mainly on what kind of flowers you use. If these are ready-made flowers that can be bought in a store, the process of making topiary is simplified. But flowers made from ribbons, felt flowers, silk, and paper can also be artificial.

An example is a master class on creating a topiary from paper roses. Video and photo instructions will also be useful for those who are just trying themselves in this business.

You will need:

Beautiful pot;
Plaster (or alabaster);
Tree trunk - pencil, sushi sticks, drumstick, etc.);
Music paper or book pages in English;
Leg-split;
PVA glue and glue gun;
Base ball;
Paints, brush;
Decorative devices.

If you love the shabby chic style, then you can slightly modify this master class, just a little, and get stylish accessory just in shabby chic aesthetics. But more on that later.

The first thing you need to do is gather all the materials together. First of all, what you are going to make roses from. This could be music paper or old music books, even if they are yellowed. You can also use pages from English-language books and magazines. If the pages here are yellowed, you will get a vintage topiary.

You need to make the flowers yourself. To do this, cut out petals from paper. different shapes. Roll the narrow and long one into a tube, and around it, place the remaining petals one by one until a bud is formed. The more licentious he is, the better. You just bend the petals with your own hands.
You can hold the petals a little over the flame of a candle or over a lighter so that their edges turn brownish. This touch of antiquity will make the roses more impressive.
Each flower is secured with a thread at the base or by gluing the petals.
Next, the master class follows the usual scenario for topiary. The base ball, it can be, for example, a rubber ball, you cover with paper according to the papier-mâché principle. If this is a foam blank, you can simply paint it the color of roses.
Using a glue gun, you fix it on the base of the rose, carefully, one at a time. They must fill the ball from all sides. Leave room for a hole for the barrel.
If there are noticeable gaps, beige or mother-of-pearl beads will close them.

Now we need to make the trunk. You can take a thick pencil and wrap it in several layers with twine. Then the trunk must be inserted into the base ball, secured with glue, without deforming the paper roses.

The master class will be the same if you use other samples rather than paper flowers. The photo and video show that the principle of creating a tree is the same.

Topiary made from artificial sisal flowers (video master class)

Topiary pot made of artificial flowers

You can decorate the pot yourself if it doesn’t seem elegant enough to you. You can get inspired using the examples in the photo - there is decor with ribbons, and button decor, and beads, and twine, and braid.

You can also decorate the pot with your own hands like this:

Fragment of canvas with embroidery. On the canvas you embroider something in tune with the flower crown - the same roses, or maybe birds or insects to match the theme, or maybe even some kind of statement. But the embroidery should be in the same style; if the roses are vintage, then the font should be vintage.
You can paint the pot – acrylic paints, a stencil, a little diligence and you’ll get another hand-made thing.
The pot can be wrapped in rough burlap, then tie it with twine and decorate with another small rose, also made from paper with your own hands.

You can, of course, find a video and photo master class that will help you decorate the pot.

As for the shabby chic style, just paint the pot with white paint with your own hands, specially allowing for areas of scuffs and underpainting. Sandpaper will help with this.

How to decorate a topiary pot: creative ideas(video)

Artificial grass topiary

Topiary made from artificial flowers is no longer a novelty, but topiary made from grass is a fresh idea.

They are certainly not difficult to make with your own hands. The principle is absolutely the same - the main thing is to carefully, repeating the shape of the ball, stick fragments of artificial grass onto this same ball.

By the way, such trees can be larger in size than ordinary topiaries. This is worth doing, if only because they will look more convincing in this size: a real tree with a rounded crown in a pot. A more significant interior decoration, which can be located in the living room and kitchen, and make, for example, a loggia more comfortable.

This is a good decor for shooting a family video, for photo sessions, and for a green corner in the house.

Topiary made from artificial hydrangea petals (video master class)

Topiary is a tree in the house, small, neat, perfect. One master class, and you yourself are the author of such a souvenir tree. Try it, and making topiaries can become not only your hobby, but also a way to replenish the family piggy bank.

Topiary made from artificial flowers (photo)

Decorative trees are considered a worthy decoration for a home. They are appropriate in any interior, you just need to think about it in advance color scheme, which fits into the finished design project. Ornamental trees do not require special conditions of maintenance and care. They do not need to be watered as they are artificial plants. These decorative items are freely sold in stores, but it is better to make topiary with your own hands. It will take some time to make it, but in the end you will get a unique decorative tree that fits perfectly into the existing interior of the room. And it’s better to build a topiary yourself, because according to the ancient Chinese teachings of Feng Shui, this tree brings joy to the house. By making a decorative tree, a person charges it. According to legend, topiary can only bring happiness to its creator.

Topiary: history of appearance and significance in modern interiors

The word topiary or topiary comes from the term “topia” - a decorative garden plot. The concept came from Ancient Rome and meant various figures carved from the crowns of trees or bushes. Ancient Roman civilization disappeared, but the idea of beautifully decorating gardens was picked up by the Catholic Church. Then the topiaries entered social life. Their heyday came in the 17th century: it was then that decorative trees appeared in the residences of rulers of states, incl. and in the Russian Empire. Then they were forgotten, but in the 20th century topiaries became popular again. Now they were no longer used to decorate gardens and palace walls, but were planted in pots. Today, topiaries are no longer planted. They can be made from any materials. Topiaries are made in the most bizarre shapes and colors, often combining materials in quite controversial ways. They are otherwise called trees of happiness, believing that they bring joy to the house. They can be made from:

coffee beans;
walnuts;
fir cones;
straw;
sweets;
napkins;
silk ribbons;
plastic bags, etc.

Where to start assembling wood

Assembling a topiary must begin with planning the appearance of the future tree of happiness and searching the necessary details. The appearance of topiary is determined by the style of the interior for which it is made. First, find the materials necessary to construct the base of the tree. In any case, you will need tape, glue, colored paper, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, etc. The list of parts is limited only by the imagination of the creator. After collecting the necessary things, you can start creating a topiary. First, the barrel is assembled, because it is the basis of topiary. Moreover, it must not only be strengthened, but also covered with varnish or paint. Then one end of the trunk is attached to a pot, stone or shell, and a ball is hung on the other, which will later become the crown of the tree of happiness. It is best to use glue to hold all the parts of the topiary together.

The basis

To construct the basis of the tree of happiness, whatever is at hand at that moment will do. To make a base from newspapers, you first need to crumple them thoroughly, and only then form a sphere according to the given parameters. Newspapers are crumpled and pressed tightly, after which they are wrapped with tape. The base can also be made from newspaper clippings, but in this case they should be placed in a plastic bag. If you need to make a small base from padding polyester, you first need to compact it into a sock or stocking, then give it the required shape and wind it tightly with sewing thread. It’s even better to make this base from foam plastic, using ordinary packaging from household appliances. But polystyrene foam crumbles and is inconvenient to roll into a ball, so this base is not very popular. In addition to those mentioned above, the following materials can become the basis of topiary:

polyurethane foam;
Knitting thread;
papier-mâché, etc.

Trunk

The trunk of the tree of happiness connects the base with the crown, so it must be strong and stable. Its role can be ordinary wire, secured with artistic tape, twine or plastic. To make the product more realistic, this trunk can be made from a wooden branch or wood chips. But first this branch must be cleared of bark, covered with varnish and stain. If you are making a low topiary, then as a trunk you can take a popsicle stick, sushi sticks or wooden skewers fastened together. The color and type of trunk depends on the material of the base and crown. For topiary with coffee beans white will do or Brown color. A curved trunk for a European tree can only be made from wire. You can also take any material that is approximately suitable for the trunk of a topiary, shape it and fill it with plaster.

Crown

To make a topiary crown, absolutely any materials that are available are suitable. this moment at hand. To do this you can take paper napkins, corrugated paper, folded origami, nylon tapes, etc. Then the crown needs to be decorated. For this they take fir cones, real seashells, coffee beans, artificial flowers, etc. The crown is the main accent of the tree of happiness, so its design must be taken very seriously. The trunk and stand only emphasize the overall theme of the topiary, so it is advisable to first decide on the material for the crown, and only then design the remaining parts of the tree. But the topiary trunk may not be able to withstand a crown that is too large, so it should not be overloaded. Only the stand of the tree of happiness can be decorated with some elements.

Stand

As a stand for topiary, you can take an ordinary flower pot, a large flat stone or an iron bucket, decorate them beautifully and place them under the crown. The decor of the tree of happiness stand can be anything. It is decorated using the decoupage technique, decorated with lace or bright unusual shreds. You can stick stones, shells and artificial flowers on the stand. This topiary element is a semantic continuation of the crown, so its design must be based on the existing elements of the decorative product. If the tree is decorated in a marine style, then shells and multi-colored pebbles will be appropriate, and for a topiary in a romantic style you will need lace and hearts made of colored paper. The size of the tree crown should be bigger size, rather than its stand, so that the composition looks harmonious.

Wood making workshops

Making topiary with your own hands is easy. To do this you don't need to have artistic taste or designer education. The ideal tree of happiness is decorated intuitively from available materials. There are many master classes on this topic on the Internet, some of them are presented below, but you should not follow these instructions step by step. According to Feng Shui, topiary quickly and effectively activates any sector of an apartment or house, instantly filling it with the necessary energy. But for proper operation it must be decorated with the necessary elements. To normalize family relationships, jasper or amazonite should be glued onto the topiary stand. A tree with tiger eye, charoite or turquoise. And to improve your overall financial situation, you need to decorate your topiary with jet or a hawk’s eye.

From coffee beans

For this topiary, you need to take high-quality large coffee beans and stick them on the base for the crown, laying them out with the central strip down. The ball is completely covered. To do this, it is better to take a glue gun, although you can do without it, using regular glue from a tube. When the ball is completely sealed, take a plastic tube, which is sealed along the entire length with double-sided tape, departing 2-3 cm from both edges. Satin ribbon, fabric or corrugated paper of the desired color is glued to the tape. Then you need to dilute the alabaster and pour the resulting mixture into a pot or iron bucket. Then they insert the barrel into this mixture and wait for the alabaster to harden. After the mixture has hardened, its surface is spread with coffee beans in 2-3 layers. The finished crown is glued to the top of the trunk itself.

The resulting topiary can be decorated with an elegant bow or jewelry.

From the cones

Do-it-yourself topiary from cones is made according to a similar scheme. Small half-opened pine cones are glued onto the foam ball at small intervals from each other. If the gaps are too large, they can be filled with acorns or chestnuts. For additional fixation of elements, you can use golden or brown threads. To make a trunk, you need to put together several (up to 10) bamboo skewers, wrap them with thick white or brown thread, leaving open areas along the edges of the sticks. Then you need to dilute the alabaster with water or take a ready-made cement mixture, pour it into a flower pot and insert the tree trunk into the base. When the mixture hardens, it is decorated with pine needles or sisal, a fully formed crown of the tree of happiness is attached to the trunk, and the pot is decorated with a satin or openwork ribbon.

From satin ribbons and other fabrics

As a base for satin ribbon topiary, you can take a foam sphere or a ball of crumpled newspapers, secured with thick threads dipped in PVA glue. Then you need to take satin ribbons of any color, roll them into small rolls, first bending the ribbons at a right angle. You need to bend the satin ribbon several times until it runs out of length. The result of these actions should be a rose bud. Upon completion of production, it is necessary to sew all the petals with a thin silk thread at the base. The number of such roses is determined by the size of the base. Usually 20-30 flowers are required. Then they decorate the crown of the topiary. You can take an ordinary twig as a trunk for such a tree, and use a clay flower pot for the stand. The stand and tree trunk should be decorated with elegant green leaves made of satin ribbons or silk.

Corrugated paper

First you need to take a round foam ball. Then you need to make roses from corrugated paper. If they are very large, then there will be a lot of free space between the flowers that will need to be covered with something, so it is better to make these roses medium-sized. For one small topiary you will need 35-45 roses. To do this, it is better to take paper of different colors in order to alternate the shades of roses on the topiary in the future. The trunk for the tree of happiness can be made from traditional sushi sticks, and ordinary polystyrene can be used as soil. Alabaster is difficult to make, but foam is easy to find. Only the barrel needs to be inserted into the foam base the first time. At the same time, you need to decorate the crown by gluing roses in a chaotic manner. Then the crown is attached to the trunk and the topiary is considered ready. If desired, the soil in the pot is covered with artificial grass, and the trunk of the tree is decorated with a bright bow.

The sea tree of happiness can be made from materials brought from the sea: pebbles, shells, dried crabs and pearls. They should be used to cover the base for the topiary crown. If there are few shells and pebbles, the space between them can be decorated with sisal, artificial starfish and crafts made from salt dough on marine theme. When making a topiary trunk, it is better to take sushi sticks decorated with satin ribbons of white, blue or sand color. As a stand for the tree of happiness, you should take a white flower pot, which can be decorated with artificial pearls, lace and small figures made of salt dough. Inside this pot you need to fill it with alabaster and insert the topiary trunk into this alabaster mixture. You can put sisal fibers, sea pebbles and shells on top of the frozen filling.

Money topiary made of coins and bills

This topiary is usually made from fake banknotes, but for decoration, you can attach real coins to the crown of a tree or stand. Of course, it is better to use rare, antique or foreign coins rather than ordinary ones. To begin with, each bill needs to be folded in half, slightly moving the edges, and then folded into an envelope, securing the uneven edges with double-sided tape. The number of bills depends on the size of the base ball, but traditionally about 20-25 bills are required. Trunk money tree You can make it from twigs or sushi sticks, and use a flowerpot as a stand. The outside of the flowerpot can be decorated with special self-adhesive paper with images of money or lace. Alabaster is poured into the pot itself, the trunk is placed in it and wait for it to dry. After this, the topiary soil is laid out with coins, wood sawdust or decorative stones.

From dried flowers and fresh flowers

Making a tree from dried flowers is quite simple. You can decorate the base for the topiary crown with dried flowers and yellowed leaves, but the flowers and leaves taken for these purposes must be strong and dense, otherwise they will simply fall apart during work. Dried flowers are attached directly to the foam ball. A curved branch from the street is taken as a trunk, and an ordinary clay pot is turned into a stand. The inside of the pot is filled with alabaster, first fixing the trunk of the topiary. This trunk is inserted into the finished tree crown, and the dried alabaster is decorated with dry leaves and flowers. Topiary from fresh flowers is usually created by professional florists, but you can try making it at home yourself. To do this, you need to take rose buds, chamomile flowers, lilies or chrysanthemums, correctly and carefully cut off their stems and attach them to the base of the crown. Otherwise, the technique for producing a tree of happiness and decorating a topiary pot is similar to making it from dried flowers.

Topiary (“tree of happiness”, “European tree”) is a small decorative tree that decorates interiors and exteriors, and is also often used for. Topiaries are good because they look very beautiful, and you can make them with your own hands in literally 1 evening from scrap materials.

This means that you can make several decorations at once, for example, one pair for the New Year's table setting, another for the Easter table, and a couple more for the mantelpiece.

In this material you will find 1 basic instruction on how to make a topiary with your own hands for beginners, as well as 3 step-by-step master class in addition to it and 45 photo ideas for inspiration.

Basic instructions for beginners

Topiaries of even the most complex designs are made according to approximately the same principle. Having mastered the basic manufacturing technology, you can create a wide variety of topiaries, changing only the materials for decoration.

So, to make a mini-tree with your own hands, you will need to create it:

Crown;
Trunk;
The base of the tree.

Step 1: Design Planning

Topiary can be different not only in design, but also in service life. Before you start work, think about why you need a “tree of happiness” and where will it live? The purpose and future location of the topiary will determine its style, color scheme and even the materials for its creation.

If you want to make topiary for, then materials that are not too durable can be used - paper, napkins, sweets, fresh flowers, fruits. If you want to make topiary as a gift or for interior decoration, then it is better to use more reliable decor - pine cones, artificial flowers, coffee beans, ribbons, organza, etc.

In the following selection of photos you can get ideas for designing themed and festive topiaries.

Sweet topiaries made from candies for a children's party

Halloween decoration with candies in a pot

Halloween decorations from pumpkin seeds, ribbons and sweets in tea cans

Easter trees made from eggs, artificial flowers, satin ribbons and moss

Christmas topiary made of artificial holly leaves and berries, pine cones and ribbons with a branch trunk

Candy tree for festive table

Topiary for a festive table setting made of artificial flowers, natural branches, dry moss and satin ribbons

And here is a selection of photo examples of the design of exclusively interior topiary (scroll through!).

Step 2. Preparing materials

To make your own topiary you will need:

Foam ball with a diameter of 8-12 cm(available at many office supply and art stores) or a floral foam ball (available at gardening and flower shops).

If desired, you can make the ball yourself from polystyrene foam, the same floral foam, polyurethane foam, papier-mâché, etc. However, the base of the crown can be not only in the shape of a ball, but also in the form of a heart, star, number, letter, animal figure, etc.

Decor for the crown - depending on your idea, use flowers, satin ribbons, organza, coffee beans, banknotes, etc.
Trunk - it can be made from a dry and clean branch, a simple pencil or any other stick. In addition, the trunk and pot can be replaced by a tall candlestick.
Decor for the trunk– the trunk can at least be covered matte varnish or paint. And at the most, wrap it with one or two ribbons.
Flower pots – it’s most convenient to pour the mixture into a clay pot, but any cute cups, mugs, vintage buckets, etc. will also work.
Fixing mixture– the best choice for making topiary with your own hands is a mixture of alabaster, as it hardens quickly, hardly cracks and is cheap. You can also use cement-sand mortar, gypsum or putty. However, not only binding mixtures can fix a tree in a pot, but also the same polystyrene foam, floral foam or stones.
Everything for mixing the mixture– container, water, stick, etc.
Decor for masking the fixing mixture– to create an imitation of soil cover, it is best to use natural materials: dry moss, small pebbles, expanded clay, sisal fiber. Artificial moss and rocks will also work. Pots of “edible” topiary can be filled with candies and jelly beans.
Glue gun and several glue sticks- if necessary, it can be replaced with glue like “Moment”, but it is best not to do this, since glue in a gun is more convenient, and most importantly, it allows you to remove random “cobwebs”.
Scissors or cutter.
Tailor's pins with a very small head(optional, used in addition to or instead of glue, for example, for fastening beads).
Side cutters or nippers for trimming the trunk or any decorative elements.

At the preparatory stage, divide the decorative parts for the crown into groups - for example, large, medium and small. This will make it more convenient for you to alternate the decor and distribute it evenly across the ball.

Step 3: Creating a crown

First, you need to apply markings to the ball - mark the place for attaching the barrel and mark a boundary around it, beyond which you do not need to go for some time when gluing the decor. Thanks to this technique, in the future you can easily fix the barrel in the ball without spoiling the decor.

As soon as the glue warms up, start shaping the ball in the following order: “trying on” the part without glue – applying glue to the desired place – fixing the part. Remember that you need to act quickly so that the glue does not have time to absorb into the foam. That is why it is better to apply and try on the decor first.

Here are a few more nuances:

You need to stick the decor onto the ball starting from large elements and ending with small ones. For example, if you are making topiary from artificial flowers, then glue the largest buds onto the ball first, then the medium ones, and only then the small flowers and additional beads.
Some decor can be secured to the ball using tailor's pins and nails. But it is best to combine carnations with glue.
If some parts have bases made of wire (for example, the same artificial flowers), then you need to leave about 2 cm from their “tails”. Then you can not only glue the decor, but also stick it into the ball.
To make the white base ball less noticeable in the gaps between the glued parts, it can be painted to match the decor.

Now we need to work with the barrel. As already mentioned, making it with your own hands is not at all difficult from a branch, pencil or any stick.

If you use a branch, then you don’t have to paint it, but just coat it with matte varnish so that the natural beauty of the tree is visible. If you use a wooden stick, then it can only be slightly tinted, artificially aged, etc. If you want to mask the surface of the trunk completely, then you can wrap satin ribbons, fabric, paper, rope around it, or completely paint it.

How long should it be? Since the trunk goes deep into both the pot and the ball, its length can be calculated using the following formula:

Trunk length = 1/3 of the ball diameter + height of the pot + desired length of the trunk between the crown and the pot.

To attach the barrel, you need to use an awl and a knife to make a hole in the ball with a depth of about 2-3 cm (depending on its size) at the marking site. When the hole is ready, fill its bottom with hot glue and push the crown onto the trunk until it stops. Then continue holding the barrel and gradually fill the hole with glue around the barrel.

Keep in mind that the hot glue will melt the foam and make the hole deeper. To prevent the trunk from going deeper into the crown by more than 1/3 of its diameter, small pieces of paper can be placed between the layers of glue.

As soon as the barrel is fixed in the ball, disguise the attachment point with decor.

Step 5. Preparing the binding mixture and fixing the tree in the pot

The time has come to “plant” the resulting tree in a pot. To do this you need:

Place a mark about 2.5 cm from the edge of the pot - the mixture will be poured to this level. If there is a hole at the bottom of the pot, you need to close it with tape or hot glue.

Dilute the mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions and fill the pot with it.
Level and secure the topiary in the pot, holding its trunk until the mixture hardens.
Leave the mixture overnight or a day until completely dry.

Hint: As already noted, it is best to use alabaster as a binder mixture. To fill 1 medium pot, you need to dilute approximately 1 kg of alabaster with 600 ml of water. The mixture is kneaded for about 1-2 minutes until the consistency of thick sour cream, and then quickly poured into the pot and the topiary is fixed in it for 2-3 minutes.

Hooray! The topiary is almost ready, all that remains is to create an imitation of soil in the pot and disguise the fixing mixture. If you are using sisal fiber (see photo), shells, artificial grass or moss, they need to be secured with a small amount of glue.

Master class 1. Corrugated paper topiary

Topiary with paper flowers is especially suitable for decorating a holiday table or festive decoration interior For example, this rose topiary was made for Valentine's Day.

Materials:

Base ball with a diameter of 12 cm;
Corrugated (creped paper) of medium density (in the master class we use corrugated paper in the form of a tape, but you can use regular rolls);
Floral foam bars and/or any fixing mixture (see basic instructions);
A flowerpot or flowerpot for the base of a topiary;
The trunk is about 30 cm long;
Dry moss for pot decoration;
Ribbon for trunk decoration;
Glue gun.

Step 1. Cut the corrugated paper into strips 60 cm long and approximately 4.5-5 cm wide. If the paper is too thick and stiff, knead the strips a little to make them more flexible.

Step 2. Now you need to roll the resulting ribbons into rosebuds. This is done very simply, just a couple of workouts are enough and the principle becomes clear. Take one of the resulting paper strips and fold it 1/3 as shown in the photo below.

Then fold one end of the ribbon diagonally at a 45-degree angle and begin rolling it into a log. After three turns you will have the core of the bud. Now wrap the free end to the outside, and continue to roll the core of the rose - voila, you have the first petal.

Step 4. Once the crown is completely covered with roses, attach the trunk to it (see Basic instructions). In this master class, the barrel was pre-painted white with spray paint.

Step 6. Place dry moss on the “soil” and glue it in some places with thermal glue. Finally, tie a bow on the trunk.

The following selection of photos presents other topiary design ideas that you can make with your own hands using this master class, not only from corrugated paper, but also from satin ribbons, silk paper, etc.

By the way, you can make not only roses from paper, but also lush peonies or hydrangeas. Methods for making such flowers are easy to find on the Internet.

You can easily update the interior of the room, add notes of dreaminess and tenderness to it - by making topiary with your own hands for beginners from natural or decorative materials. The tree of happiness will take a little work, but the result is definitely worth it. The craft will perfectly decorate any room and will become a good gift for a holiday for a friend or relative.

You can easily update the interior of a room, add notes of dreaminess and tenderness to it - by making topiary with your own hands

Initially, topiary was the name given to figuratively pruned trees and green shrubs in the yards of rich people. Over time, this art has changed. Now anyone can decorate their home with such cute decor. The size of the tree often does not exceed half a meter, and the variety of its shapes, colors and materials used for production is almost limitless.

Modern needlewomen use almost everything to create this craft.

Here is just a small list of the most popular items for decoration:

Artificial flowers made from foamiram, satin and rapeseed ribbons, salt dough, plastic, napkins, organza and so on.
Decorative berries, twigs, leaves.
Large and small beads, beads, buttons.
Coins of different denominations.
Souvenir paper bills.
Old gears, bolts, scissors and other small tools.
Thread pompoms.
Balls for decorating Christmas trees.
Paper squares and much more.

Synthetic little things, of course, make it possible to make topiaries of amazing beauty that do not lose color for a long time. appearance, maintaining its attractiveness for many years. But no less interesting are products made from natural materials, such as:

Cones, chestnuts, nuts, pistachio shells, acorns.
Sea pebbles, shells, sand.
Dried citrus fruits in slices, roses made from their peels.
Rowan berries, physalis inflorescences, yellow leaves any trees.
Coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and other herbs.

The choice remains only with the needlewoman and her imagination. In each craft, no matter what it is made of, there is a special soulfulness and warmth that fills the interior with harmony.

Gallery: DIY topiary (25 photos)

Classic tree of happiness: master class (video)

How to make the easiest topiary from beads with your own hands: instructions

Of the many options, the wish tree made from beads or artificial pearls is undoubtedly the easiest to make. Let's consider detailed master class on how to create it.

It turns out very beautiful

What you need to have:

Foam ball base.
A bunch of beads, pearls of one or more colors. In handicraft stores you can purchase several small beads at once, so as not to glue them individually.
Two pieces of strong steel wire of the desired length, to which is added the depth of the pot and half the diameter of the ball, since the stem of the tree will go halfway into the base, and into the pot to the very bottom.
Satin ribbons, preferably thin ones, matching the main colors.
Satin roses, a little felt to decorate the bottom of the pot.
Corrugated paper, organza, satin or rapeseed ribbon of medium thickness.
Quick-drying glue or glue gun.
Pebbles for filling the pot, plaster for pouring.
Paint and pebbles for ground decoration.
Plastic pot.

Let's start making the simplest wish tree

We start by making holes in the ball for attaching steel wires and trying them on. We wrap the flying wire so that at the top it is close to the ball, and at the bottom – 5 cm below the expected height of the ground. Set aside.
Then we take a low number of beads and carefully, starting from the very top exactly above the holes for the barrel, attach the first bead. Then we gradually apply transparent glue and immediately fasten the beads without removing them from the thread. When there are only a couple of turns left to the holes, insert the wires for the barrel, having previously generously lubricated them with glue, and finish the winding, tightly closing the entire ball.
Let's start working on the pot. Wrap it around corrugated paper, cover the top with organza and secure with ribbon. We glue the joints. Glue a felt circle to the bottom.
Now we plant a tree. First we put the trunk in the pot. We fill in the stones and immediately fill them with prepared plaster. Please note that plaster expands when it dries, so do not fill it to the very top, leave a little space. It will dry within a few minutes.
All that remains is to decorate the ball itself, its bottom and the surface of the plaster in the pot at your discretion. That's how simple it is to create beauty with your own hands.

Options may vary

Tip for a beginner: when making it, it is most convenient to use a heat gun. The glue in it is always transparent, dries very quickly and holds securely.

Topiary made from natural materials: step-by-step master class

Beginning needlewomen can also easily cope with working on a tree made from cones, acorns, chestnuts, walnuts or hazelnuts. This great idea for activities with a child, allowing you to teach the baby to see beauty even in the most ordinary and simple things. In addition, many children love to collect such things while walking on the street. For the stem, you can even take an ordinary twig, which will make it even more natural and environmentally friendly.

Beginning needlewomen can also easily cope with working on a tree made from cones, acorns, chestnuts, walnuts or hazelnuts

What you will need:

Styrofoam ball for base.
Cones, chestnuts or other nuts.
Wire or a strong twig for the trunk.
A container in which to plant a tree.
Stones and plaster.
Glue gun or Dragon type glue.
Acrylic clear varnish, available in construction stores.
Decorations as desired.

How to make topiary from pine cones

As in the previous MK, first of all we pierce a hole under the barrel, try it on and decorate it. If you took a simple twig, then you can leave it unchanged.

We take the base and glue the selected nuts or cones onto it, placing them tightly next to each other.
Shortly before the end of the work, insert the barrel into the hole and finish the ball. If you cover Pine cones artificial snow, it will be a wonderful New Year's option.
Chestnuts and acorns complement perfectly autumn leaves. And walnuts and hazelnuts look better if combined together and decorated with bright rowan berries.
The last step is to plant the tree in a prepared container; for example, a brown flower pot would be very appropriate here.

Tip for a beginner: the finished nut craft should be coated with acrylic varnish or paint for durability. Gold and silver colors work best.

Memories of the sea or what to do with shells brought from vacation

A craft made from shells and burlap with elements made from twine looks very aesthetically pleasing. She will embody dreams of a new trip to the endless sea. Will remind you of a pleasant time spent. And the collected gifts from the depths of the sea will not lie idle.

For sea topiary you need:

Foam base: ball or heart.
Porcelain white or transparent cup, vase, glass.
Steel wire.
Thermal gun.
Shells, sea stones.
Artificial pearls.
Burlap, twine.
Plaster or pebbles to fill the container.

A craft made from shells and burlap with elements made from twine looks very aesthetically pleasing.

Detailed instructions for creation are simple and straightforward:

We determine the center of the base and make the usual hole for the barrel. We try on the wire, decorate it with twine, and put it aside for a while.
Carefully and carefully cover the foam base with shells, stones and pearls in random order. We make flowers, simple or lush bows from twine. We hook them between the main parts. We insert the finished trunk into place and decorate the bottom of the base.
Place the craft in a cup or vase and fill it with plaster. Sprinkle the not yet hardened plaster with sea or decorative sand. We decorate the container with several turns of twine. Another option is to wrap it completely in burlap and secure it with a satin ribbon in pastel, light colors.
If you do not want to use gypsum, and the topiary itself is small in size and weight, it is preferable to plant it in a transparent glass or cup, pouring the remaining pebbles and shells into it. This creates a delicate decorative element that will remind you of summer vacation, will charge you with positivity and energy.

Tip for a beginner: thin bamboo sticks are ideal as a trunk for a shell tree. You need to take 5-7 of them, for reliability.

Coffee topiary: master class (video)

Create topiaries with your own hands, don’t be afraid to experiment and create. And may there always be inspiration!

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