Topiary Schmopiary

I love topiaries. I think they are so pretty, but so blasted expensive! I have never seen a *great* deal on them, so what's a girl to do??

Remember this one from my yard sale treasures a while back?

Well, the only part of her I used was the green styrofoam ball underneath all of the ivy. That's okay though, because these are at least 2 or 3 dollars aren't they? So, it was worth it.

I used this one from Ballard Designs as my inspiration: (I'm basically just a copier, you realize that! I get "inspiration" from real designers and then copy and adapt to my budget)

Price tag: $54.99, plus, tax, plus s&h

I had a real plant on my desk in the kitchen (where I happen to be typing right now), but I have a bit of a brown thumb, and it died. So, I knew I had to go fake. Off to Hobby Lobby we go....

Their faux greenery is 50% off (is it ever not?? lol) and I pick these out. They were much bushier, but I didn't think to take a picture until after I had picked them apart. I buy two, so my total is around $8.00.

I pick off a part, then pick again, then cut those in half to this.

Now the fun part: Stick them all over your green styrofoam ball. This part takes awhile. I would guess 2 hours total? I did it here and there~outside while the kids are playing, watching election coverage, while I'm driving (kidding!!) etc.

When she's all covered, get yourself a nice stick from your backyard (or your neighbors, or the park) I spray painted mine espresso because it wasn't very pretty plain. Get your container:

I spray painted this one WM cream (what else??) and then rubbed some sand paper over it to let the designs show through. Stick some styrofoam in there, (or in my case, newspaper wadded up very tightly because I'm out of styrofoam at the moment...), stick your ball on , cover the base with some moss, leftover greenery from your ball, or what have you, and there you have your beautiful topiary!

My total cost:

ball taken from yard sale topiary: $1.00

greenery from HL: $8.00

stick: free

moss: leftover from another project

container: .25 from a yard sale

Total: $9.25

Not having to worry about watering it, it turning brown and dying: priceless.

I'm on a topiary kick now, so watch out! More coming your way...