Spiced Apple Topiary

Typical Project Completion Time: 2-4 hours

Materials Needed

STYROFOAM* Brand Foam:
Balls: 6", one; 4", one; 2", two
Sheet, scrap

Other Materials:
Paints: light brown acrylic; burgundy satin-finish spray; metallic copper pen
Clay pot, 6-1/4"
Wooden dowel rod, 1/2" x 18"
Brown chenille stems, four
Sand or fine gravel, 1 cup
Cinnamon sticks: 3", 24; 7", 12
Spices: ground cinnamon; whole cloves
Artificial apples: large red, six; assorted red/yellow crab, 18
Assorted silk greenery
Moss, small amounts: natural sheet; green reindeer
Sponge mushroom
Natural raffia
Floral supplies: wooden picks; U-pins
Ruler
Sponge paintbrush
Disposable palette
Water basin
Paper towels
Scissors
Wire cutters
Craft knife
Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
Thick, white craft glue

Instructions

1. Insert floral pick into each 2" foam ball. Holding picks, paint balls light brown. Insert picks into scrap foam; let dry. Paint dowel light brown; let dry.

2. Apply thin coat white glue to painted balls; sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Let dry. Insert equally-spaced whole cloves into balls, 1/4"–1/2" apart.

3. In well-ventilated area, spray pot with three coats burgundy; let dry. Use paint pen to outline rim edges; fill in rim with closely-spaced dots for textured metal look. Let dry.

4. Use glue gun to seal hole in pot. Pour sand or gravel into pot for weight.

5. Glue 6" foam ball into pot. Center and glue dowel into ball. Center and glue 4" foam ball on top of dowel; distance between top of pot and 4" ball should be 10". Glue long cinnamon sticks around dowel to create "trunk."

6. Set aside one large apple. Use knife point to poke small hole in each remaining large apple, varying placement. Glue floral picks into holes. Using photo as guide, glue apple picks into topiary top.

7. Holding five 3" cinnamon sticks together, wrap center with chenille stem to secure. Repeat to make four bundles. Glue floral pick to each bundle; glue picks into topiary top between large apples. Glue leaf or moss to chenille stems.

8. Cut greenery into small bunches; spot glue greenery around apples and cinnamon bundles at top of topiary.

9. Glue small greenery bunches and remaining large apple to topiary base. Glue crab apples to topiary top and base as shown. Glue cinnamon balls into base.

10. Cut several 6" lengths from raffia; bend each length into 3" loop and glue to floral pick. Insert raffia loops among apples and cinnamon bundles at top of topiary. Insert and glue one end of remaining 3" cinnamon sticks into topiary top. Wrap several raffia strands around center of trunk; tie bow.

11. Break sponge mushroom into pieces and glue into topiary as desired. Glue small clumps of reindeer moss to topiary to fill spaces and hide glue.

Form No. 179-01068