Rustic French Style Topiary Tutorial

Rustic French Style Topiary Tutorial

Supplies:  

Clay Pot

Fern - Of Choice

My fern is from Michaels - Resembles Rosemary and was $12.00 for the floral bush but I used my weekly 40% off coupon

Valspar Brand (Lowe's) Stone Textured Spray Paint

Moss Craft Paint & Dark Brown Craft Paint

Twig 18"

Skinny Wooden Dowel 18"

Spanish Moss

Spaghnum Moss

Styrofoam

Step 1:  Spray your pot lightly with Valspar Stone Textured Spray Paint and allow to dry fully.

Once dry, take your sand paper fine grit and sand lightly to get your desired effect.   Dry brush on your Moss and Brown Paint very sparingly around the pot. I did it very minimal.

 

Step 2:  Take your fern and cut into 3-4" pieces depending on how big you want your topiary top.  I chose 4" pieces for mine shown.

Take your stick and place in the middle of 3 fern pieces and apply some hot glue to the end of the stick.  Press on the fern ends to the stick, being careful not to burn your hands.  Allow to dry.  Continue going around the stick in the same areas just reapplying more fern until you reach your desired fullness.

 

Once you have reached your desired fullness, take some Spanish moss, I chose brown, and hot glue around the ends of the fern where it meets the stick to cover up the gluing you did.

You stick will resemble a feather duster:)

 

Take your wooden dowel and paint brown.  Cut the dowel the same length of your stick.

Hot glue some styrofoam in to middle of the pot.

Hot glue your dowel first in the very center of the pot, making sure you keep the dowel nice and straight and allow to dry.

Hot glue your stick with fern attached, directly next to your dowel.  Allow to dry.

Take cording and tied dowel and stick together to resemble a tree being staked.

Hot glue Spaghnum Moss around the base of the tree.  You are done!

I made 4 Topiaries from one fern bush.  Total cost of 4 Topiaries $26.00