Valentine's Day Topiary

For Christmas this year, I gave my friends and neighbors paper Christmas trees based off an idea I got here.  They were so much fun to give away that I wanted to make a Valentine's Day version.  They are super easy and fun to make!  Here's how you can do it too!


What you will need:
6 sheets of 12x12 cardstock
clear glue
glitter
1/8" wooden dowel or bamboo skewers
wood or metal container
floral foam base
moss
ribbon
pony beads
hot glue gun
heart & bird cartridge for a Cricut or SCAL
(I used the Cricut cartridges George & Basic Shapes for the heart and the Storybook cartridge for the bird.)

Step 1: Cut out 3 hearts each in sizes ranging from 1 & 1/2 inches to 6 & 1/2  inches in half inch increments.

Step 2: Glue around the edge of each heart and add glitter.

Step 3: Punch holes in the center of each heart. 

Step 4: Cut the dowel down to the height you want.  I cut mine to 17 inches.  Add the floral foam to the container and put the wooden dowel in the center.  Don't glue anything in place just in case you need to adjust later.

I got my container at Tai Pan for $4 and the foam at the Dollar Store.

Step 5: Stack the hearts on the dowel and place a pony bead after every heart to add height and dimension.  Keep going until you've used all of the hearts.  (I only put one 1 & 1/2 inch heart on the very top.)

Step 6: Your topiary should look like this.  There will be extra space between the hearts so gently press down and squish the hearts closer together. 

Step 7: When it looks good, take the dowel out of the foam and glue a pony bead underneath the first heart (on the bottom).  Then glue the dowel into the foam so about 4 or 5 inches of the dowel is showing. 

Step 8: Hot glue the moss to the foam base.

Step 9: Tie a ribbon and streamers to the top of the dowel and add the paper bird.

Finished! See I told you it was easy!  If you use bamboo skewers, like I did on the pink one, it will be a little shorter, but they are both cute!

Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

Have fun!

~ Cindy Jane