Designer 5 Petal Topiary

Isn't this the CUTEST THING, do I say that a lot? Okay, I get a little excited over my paper crafting! BUT SERIOUSLY, I look at this and get that little girl feeling, "look what I made mommy"! And, this was not my original idea, it has been floating around in the Internet world of paper crafting, but I got the idea from Rhonda L! THANKS, Rhonda!

Not only is this totally cute, but it is easy to make. I used 5, 6x6 sheets of Prints Designer Paper. Pretty in Pink and Apricot Appeal from the Hostess Print Pack and Almost Amethyst Prints DSP. Then I took my 5 Petal Punch and punched out all the flowers I could out of that paper. I also punched out a bunch of smaller flowers using the Three for You Punch, out of printer paper. This is because I wanted something light weight that would be easy to push the pin through.

Then you fold up the petals of the flowers and pin then into a Styrofoam ball! So easy. Then, when the ball is almost full push a dowel through the middle of it at the bottom. I used some crystal effects on the end of the dowel before pushing it in and then at the base of the ball after the dowel was in. After the crystal effects was mostly set, I filled it in with the rest of the flowers.

For the flower pot, I painted a Terra cotta pot with acrylic paint, 2 coats. I then inserted a cut in half Styrofoam ball, round side down, that way the ball in the pot does not move around. Push the end of the dowel in this piece, again using crystal effects to secure it. Add some moss, grass or shredded paper.

I also added rub ons to my painted pot! I used the Urban West Rub Ons.

As I always say, love is in the details. So I had to put some love on my pot! And it really made the pot and project complete!

Lastly, I wanted to add a tag. I had a few left over flowers and thought they would be great to make a coordinating card, then my dear friend Britiney, who I was making the topiary with, said she was going to add a tag to hers! LOVED that idea. So, I totally copied her idea!

I used a Pretty In Pink flower, I notched the petals by inserting a single petal at a time back into the 5 petal punch and punching a little triangle out of each petal.

The corners of the tag were punched with the Ticket Corner Punch. I also wanted to tie in some silver, as the pins used were silver, so I added a silver brad to the center of the flower, a silver eyelet and cord to attached the tag.

The saying is also from the Urban West Rub Ons, on Almost Amethyst Prints DSP and punched out with the Small Oval Punch.

I had LOTS of fun making this project, especially since I got to get together with my friend Britiney to make it, it is always fun to create with a friend! And, since I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, my life has been enriched with friends I never thought I would have. So, HUGS to all my special stampin' friends out there! If you have been a little frazzled lately, call up a friend and STAMP something, or make a TOPIARY!

Happy Stampin'