Valentine's Day Topiary

I love Valentine's Day!  Even back when I was single I still loved the idea of a holiday celebrating Love and Romance.  Today I decided to make a Valentine's Day craft--a Topiary for the special day.  I was inspired by a Topirary that Greenbean Crafterole made for the spring.  What a great idea and how easy to adapt it to every holiday!

You will need:

Dowel Rods cut to size

Small metal bucket or container

Felt or Foamie stickers

Bath Sponge Fluff ball

Acrylic paint to match your bucket

Hot Glue Gun

Ribbon

Chunk of foam for bottom of container

Shredded Paper that you'd use in a gift basket

All the necessary "stuff" came from Michael's or Target

(love those $1.00 bins in Target)

Cut your dowels down to a size that works for

your needs. Mine were about 12 inches long.

Paint the dowel with acrylic paint that matches your container.

(Don't mind my mom's fingers)

Put some hot glue in the bottom of your container

then put a chunk of foam on it before it dries.

Stick your dowel in the foam.  I also added pieces of

white tissue paper around the foam so it stays nice and tight.

(There is my mom's hand again)

Take your bath "fluff" and cut the attached string off at the end

but be careful that you don't cut it in half because

it will unravel the whole sponge. 

Spread the fluff out and put hot glue down in

 it so you can then put your dowel in it.

(Oh, there it is again-her hand)

Flip your bucket upside down and stick it in the fluff

that has the hot glue already on it.

Put your felt stickers or foam pieces on the fluff sponge.

Aren't they pretty?

Tie ribbon either at the base of the dowel or right under the fluff sponge.

Mix up your paper shred if you are using 2 colors.

Fill the bucket up with the shredded paper and you are all set!

  

Thanks for the inspiration Greenbean Crafterole!