What is topiary and how to make it?

Recently, many people are beginning to get involved in the creation of topiary. Topiary is an original tree made from a variety of materials. For such crafts, natural materials, various decor, fabrics and all kinds of accessories are used. There is a lot of information about the history of the emergence of topiary. What kinds of crafts are there and how to make them with your own hands will be discussed further.

"Tree of Happiness" - this name is synonymous with the word topiary. What is topiary art? Decorative models in the form of a mini-tree placed in a pot are called topiary. It should be noted that such products do not have to look like the original wood. Usually these are models decorated with unusual materials or having a non-standard shape.

The crown of a tree often looks like a ball, but craftsmen often choose other shapes, for example, in the form of a cone, heart or polygon. The final result will depend directly on the fantasy of the master. Such an original tree will immediately attract everyone's attention. The dimensions of such products allow them to be installed on the floor, placed on a shelf, table or placed on a windowsill.

The main types of such products include the following.

• Indoor topiary. Such hand-made products are used to create original interior decorations.
• Street models. They are artificial trees that serve as an original decoration of the garden in a country house or in the country.

There are various options for crafts. Especially popular indoor topiary. Decorative models with an original crown, made by craftswomen, will be a wonderful gift for a holiday or other celebration. So, you can make a mini-tree of happiness, create a topiary for the New Year, or make a money tree. In recent years, such crafts have often been used as wedding decor.

So that dust does not collect on the products, it should be regularly looked after, that is, remove dust... For these purposes, a regular hair dryer is suitable, a cold jet of which should be blown over the model. It is not recommended to place topiary in places where direct sunlight will fall on them, otherwise the crafts may soon burn out and lose their attractiveness.

The art of unusual curly shearing of trees and shrubs was known in antiquity. Quite often, trees of an unusual shape grew in the gardens of the Roman rich. Gardeners cut the plants, giving them an intricate shape and original look. In ancient Rome, there was a position - topiary. Skillful topiarists managed to cut any images from plants in the form of animals, columns, boats, etc. Special slaves were instructed to keep the ornamental sections of the topia well-groomed and unusually trimmed.

Later, the art of curly hair was a little forgotten and revived during the Middle Ages. The Italian Renaissance gave another impetus to its development, and the fashion for topiary became universal. In Russia, the fashion for topiary art fell on the beginning of the 18th century. Skilled gardeners carved not only animal figurines from trees or shrubs, but even famous personalities. This hobby did not last long. After some oblivion, the fashion for making decorative trees revived again.

Usually, a standard model of an ornamental tree consists of certain parts.

• Crownwhich is an important part of the composition.
• Ball, serving as the basis for attaching the crown. The base ball can be purchased at a specialized store or made yourself from scrap materials. For these purposes, paper, fabric and even construction foam are suitable.
• Trunk. To make the trunk, you can use an elastic wire, a curved branch, an ordinary sushi stick or a pencil. When choosing a barrel for a future craft, it is important to take into account the size and volume of the future model, so special attention should be paid to the strength of the material.
• Pot for topiary. This can be a regular flower pot, an old cup or teapot, a disposable glass, or any convenient container.

The main elements, which the creation of crafts cannot do without, includes varied decor. Having studied the work of experienced craftsmen or guided by their own preferences and imagination, everyone, even a novice craftsman, will be able to create an amazingly beautiful tree. For decoration, you can use pieces of fabric or felt, lace and sisal, napkins and coins. Additions in the form of beads, artificial flowers, ribbons and natural decorative elements will successfully complement the picture and make it possible to make an unusually interesting and original designer mini-tree.

There are many types of decorative topiary. They have different sizes and shapes, and are made from a variety of materials.... A large outdoor topiary is more suitable for decorating administrative buildings, offices, offices or beauty salons. Mini models are commonly used for home decor.

Types of topiary:

• products made from nuts, chestnuts or acorns;
• from natural materials;
• crafts made of jute and burlap;
• felt products;
• models made from pom-poms;
• winter topiary with artificial snow;
• models decorated with flowers and polymer clay patterns;
• topiary of dried flowers;
• mini trees made of corrugated paper.

In addition, there are models made from fabric or from buttons, as well as from pencils or from balls of yarn. Quite unusual models can often be found. So, a mini-tree made using the quilling technique will look original.

Look very unusual edible topiary. Crafts from Raffaello are perfect as an unusual present for a young girl. Mom or grandmother can be presented with a product made of beans; even babies will have to do this work.

There are many interesting examples that can be found on the Internet, drawing on ideas for making such crafts. These include Provence topiary, tulle or feather models. So, it will look very unusual a nest with birds in the form of a crown or a craft with a house.

Also popular seasonal patterns. A Christmas tree decorated with tinsel for a winter composition will look very unusual. For autumn topiary, fruits, dried flowers, berries, fixed in a basket, are suitable. For the summer version, compositions of fresh flowers are used. Experienced craftsmen have learned how to make very beautiful and original products. For beginners, it is better to start with the simplest models, for example, make a craft out of thread and glue.

A mini-composition of coffee beans can become a pleasant gift and will fit into the interior, giving an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. To make a tree from coffee beans, certain materials and tools are required, so the master should have the following.

• Ball. It is used as a base. It is desirable that its diameter does not exceed 10 cm.
• Coffee beans. Their number depends on the size of the craft. Usually, about 300 grams of grains are taken for such a product.
• Strong branch or wirethat is used for the stem.
• Container for crafts. This can be a flower pot or other suitable container.

In addition, you must have scissors, a glue gun, plaster or alabaster for pouring containers, paint and burlap. Decorative items are an important addition. The basis of the decor is made up of coffee beans. You can also craft cinnamon sticks, star anise stars, dried fruit chips, as well as lace, beads, and sisal.

Making such a craft begins with the crown. So that the white color does not shine through, a dark paint is applied to the foam base.You can use fabric or thick threads instead of paint and wrap its product. Before making the crown, you should prepare a hole for an impromptu trunk.

The coffee beans must be sorted, placing the chopped and small beans separately, using them for the bottom layer. It is better to glue large beautiful grains on top of the crown. The finished glued tree is ready for planting it in a pot. To do this, you need to make a gypsum solution and pour it into a container, insert the barrel exactly in the middle and hold for 5 minutes until the gypsum hardens.

After drying, proceed to the complete decoration of the tree. There are many options for this design. It all depends on the imagination of the master, as well as on the chosen decorative elements. Winter models can be supplemented with fir cones. For summer, it is better to choose bright decorations and unusual feather decor.

You can build a craft from different materials.A floral topiary of roses, poppies and daisies, as well as a mini-composition with orchids, will look very beautiful. When making such a craft, you should take into account the advice of experienced craftsmen.

• It is better for the pot to match the color of the top of the composition. The difference between the upper and lower parts by 2 tones is allowed.
• In order not to adapt the entire composition to the color of the store pot, it is better to make or decorate it yourself.
• It is important that the diameter of the pot does not exceed the diameter of the crown.

Multicolored satin ribbons are very popular in the manufacture of mini-topiary. It is very easy to use and pliable material. For work, the master needs sharp scissors and a lighter to straighten the cuts. By choosing ribbons as the main material, it is undesirable to use too flashy shades. It is most appropriate to choose pastel or contrasting shades.

One of the simplest techniques for creating satin ribbon buds is the kanzashi technique. A sunflower made using the kanzashi technique can be an ideal option for topiary. Nevertheless, the most popular flower is considered to be the rose. To make a rose from satin ribbons using the kanzashi technique, you need the following.

• Take a satin ribbon about 50 cm long.
• Using a glue gun, apply some glue to the edge of the ribbon.
• Fold the edge with a corner.
• Form a bud by twisting the tape and gluing it each time until the tape runs out.

The size of the rose will depend on the number of turns. The required number of flowers should be made from ribbons of different colors. Ready-made roses are glued to the base and supplemented with decorative elements.

Models made of corrugated paper can be made even by an inexperienced craftsman, because corrugated paper is considered a very convenient material for work. To make your own tree of happiness out of corrugated paper, you need to take:

• ball base, about 12 cm in diameter;
• corrugated paper;
• floristic foam or fixing mixture;
• a flowerpot that will serve as a base;
• stick or branch for a trunk about 30 cm long.

In addition to these necessary items, the master will need a glue gun or PVA glue, scissors, sisal, beads for decoration, and other decor.

To make roses for topiary, you need the following.

• Cut 60-80 strips of corrugated paper. The strips should be 60 cm long and 5 cm wide.
• From each strip you need to twist a rose and fix it with glue.

Then the base ball should be completely pasted over with roses, attached to the trunk and installed in a pot. Using additional decor, you can improve the finished product, making it more sophisticated and interesting.

Money trees should be singled out in a separate category. For work, the master may need iron coins or souvenir paper bills.

• Topiary made of money will become an unusual interior decoration. It can be placed both at home and at work, in an office or office.
• The money tree is an original and unusual gift for a celebration. By attaching a couple of real bills to the crown, you can add some zest.
• Such a craft used to attract money, especially if you make a similar wish when constructing such a topiary.

There are many interesting options for creating such crafts, where, instead of the usual materials, non-standard... Crafts made from cotton pads or pasta look very unusual. Non-standard products can vary not only in the material used, but also in shape and fittings. A piece of jewelry entirely consisting of beads or beads can be seen very rarely, because the creation of such a masterpiece will require a long painstaking work.

Usually, a flower pot or old cup is used as a container for the tree. A growing tree from a mug, as well as fixed on a glass or saucer, will look no less original. A moss or sisal underlay will complement the chosen decor.

Anyone can make a topiary from the available tools at home. Making it does not require special skills. Detailed instructions will allow you to carry out the work step by step, quickly and without hesitation.

You can time the craft for any celebration and prepare it:

• for a man on February 23;
• on Valentine's Day by February 14;
• by May 9.

Kids will also be able to please their beloved mothers and grandmothers by making a small children's spring topiary. Among a large number of a wide variety of options, children will be able to choose an easier one and make a craft, guided by it. In the classic version, a pot is used for the tree.

A master class on making topiary by March 8 looks like this. Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare all the necessary tools, materials and decorative elements. The master needs to take:

• a flower vase, preferably with a narrow neck or bottle;
• foam or paper ball;
• artificial flowers;
• satin ribbons;
• PVA glue or glue gun.

Starting work, you need to take a base ball and glue it to the neck of a vase or bottle. Next, they begin to fix the artificial flowers using PVA glue until they completely cover the crown of the tree. You can wrap a vase with a bright ribbon and tie it with a bow. By March 8, you can make a mini-tree, where the figure eight acts as the main part. It remains only to wrap the base with a satin ribbon and fix it in a decorated flowerpot, and then hand it to mom.

Typically, topiary is used to decorate a room. It doesn't have to be small crafts. There are many options for such products, which are large, so they are installed on the floor. More often, such trees can be seen in public institutions, offices, beauty salons.

Mini models are more suitable for home decoration. It is ideal for placement in the kitchen, bedroom, living room or nursery. In any interior, such an original craft will take its rightful place.

A miniature copy of a tree can be decorated in different themes, timed to coincide with a specific event or holiday. You can hang a small topiary magnet on the refrigerator or find a suitable place for the classic model on the windowsill.

Having studied the work of more experienced craftsmen and adopting ideas for inspiration, you can make a topiary that amazes with its beauty and grace.

Topiary forms will perfectly fit into any style. So, for the Provence style, products decorated with burlap, lace, braid are suitable.

Nautical design can be supported by making a topiary in a similar style. The product with shells, pearls and pebbles is perfect as an original souvenir that will remind you of a pleasant seaside holiday.

Original coffee tree will become a decoration of any cafeteria. It is also a great option for presenting a gift to a coffee lover.

Models with cute buds combined with lush flowers, made of corrugated paper, are often used as a wedding bouquet or other celebration.Often, brides choose this option as their main bouquet. It is not inferior in its beauty to bouquets of fresh flowers, while such flowers will not fade or deteriorate.

Especially popular are seasonal topiary... For each season, you can choose a beautiful version of such a craft. New Year, autumn or flower topiary is made according to a certain algorithm, while the difference here will be only in the choice of certain materials.

For a Christmas tree use cones, sisal and tulle. Decorate it with fir twigs, serpentine, feathers or small Christmas tree decorations.

They will look very gentle spring mini-trees... Most often, such products have a calm color scheme, but with the presence of bright strokes. The combination of light green with yellow, orange and pink tints creates a special mood. Decor in the form of butterflies and ladybirds will ideally complement the spring composition.

A summer tree often looks brighter.... There are various colors and shades, suitable decor in the form of butterflies, birds, dragonflies is used.

For autumn crafts, dry leaves, tree fruits, berries or artificial flowers are used. Such compositions usually have a less vivid and saturated color. Combinations of brown with yellow, green and red are appropriate here. The tree looks no less impressive in contrasting shades.

For information on how to make a topiary with your own hands, see the next video.