DIY tree made from flowers. How to make an artificial tree with your own hands: the best ideas for decorating a room

Topiary Topiary handmade) is a decorative tree of happiness, a symbol of wealth and prosperity in the home. Used in interior design, common in European countries. The structure of a topiary is a pot, a trunk and a ball: no restrictions on techniques or materials! However, we recommend following general rules for composition, color combinations and proportions. The following details show how to make a tree of happiness and what materials can be used.

Collection of topiary master classes

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New Year's topiary

Berries in the snow

New Year's topiary “Berries on the Snow” is suitable for both beginner needlewomen and experienced craftswomen who will gain new ideas and inspiration! Tree of happiness on a foam ball d=12 cm, base - halves walnuts. The main decor is small foam apples and sisal balls.

The crown is also decorated with plastic snowflakes, sugar and smooth foam berries, and bouquets of stamens. The finished topiary is processed artificial snow in a can. The master class is available in video format and step by step article with photo.

First snow

New Year's tree of happiness made of dried chestnuts, acorns with caps, walnuts, as well as sisal and rattan balls, star anise, cinnamon sticks, plastic snowflakes, a garland of beads and foam berries.

The crown is on a foam ball with fabric wrapping. The topiary is planted in a restored old pot, filled with plaster and crushed stone. Master class from Alena Tikhonova in video format, as well as step-by-step instructions with photos.

Coffee topiary

Garden of Eden

A tree of happiness on a foam ball with bronze paint, a crown of coffee beans glued in even rows with the core facing up.

The main composition runs diagonally and consists of layers of white petals, branches of alder cones, foamiran and paper roses, stamens and bonsai grass. Also, 2 doves made a nest from sisal on the crown. Master class on topiary from coffee and roses in video format, as well as in an article with step by step photos.

Spices of the East

To decorate the topiary, exclusively natural materials were used (except for felt for the leaves and satin ribbon for the bow). Coffee tree of happiness on a foam ball with a diameter of 8 cm in a brown ceramic cup. The trunk is a curved branch of corilus, painted bronze.

Crown of coffee beans, central composition - dried citrus slices, Bay leaf, felt leaves, a “button” made of salt dough. Small decor: peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, corn, dried peas, bows and stars pasta.

Dew drops

Topiary made of coffee beans with bronzed crown and trunk. Decorative tree in a dark brown cup made of unfired clay, with a polished corilus branch as a trunk.

The crown of coffee beans is decorated with a composition of fabric and foamiran flowers with satin ribbons. The image is complemented by a colorful butterfly on the reverse side. Throughout coffee tree happiness - a luxurious scattering of pearls.

Coffee dreams

A small topiary made from coffee beans is a typical example of a simple and fast production. The simple design and available materials do not imply preparatory work. Thanks to this, the craft will take 1.5-2 hours, taking into account the glue drying. Moreover, almost all elements are interchangeable and easily accessible. We offer a master class on how to make topiary - in video format and in an article with step-by-step photos.

Topiary with artificial flowers

Heavenly Harmony

Topiary “Heavenly Harmony” is made on a synthetic padding ball, placed on plaster in a plastic flower pot, trunk - a curved wooden branch. The tree of happiness is decorated with homemade flowers made from viscose napkins, sisal balls, berries and fabric roses.

At the base there are sisal balls, a pot with lace, satin ribbons and flowers. The composition is completed by a double satin bow tied under the crown on the trunk.

Awakening of Spring

The flower tree of happiness “Awakening of Spring” is a colorful and wildly blooming meadow, personifying sunny May days and warmth. We used homemade flowers from napkins and felt, ready-made foamiran and fabric roses, sisal balls, stamens, leaves and small inflorescences. There is a decorative butterfly perched on the crown, and a cute foam bird at the base of the topiary. The tree is mounted on plaster in a tall flower pot with a perforated border.

The master class is presented in photo and video format with subtitles, tips and recommendations from the author.

Charm

Purple-white topiary from flowers is made quite quickly, but labor-intensively - buds from cardboard egg trays are formed in several stages: cutting out blanks, painting and assembling, gluing felt or organza leaves.

We offer step-by-step master classes in video (FullHD 1080p) and text format with photos.

The scent of spring

Wedding tree of happiness in white tones with green splashes in the form of artificial leaves that are in harmony with light green sisal and large green apple at the base, refresh and saturate the composition. Topiary on a ball made of newspapers, a crown made of apricot kernels, the main decor is prefabricated flowers from cardboard trays for eggs.

An elegant thin trunk of a curved shape is a branch of Corilus. The decorative tree is planted on plaster in a low ceramic cup. The main elements are painted rich white - in Provence style. The master class is available in photo and video format with detailed step-by-step instructions.

Orange mix

Orange topiary from orange peels is made quickly, but requires preparatory work: drying the orange peel and citrus slices takes 3-7 days. In addition to orange flowers, foam tangerines, berries, satin ribbons and bow-shaped pasta were used for decoration.

We offer detailed master class in video, photo and text format with step-by-step instructions for making your own topiary.

Money tree topiary

Abundance

Money topiary “Abundance” is made on a homemade ball with roses from paper bills. On the crown are symbols of abundance and prosperity. On the ball there was a frog, a bunch of grapes and a scattering of coins. The pot is made by hand from plaster, painted in 3 layers with an antique effect, stylized as a wallet with a metal zipper. The trunk - a curved Salex branch - is fixed in a pot with plaster casting.

Spring luxury

Money topiary on a finished foam ball with a curved trunk in a plastic pot. Gypsum casting was used to fix the trunk. Crown decor - handmade roses from paper money, 99 flowers! Sugar berries and stamens, plastic leaves and yellow paper roses are also used.

The Tree of Happiness “Spring Luxury” is designed in fresh and bright yellow-green colors. Topiary is perfect for a gift or to decorate your kitchen interior. Prepared for you step-by-step master class with photo and video instructions, as well as a detailed presentation of the finished product.

Sea shell topiary

Lavender sea

Decorative tree made of shells and roses “Lavender Sea” - a beautiful and unusual topiary on 2 trunks in a neat painted pot filled with plaster. The crown is decorated with shells (painted with mother-of-pearl acrylic), delicate roses made of ceramic plasticine and balls of purple sisal. In addition, the tree of happiness is decorated with buttons wrapped in satin ribbon, smooth berries and sisal balls.

Blue Lagoon

Marine topiary "Blue Lagoon" combines the beauty of nature with artificial decor. The shells of snails, which form the basis of the crown, are painted acrylic paint ultramarine. The compositional center is half of a large rapana. A pot is a tin can decorated with popsicle sticks, shells and waste material. At the base of the tree, on a scattering of small shells and sisal, a blue decorative bird is planted.

coral reef

The sea topiary is made from a variety of shells with homemade clay roses and sisal balls. The shells are painted in coral, mother-of-pearl and soft blue.

The composition of the tree of happiness is complemented by bright plastic inhabitants of the seas and oceans: crabs, octopus, starfish. The ball is wrapped in twine and sisal, the trunk is sanded, plaster casting is used, and the pot is wrapped in linen rope.

Topiary in the shape of a heart

Sapphire Heart

Coffee topiary “Sapphire Heart” with a foam base 15 cm wide, a curved Salex trunk, planted in a lilac plastic pot on plaster. The heart is thickly covered with coffee beans painted in 2 layers: bronze and white. The crown is decorated with foamiran roses, two types of artificial flowers, green leaves, alder and larch cones, as well as small cones. The barrel is painted white.

On the wings of Love

This heart-shaped topiary combines a textured coffee surface with elegant floral decoration. Roses made of ceramic plasticine in various shades Pink colour are in harmony with the butterfly and a scattering of pearls with stamens. The tree of happiness is planted in a white ceramic cup, the trunk is made from a curved branch of corilus (salex). The composition is completed by delicate wings made of natural feathers.

Autumn topiary

Walk in the garden

The “Walk in the Garden” topiary is made of artificial fruits and vegetables, flowers and small inflorescences. The trunk is painted with chocolate acrylic; for color support, the crown is also decorated with dried chestnuts. On top there is a nest with quail eggs, and on the other side there is a straw hat with a rapeseed ribbon. At the base fruit tree a decorative bird has settled down. The topiary is planted in a metal bucket, the trunk is reinforced with plaster casting.

Magic Glade

The autumn tree of happiness turned out to be unusual: a successful combination of natural material and artificial decor. Chestnuts, acorns with caps, shells walnut, apricot kernels, sisal are harmoniously combined with berries, fruits and vegetables made of foam, artificial flowers and grape leaves.

The composition is complemented by a decorative dragonfly and a snail shell. A dense meadow with well-arranged gifts of autumn, a tree of happiness in orange-brown tones.

Notes of autumn

An original topiary made from chestnuts, acorns with pluses, walnut halves and sisal. In addition to natural materials, decorative elements were used to decorate the crown: artificial rose hips, smooth and sugar berries, and foam stamens.

At the base autumn tree- composition on decorative moss. The clay pot is decorated with wooden sticks and coffee beans, and the rim is painted with yellow acrylic to tie in with the napkin roses on the crown.

Autumn mood

Fragrant topiary “Autumn Mood” using natural materials: flowers made from orange peel, dried citrus slices, peeled apricot and peach pits, cinnamon, a bunch of acorns, dried flowers. The trunk is a twisted branch, a clay pot filled with plaster (for strong fixation of the heavy tree of happiness).

We offer a step-by-step master class on the natural tree of happiness: text version, photos and full video MK in FullHD quality with subtitles. Choose the format that is convenient for you!

Seasons

The Tree of Happiness is an unusual format: a series of master classes in the same style, but with a different set of materials. Autumn theme - acorns, pine cones and orange flowers. New Year theme - with larch cones, red stamens and artificial grass. Spring theme - with pink foamiran roses, pine cones and bonsai branches.

Each topiary is planted on a plaster cast in a metal bucket, the trunk is 2 curved branches of corilus (salex). A foam Christmas tree toy with a diameter of 4 cm was used as a ball.

Birdsong

A topiary of chestnuts, acorns and nuts with decorative doves and a ladder is planted in a small clay pot on plaster. The crown is decorated with piles of acorns with pearls and prefabricated decor: satin bows with white sugar berries. The curved trunk and ladder are painted bronze; at the base, on sisal flaps, doves nestle in a twisted nest. The pot is decorated with satin ribbon and lace.

Elements of topiary design

Crown

The basis of the tree of happiness in 9 out of 10 cases is a ball: the spherical shape is ideal for forming a crown. Other original shapes are also used to make topiary: heart, horseshoe, dollar, voluminous wreath, star or egg. You can buy foam blanks in craft stores, however, it is very easy to make a ball yourself: from pressed newspapers, padding polyester, cardboard or fabric scraps, and polyurethane foam. In addition, you can use any spherical shape, for example, a skein of knitting thread or a children's ball.
We offer detailed review, where the techniques are described and a variety of ready-made solutions are shown.

In some cases, for example, for coffee beans and corrugated paper flowers, as well as for quickly making decorative wood, it is much more convenient to use a ready-made foam ball.

Trunk

Wooden branches, Chinese chopsticks, long skewers, pencil, wire, thin tube - any durable object of straight or curved shape, suitable in length and diameter for a specific design, is used as a trunk for the tree of happiness.

The choice of trunk for topiary is not limited, but the weight of the crown should be taken into account so that the branch does not break.

Pot and methods of attaching the trunk

Stability of the base, the ability to strengthen the trunk, a shape suitable for the crown design - the main criteria when choosing a container in which to A the tree of happiness grows. In addition, the shape must correspond to the selected crown design; the pot is decorated depending on the design of the specific product.
To secure the trunk, fill it with plaster or fix it with crushed stone and treat it with glue. The filling of the pot is hidden under the decorative composition at the base of the trunk.
We offer a detailed review, with or without plaster: secrets of pouring, recommendations, photos and video master classes.

Materials for making a tree of happiness

Ready decor

To make topiary you will need a wide variety of ready-made materials for needlework:

• Satin ribbons, bows.
• Organza, felt, mesh.
• Flowers from foamiran.
• Sisal and .
• Beads, glue half-beads.
• Corrugated paper.
• Ready-made decorative elements: artificial flowers, fruits, berries.

Popular natural and improvised materials for the tree of happiness are:

• Coffee beans.
• Pasta of various shapes.
• Cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, bay leaf.
• Dried orange, lemon, tangerine - peels, slices.
• Decorative stones, pebbles, glass.

Homemade decor

The basis of the composition of almost any tree of happiness (with the exception of express topiary, on which mainly ready-made elements are glued) is a prefabricated decor from various different materials. Most often these are pre-collected flowers.

How to make topiary with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

1. Preparation of prefabricated decorative elements.
2. Making a ball or using a foam blank.
3. Decorating the crown using the chosen technique with previously prepared elements.
4. Decorating the pot and securing the trunk - filling it with plaster or securing it with crushed stone.
5. Assembling a tree of happiness.
6. Final decoration of the topiary.

Proposed step-by-step instruction How to make topiary is indicative: for convenience, some steps can be swapped or combined.

Symbolic meaning of the tree

The tree symbolizes development, dynamic growth, seasonal withering and restoration, wealth and well-being. The branches mean versatility, variety of choice, and the common trunk is a symbol of unity. In mythology, a tree is a magical, powerful image, the abode of gods and spirits. In Feng Shui practice, the tree of happiness in the home is a symbol of prosperity, abundance and wealth. In addition, topiary created independently - original gift, a sign of respect and love, a real surprise for connoisseurs of handmade crafts.

Excursion into history
The etymology of the word “Topiary” comes from the ancient art of cutting garden trees and shrubs - “Topiar” (Topiary material from Wikipedia). From Latin topiaria- gardening art, actively developing in Europe since the times of the Roman Empire. Shrub sculpture was carried out by specially trained slaves - topiaries.

At first, topiary simply called a garden in which crops were cut short. ornamental trees with adjacent garden sculptures. In the current understanding, topiary means an original small tree. If you want to quickly get a small tree with the perfect shape, you can make it yourself.

At least four elements are needed for this craft. Such a small list is just a base, without which a sort of flower globe on a stem will not work.

Required items:

• Pot/stand;
• Trunk;
• The basis;
• Crown.

The main craft is usually a ball. Man has an inherent desire to comprehend perfection, and strict geometry sometimes brings him closer to this. But in the photo you can see other forms of topiary, for example, a heart.

Today, a foam blank is used as a base. In order not to make the ball himself, the master buys several at once in craft stores, and this, of course, simplifies the work.

For the trunk, thick wire is usually taken, it needs to be wrapped with twine (twine is used most often), or with decorative braid or ribbon.

Flower ball for topiary (video)

Making your own topiary: the basics step by step

The most interesting stage of work, where great opportunities open up, is the manufacture of the crown. Paper is often used, from corrugated paper to multi-layer napkins. Creating such a crown requires care.

Fabric crafts are also interesting; in the photo you can see all the nuances of this work. The now popular felt is widely used in the creation of topiary; cotton and satin ribbons are also used.

The fabric crown will be complemented by beads, seed beads, and buttons. What is the crown not made from? most interesting works can be made from pistachios. European wood (as these products are also called) turn out to be very natural. True, you will need a lot of pistachios, unless you are planning to make a mini-tree.

In addition to pistachios, coffee beans are actively used. This technique is in such demand because it can kill two birds with one stone. The bonsai tree will not only be beautiful, it is important that it also emits a special aroma.

DIY thread topiary

A separate story is topiary made of different thicknesses of threads. Usually the threads serve as the basis for the future crown. To make such a tree, you need to wrap it with threads balloon, moreover, it is important that the threads sit on the glue. The balloon is then deflated (just poke a pin through it) and you are left with a round, porous figure of thread. Such a thread globe. Just wait until the glue dries!

Other threads can be used to decorate the trunk of a tree. You should not use the same threads from which the globe is made. The structure of such thread structures is used not only in the creation of topiary. This is often how a lamp is made - quickly and easily.

DIY topiary base (video)

Topiary made from coffee beans: fragrant decor

Coffee beans themselves are excellent decorative material. In their color and texture, they are not inferior to the decor made of glass beads, beads, and even the incredible aroma is associated with the benefits of coffee.

There is also such a fashionable type of coffee topiary made from coffee as a coffee gentleman. This tree has handles, a butterfly or a whole tailcoat, and a cylinder on the head-crown.

Coffee topiary is characterized by:

• Selection of grains - large and beautiful ones go to the upper layer of the crown, and small and chopped ones to the lower layer;
• Instead of a pot or vase, you can use a beautiful coffee cup;
• Chocolate candies can complement this topiary.

The grains can be spray painted or varnished.

Coffee tree (photo master class)

The main stage of making the base for the crown is already known to you. The crown may not necessarily be in the shape of a ball. If a “heart” topiary is planned, the base is made using a cardboard template covered with crumpled paper or cotton wool.

Napkin topiary: delicate flowers

Modern paper napkins are more of a decorative product than a household one. The structure of the napkin and the pattern inspire craftsmen to widely use these same napkins. Including in the manufacture of topiaries.

How can you use napkins in this case:

• Make flowers, buds, roses from fragments of a napkin, and then create compositions from them;
• Cover the smooth base ball for the crown with the top layer of a napkin (decoupage principle), cover with a layer of varnish;
• Creating numerous miniature lumps from a napkin and pasting these lumps over the base ball to form a textured crown.

Napkins are also a good material for decorating a tree trunk or a pot. And here you will need to use decoupage techniques. New Year's topiaries made from napkins and textured Christmas trees are especially elegant.

DIY topiary made from napkins (video)

Topiary made of pine cones: New Year's decoration or memories of autumn

This topiary will be an excellent winter decoration, and pine cones are somehow related to autumn decor. Most often, the cones themselves are subjected to decorative processing. So, for topiary they are often painted with golden spray paint (or silver). And with the help of a simple bleach, ordinary buds can be turned into snow-white without any coloring.

Pine cone topiary is most often a tree with a round crown covered with cones. Sometimes the crown can be heart-shaped. New Year's topiary can be made in the form of a snowflake from cones. In this case, it is advisable to cover the snowflake with artificial snow. This can be ordinary coarse sea salt fixed with PVA glue.

As an autumn craft, this topiary also includes chestnuts, acorns, nuts and leaves.

Cone decor: tree of happiness (photo master class)

Let's take a closer look at the process of making a tree of happiness from pine cones in an autumn theme. A foam ball will be used as the base, which can be replaced with a homemade ball made of any material.

Product made from satin ribbons: DIY tree of happiness

Satin ribbons are an inexpensive and accessible material that can be used at different stages of topiary making. Most often, ribbons are used as additional decor. They are tied around pots, trunks, and bows made of satin ribbons complement the crown.

But this type of topiary is also popular, as a souvenir tree with flowers made of satin ribbons.

The principle of creating such a tree is simple:

• From satin ribbons different colors a bud is formed, the components of which are sewn together with hidden seams;
• The required number of flower buds is made, which are fixed with hot glue on the base ball;
• The trunk of the tree is tied with a satin ribbon or a combination of both;
• The pot can also be tied with a thin ribbon.

The video master class will show the process of making a tree from ribbons in more detail.

Topiary made of satin ribbons (video MK)

Autumn topiary: memories of the golden age

An autumn tree or a souvenir topiary decorates the house like nothing else, if you want to bring accents of the lyrics of autumn into it. Most often, natural materials are used, which can be found literally under your feet.

Cones, chestnuts, acorns, dried flowers, berries, rowan and, of course, leaves are actively used.

This type of topiary is popular as a tree with a crown of roses made from leaves. To prevent the leaves from wilting, they can be soaked in a glycerin solution. True, this process is not so simple, if only because for two to three weeks glycerin will be absorbed into the leaf through a slightly cut twig. And then the leaves will dry for another three weeks.

DIY topiary “School tree” (video)

Sea topiary: souvenir made from shells

Topiary can be made as follows:

• Cover the crown with beautiful shells, decorating such a ball in one place with a decorative starfish;
• Wrap the trunk with a satin blue or turquoise ribbon;
• The pot can be a souvenir mug bought just on vacation, and if there is some kind of symbolic inscription on it, even better;
• You can throw smooth pebbles or sea sand into the pot.

Instead of a round crown, there may be a heart-shaped crown. And this, in turn, could be a photo frame where a canvas of shells frames a photograph from a seaside holiday.

Topiary in a marine style (photo master class)

MK with step-by-step photos will show you how to make topiary from shells in detail.

Topiary made of corrugated paper

Corrugated paper is cheap, and the number of handicraft items where it can be used is huge. Making topiaries also could not do without the use of corrugated paper (or crepe paper).

Having made the required number of flowers from corrugated paper, they are glued to the base ball with a hot-melt gun, forming a flower crown.

Corrugated paper has the most wonderful property - it is flexible and stretches well, making the petals incredibly lifelike.

Master class: corrugated paper topiary (video)

Topiary “Money Tree”: how to attract financial well-being

The topiary itself is often called the money tree, although it was originally considered the tree of happiness. But you can also turn such a lucky souvenir into a money symbol - for this you use either coins or banknotes (souvenir, finite).

Coins can become beautiful decor crowns You just need to take ten-ruble coins that appear to be gold. They do not need to be additionally decorated, varnished or undergo other procedures. Coins are glued on according to the principle of scales, first one coin, then two more on top of it, so that the first one is in the middle. And around these three coins others are stuck.

The money tree of their bills also looks great, but the bills need to be presented gracefully. Buds, rolls, “birds”, etc. are formed from them. This money tree is an excellent gift option for a young family that has yet to build their family budget.

Money tree: topiary made from coins (photo master class step by step)

New Year's topiary: decorate the house for the holiday

New Year's souvenir trees are special topiaries that can be made from a variety of materials. Most often, topiaries are made in the form of a Christmas tree, that is, the usual round crown is replaced by the shape of a Christmas tree.

Cones are used as materials for New Year's topiary:

• Cones– both in natural form and decorated;
• Tulle or organza, from which you can make so-called pounds;
• Felt- in itself, in its texture, which is an excellent decor;
• Sequins, from which “Christmas tree scales” can be created;
• Textile;
• Christmas tinsel and sweets;
• Chocolate candies and beautiful wrappers.

New Year's topiary is a special decor. The use of rhinestones, beads, bugles, buttons, braid and satin ribbons is welcome. As a pot, you can use cups that are decorated with cotton wool, New Year-themed napkins, tinsel, etc.

Master class: New Year's tree of happiness (video)

Other options: what topiary can be made from

Almost anything can make a great decorative base for topiary. You can combine materials, create eclectic trees, etc.

Examples of topiary:

• Topiary made of buttons. Buttons different sizes and flowers can become a crown for a tree. They are easy to glue, easy to work with, and assembling the buttons is not at all difficult.
• Paper rose topiary. Paper roses from old sheet music (many people have collections lying around on the mezzanine) look very beautiful - this is vintage, which is so relevant now.
• Pistachio topiary. Pistachio shells, both decorated and natural, can decorate the crown of a tree.
• Pasta topiary. Pasta is an excellent material for decoration. They are easy to paint, varnish, and glue together. All that remains is to choose the pasta of the desired shape.

Sometimes not the most ordinary materials complement traditional topiary.

Unusual topiary design

European trees serve as excellent home decorations. For the kitchen, the living room, and other rooms, such trees will serve as natural decor. And e If the material from which the topiary is made is difficult to surprise anyone today (although it is possible), then it is definitely possible to impress with the form.

Topiary Ideas:

• Rowan bonsai. Autumn craft, elegant, natural, simple to make. Rowan has a beautiful texture and color that can always be complemented with other autumn vegetation. To build such beauty yourself, watch the video master class. A red rowan tree is an ideal autumn interior gift.
• Heart. Topiaries made from burlap and beads in the shape of a heart look great. Often such topiaries are used as an accessory for themed photo shoots.
• Bonsai made of lush fabric. And this tree will become the decor for such celebrations as weddings. You can build many mini topiaries, the creation of which does not take much time.
• Tree-lamp. A cozy decoration for the home - a cute option for both the kitchen and the bedroom.
• Topiary for birthday. WITHToday, topiaries are popular not with a crown ball, but with numbers indicating the number of years they have turned. You will get two trunk-stems, on each of which a number “sits”. For example - 30. This could be the same topiary made from coffee beans, with crowns with numbers. Well, the pot in which such an unusual tree grows is decorated in an appropriate way for the birthday.
• Poppy flower made of coffee and burlap. A beautiful topiary is made from coffee beans and fabric, which together can make up a poppy flower, where the grains are the core and the fabric is the petals. You can use crepe paper instead of fabric.

You can create a real mini-garden from such trees at home with your own hands. You can take pictures from the Internet, video instructions, and kitchen decor catalogs as a basis.

Express topiary: master class for beginners (video)

DIY topiary (photo)

As you know, the best gift is one made with your own hands. We get clumsy, but cute and dear to our hearts crafts from our little children. However, most parents themselves are not averse to doing handicrafts. Recently, handmade items have become increasingly popular. Homemade souvenirs are given to family, friends and work colleagues for the holidays. One of these “handmade” masterpieces is topiary - small trees made from various available materials. They are especially loved by adherents of the teachings of Feng Shui. There, topiary is called the “tree of happiness.” Such a tree must be in every home to attract prosperity to it. There is nothing complicated about how to make topiary with your own hands. There are no strict rules in this art; everything depends only on the desire and imagination of the master. If you decide to be creative and prepare heartfelt gifts, we will help with advice (see).

What does topiary consist of: the main points of needlework

As already mentioned, topiary is a structure in the form of a tree. It consists of three components:

1. Crowns. The classic version of topiary has a spherical crown. To obtain this shape, use round blanks made of foam or papier-mâché. Balls can also be made from regular newspaper by crumpling it. The crown can have a different shape as desired (number, heart, cone). Decorations are glued on top of the base. Here you can use almost everything that is in the house. Coffee beans, flowers made of paper or satin ribbons, fresh or dried flowers... Even banknotes in the form of banknotes will serve to decorate the crown.
2. Trunk. The purpose of the trunk is to support the weight of the crown, so it must be strong and strong. There is no need to make the support too high. For a straight trunk, use branches, twigs, sushi sticks or pencils. A shaped, intricate trunk can be made from thick wire by bending it. The top of the trunk is coated with varnish or stain or wrapped with twine or tape.
3. The stands in which this tree will “grow”. Any container is suitable for topiary, as long as it is small. A flower pot or an ordinary mug is decorated with lace, paper, fabric or beads on top. A solution is poured inside the container, which fixes the trunk (gypsum, alabaster, polyurethane foam).

In topiary, the main emphasis is the crown. It should have a diameter larger than the stand or at least equal to it, but not smaller.

How to make topiary with your own hands: coffee tree of happiness

Avid coffee lovers will appreciate a topiary made from halves of coffee beans. It will remind them that it’s time to take a couple of minutes of rest and drink a cup of aromatic coffee. It is done this way:

1. Make a hole in the foam ball. The barrel will be attached to it.
2. Open the ball with PVA glue.
3. Using a glue gun, stick coffee beans onto the ball. They should be placed closer to each other.
4. Wrap a pencil or a flat wooden stick with silk ribbon.
5. Place a drop of glue into the hole and insert the barrel.
6. Pour into a small flowerpot gypsum mixture. Place a tree in the center of the container.

To prevent the foam from melting while gluing the grains, the ball must first be opened with two layers of PVA glue.

When the mixture has hardened, tie a ribbon into a bow under the crown. The gift is ready!

Video instructions for making coffee topiary with pine cones and flowers

There are many ways to create a unique atmosphere of celebration and comfort, not least of which is decorative wood, which you can make with your own hands from various materials.

Photo example:

A skillfully created miracle tree will be a wonderful gift for any occasion.

The variety of materials for “trees of happiness,” as such crafts are also called, is limitless: scraps of fabric, corrugated paper, beads, lace, napkins, buttons, seeds and grains, shells, pebbles - everything that has been lying idle for years in forgotten boxes.

Recently, the popular name “tree of happiness” has been replaced by a fashionable European one – topiary. Since ancient times, this word has been used to describe the art of creating sculptures from living plants: dense evergreen trees and shrubs, in the process of topiary, were transformed into sculptural images or took on the most bizarre forms.

You can learn how to make topiary even at home - it’s not difficult and fun. It takes a lot of imagination and a little perseverance.

Basic elements of ornamental trees

All decorative tree crafts have three main elements:

• The basis. In the final version, the base is the crown of the tree. In most cases, the base is spherical in shape. But if the topiary is made for a special occasion, then you can give the crown the shape of a heart, number or letter.

For a spherical base, tightly crumpled newspaper or other unnecessary paper is often used, tied with thread and coated with paste.

For the shaped base, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, and a papier-mâché mold are used.

• Trunk. Any tree can be used as a trunk for the “tree of happiness.” suitable material: knitting needle, rigid wire, wooden skewers, elements of some structures that fit the shape.

You can also use natural sticks and tree branches. But they are first prepared: after freeing them from the bark, the branch must be washed and coated with varnish or stain.

• Pot or stand. Topiaries look more impressive if their crown diameter is larger than the diameter of the pot. It is difficult to choose a ready-made pot that fully corresponds to the idea of ​​a decorative tree. It’s easier to take any inexpensive pot that is suitable in size and decorate it with existing materials: cover it with fabric, paint it, paste it over it decorative elements, tie with a tourniquet. The crown, trunk and pot should form a single stylistic whole.

Depending on the idea of ​​the decorative tree and the method of its manufacture, you may need:

• glue (superglue, liquid nails, hot glue)
• cement (gypsum, sand, alabaster) to weigh down the base and securely fix the trunk in the pot
• decorative elements: ribbons, cones, shells of various nuts, dried flowers - everything you need to realize a specific plan.

Step-by-step master class on making topiary

To make a topiary with your own hands, first of all prepare the basic elements:

• The trunk, if it is not a natural branch, is wrapped with satin or other ribbons, twine, covered with fabric, and covered with materials selected for this composition. If the barrel consists of several elements, for example, several thin knitting needles or kebab skewers, you must first tighten them with electrical tape.
• You need to think about how to fix the tree in a pot and prepare all the necessary materials. When using a flower pot with drainage holes It is important to seal them first. If the pot or bucket is heavy enough so that the crown does not outweigh the base, then foam plastic, pieces of polystyrene foam, or even polyurethane foam are sufficient for fixation.

The trunk in such a pot is placed in the center, sunk to the ground, burst with prepared materials and filled with polyurethane foam or alabaster in the consistency of sour cream.

Used to weigh down the pot cement mortar with sand: placing the trunk in the center and fixing it, pour cement into the pot and leave to harden. A tree on such a base will stand securely.

• The finished base is put on a firmly fixed trunk, or the trunk is fixed with the base already put on.

If the base for the tree crown is made in the form of any figure, for reliability it should be secured with glue.

The “skeleton” of the tree is ready – you can decorate it.

The near-trunk space of the pot can be decorated with pebbles, shells, and covered with floral mesh or fabric.

The pot itself can be covered with fabric to make a beautiful paper “wrapper”.

The crown can be attached to the base using glue, flowers can be pinned with wire, or placed on wooden skewers.

Popular ideas for decorative trees

By deciding to master the topiary technique, you can get rid of eternal thoughts about how to make an original gift for a holiday or family celebration.

A few traditional ideas and photos:

• A crown of paper flowers with a pinned butterfly and artificial grass or moss around the trunk in winter will remind you of summer.

• A tree of happiness with banknotes is an original gift for a wedding or housewarming.

• A topiary made of pink or blue ribbons will be a welcome souvenir for the birth of a child.

• The New Year's version of the tree is pine branches and cones, silvered with artificial snow.

• A topiary made from fresh fruit is short-lived, but original and practical, decorating the dining room or kitchen.

Decorative trees are considered a worthy decoration for a home. They are appropriate in any interior; you just need to think in advance about the color scheme that fits into the finished design project. Ornamental trees do not require special conditions of maintenance and care. They do not need to be watered as they are artificial plants. These decorative items are freely sold in stores, but it is better to make topiary with your own hands. It will take some time to make it, but in the end you will get a unique decorative tree that fits perfectly into the existing interior of the room. And it’s better to build a topiary yourself, because according to the ancient Chinese teachings of Feng Shui, this tree brings joy to the house. By making a decorative tree, a person charges it. According to legend, topiary can only bring happiness to its creator.

Topiary: history of appearance and significance in modern interiors

The word topiary or topiary comes from the term “topia” - decorative garden plot. The concept came from Ancient Rome and meant various figures carved from the crowns of trees or bushes. Ancient Roman civilization disappeared, but the idea of ​​beautifully decorating gardens was picked up Catholic Church. Then topiary entered social life. Their heyday came in the 17th century: it was then that decorative trees appeared in the residences of rulers of states, incl. and in Russian Empire. Then they were forgotten, but in the 20th century topiaries became popular again. Now they were no longer used to decorate gardens and palace walls, but were planted in pots. Today, topiaries are no longer planted. They can be made from any materials. Topiaries are made in the most bizarre shapes and color range, often combining materials quite controversially. They are otherwise called trees of happiness, believing that they bring joy to the house. They can be made from:

• coffee beans;
• walnuts;
• fir cones;
• straw;
• sweets;
• napkins;
• silk ribbons;
• plastic bags, etc.

Where to start assembling wood

Assembling a topiary must begin with planning the appearance of the future tree of happiness and finding the necessary parts. Appearance topiary is determined by the style of the interior for which it is made. First, find the materials necessary to construct the base of the tree. In any case, you will need tape, glue, colored paper, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, etc. The list of parts is limited only by the imagination of the creator. After collecting the necessary things, you can start creating a topiary. First, the barrel is assembled, because it is the basis of topiary. Moreover, it must not only be strengthened, but also covered with varnish or paint. Then one end of the trunk is attached to a pot, stone or shell, and a ball is hung on the other, which will later become the crown of the tree of happiness. It is best to use glue to hold all the parts of the topiary together.

The basis

To construct the basis of the tree of happiness, whatever is at hand at that moment will do. To make a base from newspapers, you first need to crumple them thoroughly, and only then form a sphere according to the given parameters. Newspapers are crumpled and pressed tightly, after which they are wrapped with tape. The base can also be made from newspaper clippings, but in this case they should be placed in a plastic bag. If you need to make a small base from padding polyester, you first need to compact it into a sock or stocking, then give it the required shape and wind it tightly with sewing thread. It’s even better to make this base from foam plastic, using ordinary packaging from household appliances. But polystyrene foam crumbles and is inconvenient to roll into a ball, so this base is not very popular. In addition to those mentioned above, the following materials can become the basis of topiary:

• polyurethane foam;
• Knitting thread;
• papier-mâché, etc.

Trunk

The trunk of the tree of happiness connects the base with the crown, so it must be strong and stable. Its role can be ordinary wire, secured with artistic tape, twine or plastic. To make the product more realistic, this trunk can be made from a wooden branch or wood chips. But first this branch must be cleared of bark, covered with varnish and stain. If you are making a low topiary, then as a trunk you can take a popsicle stick, sushi sticks or wooden skewers fastened together. The color and type of trunk depends on the material of the base and crown. For topiary with coffee beans, white or Brown color. A curved trunk for a European tree can only be made from wire. You can also take any material that is approximately suitable for the trunk of a topiary, shape it and fill it with plaster.

Crown

To make a topiary crown, absolutely any materials that are currently at hand are suitable. To do this, you can take paper napkins, corrugated paper, folded origami, nylon tapes, etc. Then the crown needs to be decorated. To do this, take fir cones, real seashells, coffee beans, artificial flowers, etc. The crown is the main accent of the tree of happiness, so its design must be taken very seriously. The trunk and stand only emphasize the overall theme of the topiary, so it is advisable to first decide on the material for the crown, and only then design the remaining parts of the tree. But the topiary trunk may not be able to withstand a crown that is too large, so it should not be overloaded. Only the stand of the tree of happiness can be decorated with some elements.

Stand

As a stand for topiary, you can take an ordinary flower pot, a large flat stone or an iron bucket, decorate them beautifully and place them under the crown. The decor of the tree of happiness stand can be anything. It is decorated using the decoupage technique, decorated with lace or bright unusual shreds. You can stick stones, shells and artificial flowers on the stand. This topiary element is a semantic continuation of the crown, so its design must be based on the existing elements of the decorative product. If the tree is decorated in a marine style, then shells and multi-colored pebbles will be appropriate, and for a topiary in a romantic style you will need lace and hearts made of colored paper. The size of the tree's crown should be larger than its stand in order for the composition to look harmonious.

Wood making workshops

Making topiary with your own hands is easy. To do this, you do not need to have artistic taste or designer education. The ideal tree of happiness is decorated intuitively from available materials. There are many master classes on this topic on the Internet, some of them are presented below, but you should not follow these instructions step by step. According to Feng Shui, topiary quickly and effectively activates any sector of an apartment or house, instantly filling it with the necessary energy. But for proper operation it must be decorated with the necessary elements. To normalize family relationships, jasper or amazonite should be glued onto the topiary stand. A tree with tiger eye, charoite or turquoise. And to improve your overall financial situation, you need to decorate your topiary with jet or a hawk’s eye.

From coffee beans

For this topiary, you need to take high-quality large coffee beans and stick them on the base for the crown, laying them out with the central strip down. The ball is completely covered. To do this, it is better to take a glue gun, although you can do without it, using regular glue from a tube. When the ball is completely sealed, take a plastic tube, which is sealed along the entire length with double-sided tape, departing 2-3 cm from both edges. Satin ribbon, fabric or corrugated paper of the desired color is glued to the tape. Then you need to dilute the alabaster and pour the resulting mixture into a pot or iron bucket. Then they insert the barrel into this mixture and wait for the alabaster to harden. After the mixture has hardened, its surface is spread with coffee beans in 2-3 layers. The finished crown is glued to the top of the trunk itself.

The resulting topiary can be decorated with an elegant bow or jewelry.

From the cones

Do-it-yourself topiary from cones is made according to a similar scheme. Small half-opened pine cones are glued onto the foam ball at small intervals from each other. If the gaps are too large, they can be filled with acorns or chestnuts. For additional fixation of elements, you can use golden or brown threads. To make a trunk, you need to put together several (up to 10) bamboo skewers, wrap them with thick white or brown thread, leaving them at the edges of the sticks open areas. Then you need to dilute alabaster with water or take ready-made cement mixture, pour it into a flower pot and insert the tree trunk into the base. When the mixture hardens, it is decorated with pine needles or sisal, a fully formed crown of the tree of happiness is attached to the trunk, and the pot is decorated with a satin or openwork ribbon.

From satin ribbons and other fabrics

As a base for satin ribbon topiary, you can take a foam sphere or a ball of crumpled newspapers, secured with thick threads dipped in PVA glue. Then you need to take satin ribbons of any color, roll them into small rolls, first bending the ribbons at a right angle. You need to bend the satin ribbon several times until it runs out of length. The result of these actions should be a rose bud. Upon completion of production, it is necessary to sew all the petals with a thin silk thread at the base. The number of such roses is determined by the size of the base. Usually 20-30 flowers are required. Then they decorate the crown of the topiary. You can take an ordinary twig as a trunk for such a tree, and use a clay flower pot for the stand. The stand and tree trunk should be decorated with elegant green leaves made of satin ribbons or silk.

Corrugated paper

First you need to take a round foam ball. Then you need to make roses from corrugated paper. If they are very large, then there will be a lot of free space between the flowers that will need to be covered with something, so it is better to make these roses medium-sized. For one small topiary you will need 35-45 roses. To do this, it is better to take paper of different colors in order to alternate the shades of roses on the topiary in the future. The trunk for the tree of happiness can be made from traditional sushi sticks, and ordinary polystyrene can be used as soil. Alabaster is difficult to make, but foam is easy to find. Only the barrel needs to be inserted into the foam base the first time. At the same time, you need to decorate the crown by gluing roses in a chaotic manner. Then the crown is attached to the trunk and the topiary is considered ready. If desired, the soil in the pot is covered with artificial grass, and the trunk of the tree is decorated with a bright bow.

The sea tree of happiness can be made from materials brought from the sea: pebbles, shells, dried crabs and pearls. They should be used to cover the base for the topiary crown. If there are only a few shells and pebbles, the space between them can be decorated with sisal, artificial starfish and marine-themed salt dough crafts. When making a topiary trunk, it is better to take sushi sticks decorated with satin ribbons of white, blue or sand color. As a stand for the tree of happiness, you should take a white flower pot, which can be decorated with artificial pearls, lace and small figures made of salt dough. Inside this pot you need to fill it with alabaster and insert the topiary trunk into this alabaster mixture. You can put sisal fibers, sea pebbles and shells on top of the frozen filling.

Money topiary made of coins and bills

This topiary is usually made from fake banknotes, but for decoration, you can attach real coins to the crown of a tree or stand. Of course, it is better to use rare, antique or foreign coins rather than ordinary ones. To begin with, each bill needs to be folded in half, slightly moving the edges, and then folded into an envelope, securing the uneven edges with double-sided tape. The number of bills depends on the size of the base ball, but traditionally about 20-25 bills are required. Trunk money tree You can make it from twigs or sushi sticks, and use a flowerpot as a stand. The outside of the flowerpot can be decorated with special self-adhesive paper with images of money or lace. Alabaster is poured into the pot itself, the trunk is placed in it and wait for it to dry. After this, the topiary soil is laid out with coins, wood sawdust or decorative stones.

From dried flowers and fresh flowers

Making a tree from dried flowers is quite simple. You can decorate the base for the topiary crown with dried flowers and yellowed leaves, but the flowers and leaves taken for these purposes must be strong and dense, otherwise they will simply fall apart during work. Dried flowers are attached directly to the foam ball. They take a curved branch from the street as a trunk, and an ordinary one turns into a stand. clay pot. The inside of the pot is filled with alabaster, first fixing the trunk of the topiary. This trunk is inserted into the finished tree crown, and the dried alabaster is decorated with dry leaves and flowers. Topiary from fresh flowers is usually created by professional florists, but you can try making it at home yourself. To do this, you need to take rose buds, chamomile flowers, lilies or chrysanthemums, correctly and carefully cut off their stems and attach them to the base of the crown. Otherwise, the technique for producing a tree of happiness and decorating a topiary pot is similar to making it from dried flowers.