Topiaries, by their very nature, are usually well-suited to elegant settings. (We include suggestions at the end to make this craft more appropriate in a rustic setting as well.)
First, select and paint a clay pot with gold paint (or select a pot that complements your table) and set florist’s foam into the pot. Select a stout natural twig for the trunk. (If using one from your yard, you may wish to wash it, treat with insecticide, and allow it to dry and air out for a few days before use.) Select a shaped foam piece for the top of the topiary. Balls are popular, but cones and other shapes should be available.
Carefully place the foam topiary piece onto the trunk, making the hole that you will later use when assembling the topiary, then remove the trunk. Cover the bottom of the trunk with glue, and set it into the foam in the pot.
Cover the foam topiary shape with glue, and roll it in a pan filled with colorful kernels of Indian Corn (these can often be purchased as popcorn - if you cannot find them as popcorn, you can purchase ears of Indian corn and twist the kernels off to remove them). Beans, lentils, or other dried kernels can also be used, but for the sake of appearance on the elegant table, you will probably want to use only a single kind, or at least all should probably be of uniform size and shape. If there are any open spaces, add glue and press kernels to cover. Be careful to leave the hole you made for the trunk.
Allow the topiary shape to dry, then add glue to the top of the trunk and press the topiary shape, using the hole you made previously, onto the trunk. Glue florist’s moss or Spanish moss (or another moss of your choice) over the foam in the pot, and around the place where the trunk enters the topiary if desired.
Finish by tying a tiny bow around the trunk (either midway, or where it joins the topiary), a wider bow around the topiary or on top of the topiary, and/or a bow around the pot, depending on your finished piece and your taste. Consider using a sheer gold wire-edged ribbon for creating the bow for a really elegant touch.
This craft can also be easily adapted to a more rustic table by using a variety of beans. You may also want to leave the pot unpainted or paint it using duller colors or those suited to your table setting. You may also wish to use raffia or strips of fabric instead of ribbon. If you choose fabric, you may use a solid color or a small gingham print, or a fall-themed fabric. The fabric can be torn into strips for tying the bow, or cut with pinking shears, to give a charming effect.
