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How to Make a Holiday Table Top Decoration - Topiary
Most any size space will welcome a tabletop tree decoration. Tiny holiday trees require only
minimal time and effort to make, but you'll enjoy the beautiful results all season long.
This version is made from fresh bay leaves applied to a plastic-foam cone. Decorated with a
few red berry sprigs and a single silver star, it would make a pretty addition to a holiday kitchen or sideboard.
Supplies Needed to Make a Tabletop Decoration Basket, urn, or other container
12-inch tall plastic-foam cone
Fresh bay leaves
Florist's foam (used dry)
Hot-glue gun, glue sticks
16-inch length of 1/4-inch diameter wooden dowel
Tree-top decoration (purchased or homemade)
Green sheet moss
Artificial floral berry stems used as filler to hide the top of the foam.
Brown acrylic paint and paintbrush
Fine twigs
Fine wire
Cut a block of florist's foam to fill the container, wedging it in securely. Hot-gluing the foam to the container at the bottom and sides will help keep the topiary
upright and level.
Paint the wooden dowel with brown paint; let dry. Press the dowel into the
center of the cone shape, then into the center of the foam in the container. Adjust the depth of dowel until a trunk space of about 4 inches remains between the
basket and cone. Mark the dowel at each point, then remove it, apply hot glue to both ends and re-insert back into the foam up to the marks. Let dry.
Cover the exposed foam in the basket with green sheet moss or gray Spanish
moss. Use dabs of hot glue to secure the moss in place.
Insert fine twigs into the foam around the base of the "trunk" of the tree. Next,
insert artificial berry sprigs around the base.
Working from bottom to top, circle the cone with rows of fresh bay leaves
placed side by side. Glue the stem end of the leaves to the cone, overlapping rows about one half the length of the leaves. The tips of the leaves will curl as
they dry in a few days' time.
Decorate the top of the tree with a silver star pick, sticking it directly into the top
of the foam cone..
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