How To Make a Christmas Tabletop Topiary Article

If you are looking for a fun arts and crafts project to create with your kids this holiday season, try making a tabletop tree decoration. Tiny holiday trees require only minimal time and effort to make, but your family will enjoy the results all season long.

This version of a tabletop topiary 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.

We suggest the following supplies for your tabletop topiary

• 12 inch to 14 inch tall plastic-foam cone
• Florist’s foam (used dry)
• Fresh bay leaves
• Hot-glue gun, glue sticks
• 16 inches long & 1/4 inch diameter wooden dowel
• Tree topper (purchased or as we prefer homemade)
• Artificial floral berry stems used as filler to hide the top of the foam.
• Green sheet moss
• Brown acrylic paint and paintbrush
• Fine twigs
• Fine wire
• A decorative container of your choice.

Cut a block of florist’s foam to fill the container, wedging it in securely. Hot glue the foam to the container at the bottom and sides. This will help hold the topiary tree upright through the season.

Paint the wooden dowel with brown paint; let dry. Press the dowel into the center of the cone shape, and press it into the center of the foam in your container. Adjust the depth of dowel until a trunk space of about 4 inches remains between the container and cone. Mark the dowel at each insertion 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 or U pins 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 your favorite type of tree topper, sticking it directly into the top of the foam cone. Congratulations, you are all finished. Happy holidays.