A little do-it-yourself home decor project to start off the week. (I’ll be announcing the Project Life winner later today.)
(I know someone’s going to ask about the yellow candlestick and that turquoise vase-pot-container-thing. Got both of them at Home Goods.)
This is what you need:
styrofoam ball (I used a larger size but you have options)
sturdy toothpicks
hot glue gun
small flowers or moss (more on that toward the end of the post)
mini fake fruit ( same or a variety). I picked up a couple of these little variety packages of mini fruit at Target, in the home decor section, but you can find mini fruit at your local craft store too.
So this is what you do to start: Poke a toothpick in the bottom of one of the little fruits:
Then you stick that anywhere on the styrofoam ball. Push it all the way down:
Repeat those first two steps with each little fruit, placing them side by side or clustered, so long as they’re touching one another. Nestle them as close as possible:
Keep adding fruit. Get some water and stay hydrated. : )
You will eventually have your entire ball covered in fruit. Adorableness:
Okay … notice all those gaps? There are a couple ways to fix this. 1) Cover your ball with crafting moss first so that you see that instead of styrofoam. Or 2) use very small flowers to fill the gaps. I picked up a couple bunches of these flowers. The yellow goes well and they’re little. Perfect.
Trim the little flowers so there is just a short stubby stem:
One by one, hot-glue those little flowers between the fruit, filling in all the gaps:
That’s it! Done. So easy. And there is even something therapeutic about covering a styrofoam ball with fruit or flowers. (I’ll be sharing a flower topiary soon.) Know what? This could be a really fun project to do … on your own, with your friends, with your kids …
And remember: Those big craft stores (Michael’s, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, etc.) — they offer great coupons (like 40% an item) and have sales on florals and stuff ALL the time. There’s no reason to pay full price. Also keep in mind that the bigger your styrofoam ball, the more stuff (fruit, moss, flowers) you’ll have to have to cover it.
Tags: floral, fruit ball, home decor
HI Becky…this is called a topiary.
Thanks Jenn! Of course — a topiary. Makes perfect sense. : ). I’ll make that little edit.
Cool craft can do..
So pretty!
There is no END to what you can do! It is madness that one person ended up with so much talent! Kidding! I LOVE all of your ideas and photos and get all excited when I see you’ve put up a new post. I want to be just like you when I grow up (problem being that I am older than you).
Excellent idea! And there are so many options you can do with this.
My only question is… how do you attach the styrofoam ball to the candlestick? I would imagine the topiary is top-heavy causing the need to anchor it somehow.
Thanks for the great idea!
just beautiful!!!! thank you so much for all the details and photos – great step by step instructions!!!!! beautiful colors!!!!
Becky, I’m loving the topiary and I have to get my hands on that yellow candlestick!!
LOVE!!!
So adorable…..now I wanna make one too. I think a monochromatic one would look so cool….like all lemons or limes for summer or all apples for fall.
Angie already asked…but I was thinking the same thing…how did you attach the ball to the candlestick??
That is so cute! And versatile…I can totally picture making this projecto for other seasons. Thanks for sharing!
This is darling! I love the colors.
Such bold beautiful colors! I have noticed that your taste in decorating has changed quite a bit this past year. What did you do with your more traditional kitchen table and chairs? Also, is your whole home now decorated with the bold colors or just the kitchen? If so, can we have a peek at some of your other rooms – I remember earth tones about a year ago. I can’t see how all the newly spray painted items would fit with your old decor. Thanks so much!!
So cute! You rock!
Beautiful!
I also would like to know how you attach it to the candlestick?
Love it! Trying this in a few minutes during nap time!
This is fabulous and colorful. I love your yellow candlestick. I would have never thought to use it in such a way. TFS!
I loved this! I found my fruit, dried flowers and purchased a ball at Joann’s yesterday. Just finished making this and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I put it on a green glass candlestick holder from my Grandmother. Attached it to the holder with glue dots. I did have to use the greenery from the flowers as I didn’t have enough fruit. But it looks great with the leaves at the bottom. It’s also now with my own personal touch.
Your blog and ideas are amazing. I look forward to copying more!!
What a cute idea…might need one for my dining room table!
[...] by Michelle A while back Becky Higgins shared on her blog a home decor project for making a fruit topiary. I am in the process of planning some redecorating in a few rooms to change from browns and [...]