Add sheer tulle, pearl sprays, and
hanging crystals for a formal look.

Rose Topiary

• 7 roses
• Floral tape
• Greenery bush
• 22-gauge wire
• Wire cutter
• 2-inch-wide satin ribbons
• Hot glue and hot-glue gun
• 2-inch pearl-headed corsage pins
• Urn
• Dry foam
• Spanish moss
• Greening pins
• Berry clusters

 

Step 1

1. Cut all of the leaves and branches from the stems of seven roses. Wrap each of the bare stems with floral tape. Cut large leaves off a greenery bush, and using 22-gauge wire, bend the wires in half, and poke both ends of wire through the bottom of the leaf just above the stem. Secure the leaf to the stem with floral tape. Continue to tape and wire five additional large leaves. Set aside.

 

Step 2

2. Arrange the roses in your hand. Using seven roses, it is easy to place one rose in the center, and surround the center rose with the other six. When the arrangement of roses pleases you, secure the grouping by wrapping the bunch of stems with floral tape at the top and bottom. Arrange the large leaves just under the roses in your hand, and secure the stems in place with floral tape. When you are satisfied with the arrangement, wrap the entire stem cluster with floral tape.

3. Beginning directly under the leaves, wrap 2-inch-wide satin ribbon in the same direction as the floral tape. Secure the top and bottom with a dot of hot glue. In the opposite direction and overlapping the first ribbon, wrap a second ribbon around the stem.

4. For a decorative touch, and to hold your work in place, insert 2-inch pearl-headed corsage pins up the stem at 1-1/2-inch intervals.

5. Fill an urn with dry foam. Cover the foam with Spanish moss and secure with greening pins. Insert the rose stems into the center of the dry foam and secure with hot glue. Make a large 3-loop bow, using the same ribbons that you used on the stem, and place it in the front of the urn. Leave the tails of the bow long and cut them later as desired.

6. Add flowers, berry clusters, and greenery to finish, allowing the foliage to trail out over the container edge. At the top of the topiary, make 2- and 3-loop bows out of the ribbon, and attach them under the roses and leaves. Allow the ribbon tails to softly wrap around the topiary stem cluster.

Note: For an inexpensive but pretty container, paint a clay pot and clay saucer. Then apply a base coat. Once dry, dry-brush with gold paste finish.