Vary the Size

Welcome autumn into your home with this do-it-yourself topiary. Let it stand alone in an entryway or pair two on a mantel or sideboard.

Start by using a kitchen knife to shave a brick of foam down to the size of the interior of the container. Push the foam down so it's tight in the container and will keep your arrangement secure.

Next, wrap each end of a bundle of thin, sturdy twigs with floral wire -- we used about six salt cedar sticks for our topiary. Set that aside and cut the stems of several silk fall leaves to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long.

Using a toothpick, skewer, or the tip of hot-glue gun, push into a Styrofoam ball surface to create a small hole. Fill the hole with a small amount of hot glue.

Immediately place a leaf stem into the glue and hold a few seconds until set. Continue to glue leaves until the Styrofoam ball is covered. Fill in any gaps between leaves with a bit of Spanish moss and hot glue.

When the glue has dried, insert the narrow end of the twig stem into the center of the leaf-covered ball. Secure with hot glue and let cool. Then insert the base of the twig stem about 4 inches into the center of the foam in the container. Use hot glue to secure and hold it steady for a few seconds while it cools.

Hot-glue a handful of Spanish moss to the top of the foam to conceal it. Finally, tie a ribbon into a bow beneath the leafy head of the topiary.

See the video of this project