C r a f t e r s - R o s e b u d T o p i a r y

To keep with the theme of gardens, plants, and National Rose Month, we have a special craft project with a Victorian style... a rosebud topiary.

MATERIALS NEEDED

single ball topiary (ball should be about 5") 2 spools of off-white, medium-sized, wired simulated pearls 1 spool each of 1/4" ribbon in burgundy, mauve, and light green 3 yards of 3" off-white lace 5 small Victorian bud bushes green moss twigs (approximately 18" long) floral pin brass pot hot glue gun and glue sticks wire cutters INSTRUCTIONS

Glue the topiary into the brass pot.

Cover the base of the topiary with the green moss.

Insert the twigs into the base of the topiary, close to the stem. Bend them and place into a 5" ball at the stem.

Poke one end of the lace into the top of the ball.

Poke the lace into the topiary ball in 2" increments, spiraling around the ball until the end of the lace is poked in at the base of the topiary stem, gluing on rose buds.

Push the leaves up on the stem so they are directly below the rosebuds.

In clusters of 3, cut the buds a couple of inches below the leaves.

Beginning at the top, glue the buds into the topiary, following the line of the lace. Place the buds about a couple of inches apart, leaving no bare spots.

Cut 3" of the wired simulated pearls, bend it into a loop, and glue the ends together. When it's cool enough to handle, glue the loop into the center of the bud cluster.

Make a 6-loop bow using all of the ribbon colors. Insert the bow and the wired simulated pearl cluster underneath the ball with a floral pin at the base of the stem.

Make another simulated pearl loop. You can use the remaining buds and the second loop together by adding some moss and placing them at the base of the topiary.

Submitted by Nobie