Create a summer centerpiece
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Mentioned in Newspapers all over the world and on the Internet.
Create a charming topiary by using a plumber's plunger
as
a reservoir for the soaked floral foam. The wooden handle becomes the
"trunk"
of the topiary. The plunger can be purchased at any hardware
store
or supermarket. The plungers come in two basic sizes. The
one
shown here cost under two dollars...very affordable!
Materials :
- Clay pot or other waterproof container.
- Floral foam, for bottom of container and to go inside
plunger*
- l Plumber's plunger, large or small size depending on
size of
container,
but must be in scale to size and depth of container.
- Sheet moss, to be hot-glued onto plunger "cup",
low-temp glue
gun may
also be used. Spanish moss could also be substituted.
- Vine, honeysuckle or ivy, to wrap around the wooden
handle
"trunk" of
the topiary.
- Glossy WoodTone spray paint (Design Master) available
at craft
stores,
floral shops.
- Package mixed fresh flowers from the supermarket or
florist, or
cut
flowers from a home garden. These work well:
daisy
chrysanthemums, alstromeria, Oriental lillies, spray roses,
mini-carnations, ageratum, caspia, waxflower, montecasino statice.
- Sprigs of greenery from yard such as asparagus fern,
leatherleaf
fern,
galax leaves, pittosporum, ivy, ming fern.
*In container, dry foam or floral foam can be used to secure
the
plunger/trunk
of topiary into the container. Be sure to cover with moss. The
topiary
can be created in any color scheme desired. Small clusters of
fruit
and/or vegetables can also be incorporated.
Follow these  easy
steps:
- Holding the plunger by the rubber end, spray the
wooden handle
with
"Glossy WoodTone" spray paint to give it a more natural look.
- Wrap a vine around it after inserting it down into the
foam that
you've
placed into the container, wedging tightly for stability.
- With hot glue or low-temp glue gun, drizzle glue onto
the
rubber"cup"
of the plunger, a section at a time. Press the sheet moss on to
the
outside of the cup. This hides the plunger, and gives it an "earth-y"
look.
- Cut and shape a piece of soaked floral foam to fit
inside the
rubber
"cup", extend the foam up above the rim of the cup approximately four
inches.
- Begin placing greenery into the soaked foam, trailing
some
downward.
Keep your stems fairly uniform in length. You can create a"mound"
shape, which is softly rounded, or an inverted "crescent" shape.
- Using u-shaped greening pins, hair pins,
toothpicks, or
cut lengths
of stub wire, affix the sheet moss to the foam at the base of the
"topiary".
Be sure when creating the design to hide the foam and the plunger
completely.
That's it! You've now "TAKEN THE PLUNGE"
and
created
a masterpiece.
HAVE FUN, AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH
FLOWERS!
By Jan Sillik
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