Topiary

DIY topiary ball base: 5 different options

Topiary is an original gift: in addition, you can make it yourself Topiary is an original gift: in addition, you can make it yourself The tree of happiness usually has a round crown on which decorative elements are applied: candies, coffee beans, flowers, ribbons, sparkles and rhinestones..

What to take as a basis

The base must be strong enough to support the decorations, but light enough so that the tree does not tip over..

From what you can make a sphere for the crown with your own hands:

  1. Styrofoam;
  2. Polyurethane foam;
  3. Newspapers or paper;
  4. Papier mache;
  5. Foam rubber;
  6. Plastic ball;
  7. Inflated balloon.

The basis for topiary can be made from almost any scrap materials The basis for topiary can be made from almost any scrap materials

Any art store sells ready-made spheres for creating topiary.

The advantages of the ready-made version are that there are not only round, but also other interesting forms for the crown:

  • In the form of a heart;
  • Triangular;
  • Square;
  • Oval.

For themed holidays, for example, Valentine’s Day, the heart-base is suitable, and all the others are universal and combined with any holiday date. Spherical crowns are very easy to make with your own hands, no special skill is required.

How to make a foam crown

This material is suitable for small diameter topiary, no more than 30 cm.

Polyfoam is not a strong enough material for the crown: if you use this material, then you should not hang too heavy jewelry Polyfoam is not a strong enough material for the crown: if you use this material, then you should not hang too heavy jewelry

There are 3 techniques for working with foam, a master class on each of them:

  1. Cutting out. You need to find a piece of foam that is suitable in thickness, for example, packaging foam for household appliances. Then cut a sphere out of it, strengthen the top layer with a primer, apply glue and decorate with any decorations.
  2. Gluing. If the foam is not thick enough to cut the sphere, you can make it up from several layers. The foam layers are held together with PVA glue. All excess around the edges must be trimmed.
  3. Foam balls. If there is not much foam, then it is easier to destroy the plate into individual balls. Then mix this mass with PVA and form a sphere. In order for the structure to dry well, it is better to do it in several steps. You can put a piece of foil inside or do without a frame. This method works especially well with large foam..

The foam core is very light, but not particularly strong. Therefore, for decorating the crown, it is better to use not too heavy decorations..

Topiary “Money tree” (video)

How to make a balloon base?

The air in the ball expands evenly in all directions, so this is a good material for an even spherical shape. Only strong and high quality balls will do.

The biggest problem is the irregular shape of the balloon: it is oval, and the crown should be round. You can change the shape of the ball using threads The biggest problem is the irregular shape of the balloon: it is oval, and the crown should be round. You can change the shape of the ball using threads

How to make a base with your own hands:

  • The balloon needs to be inflated to the desired diameter, not completely;
  • Tie hermetically;
  • Coat the walls of the ball with a thin layer of PVA glue;
  • Wrap with threads in such a way that a spherical one is obtained from an oval shape;
  • Wait until dry.

If you need a very strong base that will withstand heavy jewelry, for example, lollipops or Chupa-Chups, you need to glue the ball with a papier-mâché shell.

How to make a crown out of threads

If a balloon is used, the surface can be strengthened with threads. To do this, you need to coat the ball with PVA glue, and then apply many even and intersecting layers of threads. The thicker the thread, the more area of ​​the ball it overlaps at one time..

The ideal base for the crown of the topiary is a tennis ball: it is durable and has the correct shape The ideal basis for the crown of the topiary is a tennis ball: it is durable and has the correct shape

In addition to a balloon, to fill a ball of thread, you can use:

  • Crumpled newspaper or paper;
  • Tennis ball pasted over with paper to increase the volume;
  • Cardboard cut into pieces and glued together;
  • Small amount of foam.

Winding with threads is a long and rather laborious process. The threads adhere well to each other, but the overlap of layers should be even.

There are simpler options for making a sphere with your own hands, for example, papier-mâché.

Polyurethane foam base

Foam is used in construction to insulate windows and doors. To form a sphere out of foam with your own hands, you need to choose a suitable container. The easiest way is to take a balloon with solid walls. Insert the nozzle of the spray into the hole of the ball, gently squeeze out the foam. The volume of the rubber ball is no more than half full.

One of the advantages of polyurethane foam is fire resistance One of the advantages of polyurethane foam is fire resistance

After hardening, you can paste over the ball with paper, threads, or immediately start decorating.

As the foam hardens, it expands, so you need to shape the sphere before the foam expands. The increase occurs by about 1-2 cm. Before using the polyurethane foam, you need to read the instructions, some building materials have a strong odor, and it is better not to use them indoors. A can of foam is sold at any home improvement store..

Foam and thread base

All basic materials for the base can be combined with each other.

To make a ball with your own hands, you can use combinations of materials for the core and shell:

  • Newspaper, ball, ball, paper, foam core;
  • Sheath of thread, paper.

It is not necessary to use one material for topiary: for example, you can combine foam and threads. It is the latter that will give the foam greater strength and stability. It is not necessary to use one material for topiary: for example, you can combine foam and threads. It is the latter that will give the foam greater strength and stability.

Strengthening the core with a shell helps create the perfect sphere. Any decor option looks great on such a sphere. Topiary will become a real masterpiece if the crown is even and neat.

Topiary ball diameter, how to calculate the volume?

It will be much easier to make the crown if you draw a plan of the topiary on paper. No artistic skills required, this is a technical drawing. Usually the ball diameter is 10cm to 35cm.

It is a big misconception that the smaller the topiary, the easier it is to make. In fact, a topiary with a diameter of about 25 cm is easier to make than the same product with a diameter of 10 cm. It's all about small details and It is a great misconception that the smaller the topiary, the easier it is to make. In fact, a topiary with a diameter of about 25 cm is easier to make than the same product with a diameter of 10 cm. It’s all about small details and "jewelry work"

There are miniature topiary, 2-5 cm in diameter. There are huge 1-1.5 meters in diameter, even those that adorn the streets. It is convenient to do topiary up to 30 cm at home with your own hands..

What can be made from balls for topiary, ideas

You can use the base for topiary an unlimited number of times. If the decorations are removable or detachable, the ball can be decorated in accordance with the theme of the holiday.

You can remake a ball for topiary with your own hands:

  1. By New Year, Christmas;
  2. By Easter;
  3. Happy Birthday;
  4. For any special date, for example, a wedding anniversary.

Decorations can be easily removed if you put ordinary cling film on topiary before decorating. The film is tightly fixed at the base of the ball, and the decorations are glued to it. When replacement needs to be done, the decorations are detached from the base along with the film. With your own hands, you can remake a spherical topiary into any other, if you remove the jewelry and add volume to the base. The ball can form a heart, tetrahedron or oval.

An excellent birthday gift will be a topiary of sweets An excellent birthday gift will be a topiary of sweets

For additional volume, materials are glued to the base:

  • Paper;
  • Foam rubber;
  • A large number of threads;
  • Scotch;
  • Styrofoam.

The easiest way to create complex shapes with your own hands is using foam or paper. To secure additional volume, the base can be wrapped with threads and glue or covered with papier-mâché.

How to make papier-mâché reinforcement:

  1. Apply PVA to the ball;
  2. Layer-by-layer paper;
  3. Add layers as it dries.

Due to the impregnation of papier-mâché glue, it is dense and holds jewelry well. Papier-mâché made with water-based glue should not be wetted. If irregularities remain on the surface of the ball, they can be sanded off before or after solidification. You can attach the ball to the barrel firmly and reliably if you make a small hole in the ball, pour glue into it, insert the barrel and press until it solidifies.

Express topiary: master class for beginners (video lesson)

Topiary will be magical if you approach the process of creating even the foundation with inspiration..