Crafts & Fun

Designed by Dayle Finlay

For each topiary you’ll need:

• 4 in. (10 cm) Styrofoam ball
• 10 in. (25 cm) long ½ in (1 cm) thick dowel
• 4 in (10 cm) metal or clay flower pot
• 24 in (60 cm) red ribbon
• candy (We used gum drops and wrapped peppermints)
• White and red folk–art paint
• Paint brushes, stickers, stamps and sponges
• Toothpicks or hot glue gun
• Red basket filler
• Sahara foam

Paint the dowel and the flower pot white. This may take several coats. Have your children decorate the pots with the red paint. Sponges, stickers or stamps may be used. Let dry. Cut a chunk of foam to fit snugly into the pot. Using either the toothpicks broken in half or the glue gun, attach candies to the Styrofoam ball leaving a space for the dowel. Push the dowel into the Styrofoam ball and push the other end to the foam in the pot. Add a red bow to the dowel and use the basket filler to hide the foam. You can also make the candy balls and fasten onto the garland using a bit of pipe cleaner or wire pushed into the Styrofoam.

Originally published in Today's Parent Family Living, Winter 2005