How many Steps does it take to make a High Heel Topiary?
What you need:
- a 2 inch white Kolanchoe plant
- a 2 inch yellow Kolanchoe plant
- a 2 inch White Dot plant
- black wire frame high heel topiary
- 1/2 of an 18 x 11.5 inch bag of moss
- 1.5 inch wide variegated green wired ribbon (cut to 27.5")
- 2) rhinestones 3/4" diam.
- 2) rhinestones 1/4" diam.
- 2) tiny decorative bees on wires
- can of Green Glow
- mini glue gun and glue sticks
- fabric scissors
- utility scissors
- wire cutter
Steps: 8
Rated: Moderate Arrangement
Did you guess right? There are eight steps to making this topiary. Topiaries are plants that have been trained to take a geometric, animal, or fanciful shape. In this case, the moss and plants take the shape of a wire frame high heel shoe. Topiaries were prevalent in Greek and Roman gardens. The three plants that are in this topiary are planted in a self contained soil pouch inside the shoe. The plants need to be watered and can last from months to years. A long stemmed watering can will be handy.
1. The first step is to attach the decorative bees to a floral pick by putting a bead of hot glue on the end of the pick and wrapping the wire around the glue while it's hot. (Don't get burned by touching the glue.)
2. Go outside and spray green leaves of Kolanchoe plants with Green Glow.
3. Pack toe and heel of shoe with moss.
4. Cut a sandwich baggie 2 and 3/4 inches high and place in opening of shoe to serve as liner.
5. Place 3 plants inside of liner and trim with moss to cover plastic liner.
6. Glue 2 large rhinestones on toe and 2 small on heel.
7. Cut ribbon to 27.5 inches and tie a bow on the heel and turn it on a slight angle across the shoe.
8. Place the bees and you are done!
Materials needed.
A closeup of the bees and rhinestones.
TRICK: Cut pick with wire cutters to shorten.
Insert wire on bee under wrapped wire on pick end.
Put bead of hot glue on top of inserted wire.
Quickly wrap green wire around stick through glue.
Go outside and spray green leaves of Kolanchoe...
With Green Glow to remove spots & shine leaves.
Pack toe with moss.
Pack sides of shoe body, leaving hollow in center for plants.
Cut top off sandwich baggie about here...
It should measures at least 2 3/4 inches.
Insert baggie into hollow in center of shoe.
TRICK: Thread a needle with clear thread & sew...
Zig zags across inside heel of shoe to keep moss in.
Hold pots down and plants will slide out.
Place plants into baggie in hollow of shoe.
Put moss under leaves, covering the baggie.
Put drop of hot glue on back large rhinestones.
Put large on toe 1/2" apart, and 2 small on heel.
Loop ribbon through wire. Tie knot in center.
Tie bow, and turn on slight angle. Cut V in ends.
Place bees and insert pick into soil.
Bees look like they are hoovering above flowers.
Well, you have passed as Gepetto's apprentice. Just don't go telling any fibs.
Your shoe is complete and beautiful. Enjoy!