How to Make a Christmas Topiary with Roses

One of the most fun parts of Christmas is decorating for the season. It is a great time of year to get crafty and create some beautiful items that will not only look lovely but will help to bring Christmas cheer. One lovely project that you can make for decorating your home is a Christmas topiary to set out as a decoration or use as a centerpiece on your Christmas table. Here are instructions on how to make a Christmas topiary using roses.

What you will need:

1 5" clay pot
1 14"-16" long dowel or stick of bamboo
1 box Plaster of Paris
Aluminum foil
1 4" ball of floral foam
1 dozen red roses or red rose buds (more if you want more flowers)
Extra green foliage
1 package floral moss

Optional:

Gold, red, white, silver or green paint
Ribbon

To begin making your Christmas topiary, start by soaking your clay pot in water. You will be adding plaster of Paris to the pot and if the pot is dry it can crack when you add the plaster, so it is important to thoroughly soak your pot before beginning. Once your pot is moist, line the bottom of the inside of the pot with aluminum foil to keep the plaster from leaking out the drain hole. Mix enough plaster to fill the pot just over halfway following the directions on the box of plaster. You will need to work very quickly since plaster hardens fast. Once the plaster is mixed, pour it into your pot and insert your dowel or bamboo stick in the middle sticking straight up. Hold the stick in place long enough for the plaster to set up enough to support it. Then, allow the plaster to dry for several hours before proceeding.

When the plaster is close to done setting, begin soaking your floral foam. The foam needs to be moist so it can help to keep your roses and foliage alive for at least a few days. Put the foam in a bucket of water and wait for it to sink, which will be the sign that it is done soaking. Then, gently push the floral foam ball down onto the top of the stick that is poking up from the pot. Be sure not to poke the stick all the way through the ball or you will wind up with the floral foam sliding down the stick and sitting at the bottom instead of at the top of the stick where it belongs.