A Topiary For All Seasons

I'm sure you've seen topiaries in a bunch of catalogs and stores lately. Well, I have been holding onto a mini urn since TWO Christmases ago! It was $1.99 at Goodwill, and then 60% off, so....$.80, right? My math skills are pretty outstanding. Don't be jealous.

I've been staring at it in my project box all this time, just knowing I could transform it into something fabulous. Abby at Tales and Trials posted an adorable little topiary of her own, and that got my butt into gear and I got to work!

In my hurry to rip off the pink flowers, I forgot to take a full before picture, but you get the idea. I picked off about 50 of those things (trying to make it easier to saw off the top), only to discover that I could just slip the styrofoam triangle right.off. Duh.

Please don't judge me but I may or may not have actually used this in my Spring decoration last year. In all honesty, I don't think it's really that bad - to me it looks like a cute table decoration for a pink wedding....just.....in 1995.

Anyway, I decided it was time to give this old tired girl a makeover! I gave the bottom a new coat of paint (I just mixed a bunch of browns and black acrylic together) and painted the stem (it's a little green for my taste but I don't have a good brown for it yet so that'll have to wait until I make it back up to Michael's.)

A craft ball went up on top:

And the moss for the top and base:

I purchased the craft balls and the moss with 40% off coupons at Michaels ($6 for both items, I believe).

Took out Claudia (my hot glue gun) and away we we went!

I am in total love, and for less than 7 bucks! :)

(Plus, I have about half a bag of moss left and the other styrofoam ball to use for another project!)

I call this a topiary "for all seasons" because I saw several adorable potted plants in the PB catalog, but they were all chippy and whitewashed and they were more appropriate for Spring and Summer decorating. I did a greenery project like that, but it will be debuted in another post. I wanted this baby to last me all year!

One thing I will add: if you move a lot, moss may not be the project for you. It is VERY messy.

Now I just can't decide where I like her furry little goodness best! :)

Although I am really loving the way it picks up the urns of the garden in our wedding photo.

Linked to all my favorite blog parties:

DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

Thrifty Thursday @ Tales from Bloggeritaville

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Designs

Trash To Treasure Tuesday @ Reinvented

Make It Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Penny Pinching Party @ The Thrifty Home

Show Us What You're Workin' With @ Me and My Bucket

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative

Weekend Wrap-Up @ Tatertots and Jello