Conversation Heart Topiary

I got this idea from a link party a few weeks ago, a Valentine's Day topiary using conversation hearts. This is a pretty easy idea to figure out, simple crafting supplies. Also great for a kids craft, my 5 year old was easily able to make her own topiary.

Gather some supplies:

• Styrofoam balls
• paints
• pots
• conversation hearts
  
• glue
• chopsticks or wood dowel
• ribbons and embellishments as desired, I used some paper basket filler to cover foam
  

Paint pots and styrofoam balls, I just used simple acrylic paints, the kind that are about $1.00 from Michaels or Joanns. I used sponge brushes, with the lighter colors I used a few layers of paint. For the foam I just sort of dabbed the foam, it will mostly be covered by the hearts.

Get the kids involved

Let the balls dry for a while before gluing

Using white glue, I found tacky glue seemed to work best, the back of the conversation hearts had kind of a dimple on the back I filled that with glue. I used the smooth variety of Styrofoam which means they sort of slipped at first. I worked from the top, once I had a patch secured I could flip the ball upside down to glue, this way the hearts no longer slipped. Be sure to poke a hole you will use later for the dowel or chopstick.

Cut and fit floral foam in your pot, when inserting the chopstick glue into the hold to get it to stay put.

We still have a few more underway hopefully we will finish this week and share those too!