1/16/11

Valentine's Day Ruffled Ribbon Topiary

This is one of the funnest projects I've ever made, it was simple and I could do most of it while I sat and watched shows at night with my husband! I'm also pretty happy with the way it turned out. Sometimes I get an idea in my head, and when I actually make it, it looks nothing like I had hoped, but this turned out just like I wanted it to!

What I used:
•Little Tin Bucket (last year's walmart clearance)
•Floral Foam ($ store)
•3" Styrofoam Ball ($ store)
•4 yards of 1/2" Braided Elastic
•60' Satin Ribbon (hobby lobby, didn't end up using ALL of it)
•Moss ($ store)
•Wooden Rod (hobby lobby)


I started out by making the ruffled ribbon by sewing the elastic to the mat side of the ribbon. I used a zigzag stitch and I stretched out the elastic as I sewed, so that when it went back to it's original form, it would create a ruffle in the ribbon. Make sure to pull both sides of the ribbon/elastic when sewing or it won't feed through your machine.


Here is what my ribbon looked like when I was done, it was really fun to see it transform as I sewed!


I used straight pins and pinned a strip down the ball.


Then I just wrapped the ribbon around the strip, up and down in a circle until the whole ball was covered.


I made sure to push the pins through the elastic, under the ribbon, so they would be hidden.


Then I assembled my topiaries by painting the wooden rod white, cutting it to size and pushing it through the ball and into the floral foam in the buckets ( I ended up spray painting my buckets and hot gluing a strip of ribbon on the inside to cover up the heart holes). Then I put hot glue on top of the floral foam and smooshed the moss on top and tied a little bow around the rod!




I had so much fun making these, I think I might make a wreath or some kissing balls with some different ribbon, I think a black and white damask might look pretty!

Originally posted on Crazy Domestic 2011 by Megan

41 comments:

  1. I love this idea. Thanks for a great tutorial.

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  2. ADORABLE! i love those! and would love to see how a wreath would turn out...

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  3. I love this! My mind is racing with different ideas of how I could use these techniques. Thanks!

    Malory

    http://snips-and-spice.blogspot.com/

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  4. This is really CUTE!! I love how elegant it looks!

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  5. So sweet, i was looking at a similar idea the other day using cupcake wrappers :)

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  6. These are so amazingly adorable!

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  7. They are ridiculously cute!! I am definitely going to give these a go - brilliant, thanks for sharing!

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  8. Thank You for your creativity!! This is adorable and could stay up all thru Spring too!!!!
    Thanks for saying where you bought everything. If I can buy it at the $ store and not give MORE $$ to Michael's and JoAnn's-- all the better! :)
    I may be lazy and just buy ruffled ribbon because sewing ruffles is a little out of league at this time (I'm more like silly domestic not quite CRAZY domestic just yet ;)
    New follower from MN and it looks like I'll be around quite a bit!
    xo taci

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  9. they are very cute, great idea, I have to make this for my home, thank you for sharing


    www.multiculturalcrafts.blogspot.com

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  10. Very, very pretty Ü Looks soooo daity. ♥ the color and the ruffles are the neatest idea.

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  11. I love this! Going to have bunco at my house and this would be a cute little table decoration to make. Thanks!

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  12. This is such a sweet idea and a very nice tutorial. I will link it on my blog, so I don't forget to make a few. ~Kelly

    unDeniably Domestic

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  13. Oh my! I'm gonna have to copy you on this one! These are sooo pretty!

    I'd love to have you come link this up over on my blog.

    http://thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/2011/01/favorite-things-friday-no-7.html

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  14. It looks absolutely gorgeous! Great work.

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  15. wow the elastic really makes PERFECT ruffles! Great tutorial!
    Following now :)
    Hopped over From Sew Much Ado Linky Party!
    Http://accomplishingmotherhood.blogspot.com

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  16. Oh my! Absolutely adorable! Great job :) I can't wait to try this.

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  17. Thanks for posting this well done tutorial - These Topiarys are so cute ! I just love them !

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  18. These are so cute and adorable. These can be used for all kinds of applications in decor and I appreciate you sharing.

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  19. I love these and have always wondered how to make them, thanks!

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  20. This is awesome! I wonder if I could use a ruffler foot for the sewing machine instead of elastic. I might try that - love the idea!

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  21. Way fun! Way awesome! Way cute! Love it!

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  22. Your topiary turned out great. I love the choice of fabric!

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  23. Your link was right before mine at Wendy's Frugal Friday party, so I thought I'd pop in and say hello. Hello!

    These topiaries are just adorable! I love the way you ruffled the ribbon--that's just brilliant. Thanks for sharing your inspiration!

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  24. That is so cool!!!! I love the elastic ruffle, I could totally do that...I'm not a great sewer...and I've tried the ruffle with regular thread and it didn't really work like I wanted it to...these turned out beautiful!

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  25. Seriously, I have a feeling my home will become filled with these! I adore ruffles and this is absolutely the best idea!!!!!! Lori

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  26. OMG!! Just too stinkin' cute! You need a ruffler foot! It is AMAZING!

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  27. I loved your idea so much, I featured it at Sassy Sites for my "Saturday Shoutouts". Thanks for linking it up to our FFA Friday link party! Happy Saturday! xoxo!!

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  28. These are adorable-what a creative idea-love them! Found you on the blog hop and now I'm a follower-come by and visit sometime! -Claire

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  29. These are CUTE!! I might actually be able to figure out how to make these...I'm not good at sewing at all; but I think I can manage to sew in a straight line using a zig zag stitch TFS!! I do agree a black an white damask would be super pretty!

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  30. So cute! I will be featuring your project this Thursday at my weekly link party, Hookin Up with HoH #34.

    I'm letting you know in advance as I'll be out of town during the party and will be unable to notify you on Thursday.

    Please feel free to stop by and grab a button on Thursday!

    ~Allison @ House of Hepworths

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  31. Great idea! You've been featured at today's Craftastic Monday. Stop by & grab a Featured On button:)

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  32. I love these, and picked you as a fave for tomorrow's Tell Me Tuesday link party on Vintage Pollyanna. Thanks so much for linking up last week. I really appreciate your support!

    http://vintagepollyanna.blogspot.com/

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  33. how wide is the satin ribbon and is it single side or double sided satin.. Such and adorable idea thanks so much for sharing..

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  34. Peppermint~
    Thanks! The ribbon is 1.5" wide and only single sided satin.

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