Topiary is a small tree with a lush, neat crown. Previously, this was a type of topiary cutting of garden plants. Today, topiary or maypole is one of the popular areas of needlework. Used for interior decoration. The easiest way is to make a decorative tree from paper napkins. This option is suitable even for novice craftsmen.
Creative topiaries made of corrugated paper are a stylish decoration for a living room, living room or office space.
It is believed to bring prosperity to its owners.
Do-it-yourself topiary from napkins: materials and step-by-step description
Step-by-step instructions for beginners on making topiary from napkins with your own hands - one of the simplest. MK consists of only 6 steps. Even a schoolboy can master them. To make topiary from napkins with your own hands, you will need a simple set of tools and materials.
In the East it was called a symbol of new life and prosperity.
- Scissors.
- Stapler.
- Threads.
- Scotch.
- Glue.
- A mixture of sand and cement or alabaster.
- Paper napkins (green/pink) or crepe paper.
- Thin satin ribbons in 2 colors.
- Styrofoam ball
- A small pot.
- Wooden stick.
- Decorative beads or stones.
All you need is a small amount of crepe paper and a little imagination.
Important! Before making topiary from napkins, you need to make sure that the diameter of the pot does not exceed the size of the ball. Otherwise, the craft will not look very aesthetically pleasing.
The composition will be an unforgettable gift for loved ones.
A corrugated paper topiary is not only a stylish decoration, but also a unique symbol of good luck.
Let's start making a flower tree from napkins with our own hands.
Step 1. We design the trunk. The stick can be painted green or brown. A tree trunk made from napkins can be wrapped with satin ribbons (placing them on glue). You can cover it with corrugated paper or wrap it with twine. Beads, shells, and colored glitter are glued onto the branches.
A flower purchased or made independently will help to give the composition more individuality.
Step 2. Making the “ground”. Pour sand-cement mixture or alabaster into the pots. Add water, stir. Wipe the edges of the pot. We place it on the tree, fix it so that it freezes evenly. Sprinkle the top of the “soil” with pebbles or lay decorative moss.
In addition to the opportunity to obtain a decorative element of the required color, the master creates the form himself.
Attention! You need to “plant” the trunk in the flowerpot quickly. Alabaster and similar mixtures dry out very quickly.
Step 3. Create flowers. To make flowers from napkins on tree branches, you need to fold the napkin in half. Then cut in half again. It turns out to be a square with 4 additions. It is secured in the center with a stapler or stitched with thread. Then you need to trim the edges of the quadrangle so that you get an even circle. After this we form a flower. To do this, lift the edges of the first layer of the circle and compress it in the center. The result is voluminous petals. We do the same with the remaining layers of the flower.
Thematic photos of finished works will offer many options.
Step 4. Making the base for the crown. You can buy a ball-base for a tree made from napkins ready-made. Such foam blanks are sold in craft stores. There are several options for making a ball yourself.
The creative process begins with choosing or making a ball.
Ball made using papier-mâché technique. It's easy to do. You need to inflate a regular balloon. Cut paper napkins into pieces. We glue each of them with PVA glue. Cover the ball with the first layer of napkins. Leave the place where the ball is tied free. Let it dry completely. Then we cover it with a second layer of napkins and let it dry again. There should be 5 layers in total. After the glue has completely dried, we pierce the ball and take it out.
Flowers made from corrugated paper are attached to a blank ball using a heat gun.
Important! Before piercing the ball, make sure that the glued layers of napkins are completely dry. Otherwise the ball will be deformed.
Ball made from newspapers. It's the easiest thing to do. To do this, newspapers, magazine sheets or any paper must be compressed into a ball. Then we string the paper ball onto the trunk and form an even ball. We wrap it on all sides with thread or tape so that it does not lose its shape.
It is recommended not to overload the composition with a large number of paper flowers.
Advice. Before you make a tree from colored napkins, you need to cover the ball of newspapers with paper napkins or corrugated paper. Otherwise, newspaper prints will be visible through the “crown”.
Step 5. We make the crown. We attach a ball to the barrel. Using a glue gun, glue the flowers all over the surface.
Given the size of the ball, it is necessary to cover the entire surface.
Step 6. Decorate the topiary from paper napkins. We glue beads, butterflies, hearts and other intended decor to the crown. From below, under the crown, we tie satin ribbons of two colors.
Decorating a pot
An interesting and exciting stage in the master class is the design of pots for topiary. We will do this in decoupage style. The surface of the pot is very smooth, so it is not suitable for painting; you need to go over it with sandpaper.
- Sand the surface of the pot with sandpaper,
- Degrease with any alcohol-containing liquid,
- Then cover the pot with white acrylic paint using a sponge,
- As a result, a snow-white pot comes out,
- We cut ribbons of the required length from an orange napkin and, using a brush and PVA glue, fix them on the surface of the pot,
- After drying, we treat the pot with acrylic varnish in several layers, waiting between each of them to dry.
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In the video below you can clearly see how to decorate a pot with your own hands using the decoupage technique:
How to make a heart tree from napkins with your own hands?
Do-it-yourself maypole hearts made from napkins look very impressive. Such a gift will definitely not go unnoticed. The step-by-step MK of “heart” topiary made from napkins coincides with the previous one. Only the step to create the crown is different. There are 2 options to make a heart crown.
If a non-standard size or shape is required, then it is easy to create it with your own hands.
- Flat heart. Cut out a heart-shaped base from thick cardboard. Cover with paper flowers. You can make a hollow piece of paper in the form of a heart-shaped rim.
- Volumetric heart. Any voluminous object in the shape of a heart (packaging for tea, sweets, powder compact) is pasted over using the papier-mâché technique. The result is a three-dimensional blank on which flowers are glued.
We decorate the topiary with flowers made of corrugated paper.
Next, a maypole from paper napkins is made in the same way as the classic version of the craft.
It is not advisable to use too dark color schemes for crafts.
What to pay attention to
When teaching beginning handicrafts, all master classes focus on what materials to choose, how to follow manufacturing technology, etc. However, instructions are one thing, but real life is completely different. When starting work, you should not immediately take on the most difficult, even very beautiful option.
It is better to start with simple topiary, after mastering which you will move on to the next level of skill.
It is this step-by-step training that gives very quick results and allows masters to reach unprecedented heights. In addition, you should not chase expensive accessories, the use of which is by no means always justified.
Any topiary is:
- Dedication;
- Fantasy;
- Desire to learn.
Maypole made from napkins based on rose buds
A simple step-by-step tutorial will help you make your own topiary for beginners in the form of a lush bouquet of roses. The tree is made according to the classical scheme. But instead of ordinary flowers, roses are made of paper. To make roses from topiary napkins, you will need napkins of two or three colors: pink, burgundy, green.
Next we create the roses.
- Cut the napkin (pink or burgundy) into 4 parts.
- Bend each one in half. We bend the corner on the left.
- Fold the strip from right to left. We fix the “bud” from below with a thread.
- We bend the second color of the napkin diagonally. It turns out to be a triangle. We wrap the top fold again with a thin strip of 0.5 mm on the outside. Place our bud on top of the resulting triangle and roll it loosely.
- Using the same principle, we roll up new layers of petals.
When using corrugation, you must make sure that your hands are dry, otherwise the material will not retain its shape.
Attention! The size of the triangles needs to be increased with each new layer of rose.
The petals are made from green napkins. They are cut into 4 parts. Fold crosswise. A hole is made in the middle. The bud is placed on a wire and threaded through the hole in the “petals”. The rose is ready.
When performing complex elements, the instructions should be in front of your eyes.
Fluffy “Ball of Happiness”
The crown of a tree of happiness made from napkins can be a fluffy ball decorated with beads and bows made from decorative ribbons, with the addition of bouquets of flowers from the same napkins made using the origami technique.
For such crowns, as shown in the photo above, you need to take an even ball, PVA glue, a thin stick, and a lot of napkins.
First of all, you can prepare the ball, take napkins, tear them into pieces and glue them with PVA glue. Take the desired colors of napkins, cut them into squares, preferably 2-4 cm, the tree will look more magnificent. Now take a thin stick and wrap each piece of napkin onto the stick. Apply glue to part of the ball and send the “fluff” there. It is glued, now glue all the pieces one by one in the same way, along the way you can make rosebuds from napkins and also glue them with glue.
How to make topiary from napkins with lush flowers with your own hands?
The potted arrangement can be made more lush, giving it a rich texture and large volume. To do this, take 2-3 napkins at once. Cut into 4 pieces into equal squares. 8-10 pieces are fastened together. Fixed in the center with thread or a stapler. Then a circle is cut out of a square blank and, pressing layer by layer to the center, lush flowers are formed.
You can use several colors of napkins at once to create such voluminous flowers.
A topiary created on your own is a wonderful addition to the interior.
Making the base for the crown
The first thing we will do in this master class is to find a stack of old newspapers and sewing threads, and we will put them to use. Crumple the newspapers into a tight ball with a diameter of about 8 cm. Next, wrap it tightly with threads to secure it and to ensure that our ball is as round as possible.
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Rules for caring for topiary
A tree made from napkins will last longer if you follow simple rules for caring for your decorative craft.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
- Do not let the craft get wet.
- Clean from dust.
Today there are many different techniques for making topiary, for every taste and color.
This activity will certainly involve you, and the result will give you a lot of pleasure!
To prevent dust from spoiling the appearance of the product, it needs to be “blowed” with a hairdryer from time to time. But the temperature should not be hot. You can use a vacuum cleaner (at low speed) to remove dirt and dust. Or carefully walk along the crown with a special brush to remove dust.
Flights of fancy when creating topiary should not be limited.
Topiary is called the “tree of happiness.” In the East, it is a symbol of good luck, well-being and prosperity. A lush miniature tree will be a wonderful gift for any occasion.
The craft is easy to make with your own hands, it does not require large investments and time, and it looks impressive.
