{ribbon topiary}

What a great project! So many combinations of ribbon to use, and perfect if you have lots of ribbon and scraps around your house.

Items needed:

-scissors
-metal bucket, or other base of your choice
-spray paint, if desired
-green floral foam
-thick wooden dowel (I used the second thickest dowel from Walmart--I believe it was 7/8 of an inch)
-styrofoam ball, size of your choice, depending on how big you want your topiary to be (I used a 6 inch ball)
-metal straight pins
-ribbon! I used 7 different types of ribbon, and about 20 total yards. Mine is rather large, and you could easily make yours smaller if you wanted to, which would require less ribbon. I found several spools for .97, or on clearance and that really saved me a ton. I also did this project with Erica, and we shared the cost of ribbon, which helped too. The strategy I would suggest for choosing ribbon would be to find one pattern that you really like, that has several different colors in it that you like and want to work around. Then you can use that as your base, and add ribbons to match from there. Make sure you mix up textures and colors--it really makes a difference. Sheers, ric rac, wired, grosgrain--anything is possible! I also used a variety of widths, so don't worry if you can't find ribbon you like that's all the same width. It actually adds a lot to the overall look.
-moss, or some other filler for base

Instructions:

-paint your bucket if desired. I got mine (metal bucket) for $1 at Walmart, and spray painted it black. You could paint it any color, or keep it metal if you like.

-paint your dowel. This color really depends on the color of your base, and which color combinations you are using in your ribbon.

-cut and insert foam into bucket. I found that a cutting board and sharp knife worked well. Make sure the foam is tight, and won't move inside the base.

-insert dowel in the center of your base, securely into the foam.

-Place your styrofoam ball on the dowel, making sure it is centered. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be, so I would suggest a measuring tape and a marker to help guide you. If you mess up, don't worry. The ribbon will totally cover any holes. I know, because I had at least 10 of them, lol!

-Time for ribbon! Cut a piece of ribbon about 3 inches or so in length. Bring the two ends together, overlapping a bit, to make a loop. Stick a straight pin through the place where the ends meet, and stick it into the styrofoam ball. I started at the top, and moved my way down, although you could really start anyplace you wanted to. Make sure you vary sizes, textures, widths, and ribbons as you're placing them on the ball, and also the direction they are facing. You can also add some texture by letting the ends of some of the ends of your loops stick out (when you overlap the ends, just let one of the ends extend out past the loop) when you place them on. Continue until the whole ball is covered, making sure none of the ball shows through.

-Fill your base with moss, or whatever you desire.

-If you'd like, tie a ribbon in a knot or bow around your base. Voila!