Topiary concept
Topiary is understood as a decorative tree created with one’s own hands. It can be made from a variety of materials. But the most common tree is considered to be coffee.
The birthplace of such art is Ancient Rome. The first works were intricately cut trees in the form of a variety of shapes. Today, topiary is, first of all, a souvenir product.
DIY coffee bean topiary
For those who consider paintings made of coffee and candles covered with coffee beans to be child's play, there is also a more difficult craft - topiary. This “tree of happiness,” as it is commonly called in Europe, will become a real work of art, and the time spent on the topiary will pay off in spades when all the guests begin to admire such a sophisticated masterpiece and even envy your skill.
Topiary is modern and fashionable
For topiary you will need:
- coffee beans
- thick cardboard
- A4 paper
- glue or glue gun
- small jar or box, cut bottle
- clothespins
- brown paint (you can use quality paints for painting)
- thick wire
- gypsum
A ready-made blank can be used as a heart. It is most convenient to glue the grains with a glue gun, but in the absence of one, you can use simple glue.
Sequence of work:
- Folding a sheet of paper in half, draw half a heart and cut it out so that when you turn the sheet you get a whole heart 2. Attach the paper heart to a sheet of cardboard and redraw it, and then cut it out with scissors 3. Glue a wire or a curved wooden branch, forming a topiary trunk 4. Using cotton wool or cotton pads laid out in layers, create the volume of the figure by gluing them to a cardboard heart 5. Wrap the resulting heart with twine in different directions to secure the structure. Use it to tightly wrap the wire to the very end 6. Paint the resulting structure using a small foam sponge 7. While the painted tree dries, form a pot for it: separate the wooden clothespins and paste them around the jar or box, so as to create the impression of a wooden tub. You can paint the pot any color, or you can leave it as is 8. Cover the dried “crown” of the tree tightly with coffee beans so that they fit right next to each other and no empty gaps are visible. You can lay the grains in several layers, on top of each other - such chaos will only add gloss to the craft 9. Fill the finished topiary pot with plaster and place the tree in it 10. After the plaster has dried, the tree can be decorated with ribbons, flowers and beads to your taste
Topiaries come in many different shapes
Choosing material
After studying the instructions on how to make topiary at home, you can draw a conclusion regarding the necessary materials. You will need:
- polystyrene foam (this will be the base);
- threads;
- pot or cup;
- wire;
- gypsum;
- decor (ribbons, colored paper, paints, artificial and dried flowers);
- glue;
- coffee beans.
Depending on the variation of the craft, this list may be supplemented. Having prepared everything that is required, you need to familiarize yourself with existing techniques. This will help you choose the most suitable topiary model.
As for decorations, as you can see in the photo of topiary made from coffee beans, in addition to the options listed above, you can use any available means.
Topiary made of coffee and coins
For those craftswomen who have mastered the basics of making coffee trees, we suggest slightly modifying the typical topiary ball by adding monetary symbols to the design. This accessory will be a good gift for people seeking big earnings.
Making topiary from coffee beans with coins is not difficult, and the master class will help you with this:
- Prepare a regular foam ball and a zipper of a suitable size.
- Cover the ball with layers of cotton wool, tie it tightly with thread, paint it brown with gouache and place it on a radiator or other warm place to dry.
- Place the open zipper on the ball and trace the outline. This will be the place for gluing the coins.
- Secure the coins with hot glue, starting from the middle.
- After securing all the coins, place the unzipped zipper on top and securely secure it with hot glue.
- Start covering the ball with coffee beans in two layers. The first, as always, is with the hollow down, and the second is up.
- Make the trunk for the money topiary from flexible steel wire wrapped in twine. Bend it and insert it into the ball, having previously lubricated the end of the barrel with glue.
- A bowl that needs to be covered with brown crepe paper is suitable for the pot.
- Dilute cement and alabaster in equal proportions to a creamy consistency and place the mixture in a bowl. Secure the topiary in the solution and let it dry.
- Then coat the cement with clear glue and secure the coins there.
- Decorate the pot with ribbons and attach a bow under the ball itself, which will immediately turn the mini-money tree into a real gentleman.
As a result, you will have a delightful topiary made from coffee beans with coins, which is sure to bring good luck and wealth. In addition, it will fill the room with an amazing coffee aroma.
A gift with meaning
If you decide to make a decorative tree from coffee beans, then, first of all, you need to decide what meaning you want to put into this craft. It is believed that topiary symbolizes happiness, well-being, prosperity and unquenchable vitality.
If you add some details correctly, the symbolic message can be adjusted in the direction you need. For example, if this is a wedding gift, then there may be two trees, with crowns in the shape of hearts.
For a gift to a friend, the craft can be supplemented with braid, bows, lace, beads, etc. decor. Addressed to a man, the tree with its entire appearance should emphasize the reliability of the strong half of humanity.
In other words, consider the character of the person you are giving the gift for, and you can create something truly valuable.
What interior styles does coffee tree go with?
Topiary is friendly with almost all style trends. It will be appropriate even in a classic or loft setting. A similar souvenir would also look good in a room designed in a high-tech style.
The coffee tree has the unique ability to decorate absolutely any room, adding individuality and originality to its interior. That’s why this craft is especially highly valued by designers and is often used in fashion design projects.
Brief master class
Let's look at step-by-step instructions for making topiary for beginners:
- Form a medium-sized ball from foam. If you don’t want to bother with foam plastic, then pick up a regular medium-sized rubber ball.
- Wrap it with thread. Secure its ends with glue.
- Mark the location for the trunk.
- Cover the ball with grains in 2 layers.
- After the glue has completely dried, insert the wire base for the barrel into the marked place.
- Pour a solution of gypsum mixed with coffee grounds into the pot and place the barrel with a coffee ball in the center.
- Wrap the trunk with tape or braid of a suitable color.
Now you can start decorating. How to decorate the craft is up to you. The crown can be decorated with a bow or star anise, and some funny figurine can be placed at the base of the trunk.
Remember that it is better to make the product reflect the preferences of the person for whom it is intended. Then the gift will definitely be appreciated.
Creating a beautiful topiary from coffee beans is accessible to everyone. This type of needlework does not require any special artistic abilities.
The main thing is to have desire and imagination. And since a piece of the craftswoman’s soul is always put into handmade products, they will always look extremely attractive.
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Coffee tree with a round crown
To make it you will need:
- Coffee beans. You should choose the highest grades, whose coffee beans are smooth, beautiful, and have a wonderful aroma. This is what the mini-coffee tree will smell like later.
- A plastic plant pot and a tube for a trunk about 25 cm long and 12 mm in diameter.
- A ball with a diameter of about 8 cm, which will serve as a blank for the crown.
- Alabaster, double-sided tape, glue and a glue gun.
- Nylon and satin ribbons.
- Scissors and a bucket for preparing alabaster mortar.
Carrying out the work step by step:
- Take a blank for the crown - a ball - and begin to paste over the grains in two layers. The first layer is to glue the grains with a strip down. After drying, glue the second layer, stripe up. We glue it tightly, but in such a way that the first layer is visible. Double-layer gluing will make the coffee bean topiary more aesthetic and voluminous than single-layer gluing.
- Start making the barrel. To do this, carefully wrap the workpiece diagonally with double tape, leaving 3 cm of the edges untouched.
- Wrap a satin ribbon over the tape.
- Pour water into the prepared flower pot or flowerpot so that it does not reach 3 cm from the edge.
- Pour this water into the solution container and begin to gradually add alabaster, mixing it thoroughly, bringing it to the consistency of sour cream.
- Place the prepared solution in a flowerpot and insert the barrel evenly and accurately. Leave until dry.
- Then start gluing the coffee beans onto the dry solution. Paste over according to the principle of processing a ball: the first layer with the line down, the second with the line up.
- Using a glue gun, apply glue to the end of the barrel and, precisely in the center, pressing lightly, quickly place the ball on it.
- Final stage: decorate the finished coffee tree with an organza ribbon, tying it in a bow on the trunk.
It makes a wonderful gift for a housewarming or birthday, for Christmas or New Year - inexpensive, but very unusual, which will be happily accepted by friends and family.
DIY photo of coffee topiary
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