The popularity of hand-made souvenirs and interior decorations is growing steadily. Some things made in the style of hand-made are so unique and fabulously beautiful that they look not only worse than those purchased, but even spectacular at times. One of such objects is a shell topiary. It combines the beauty of the clear geometry of the ball and the endless variety of natural forms - the harmony of the seas and oceans.
Shell topiary: what is it?
If you are a beginner needlewoman, and what such a souvenir looks like, you still do not know, and the execution technology is all the more unknown to you, all the tips given here are very useful. Following the recommendations, you will be able to create an amazing home decor in the near future.
So, the topiary is a miniature tree whose crown is trimmed in the shape of a ball. Natural living decoration requires care and attention, so he found an equally beautiful replacement - a product from decorative materials that repeats the shape and look of his natural counterpart. An interesting and conical configuration resembling a Christmas tree. Such options are suitable as a New Year's gift.
Topiary is made from coffee beans, sweets, cones, beads, flowers from fabric, paper. No less beautiful options allow you to make shells. It is about the topiary of them that will be discussed.
Tools and materials
To make a beautiful shell topiary, you need the following:
- a foam or any other lightweight ball or hollow sphere of a suitable size;
- stem for the manufacture of the stem;
- pot, vase;
- gypsum and water in the right proportions;
- containers for mixing gypsum and a stick for stirring;
- shells of suitable sizes, shapes and colors;
- glue or thermal gun;
- additional decor (satin ribbons, beads, organza, floral grid and ribbon, corrugated paper).
If you are engaged in needlework, then most likely the above is already available. Buying the missing objects is not difficult.
Shell arrangement options on a ball
A shell topiary may look different. Interesting effects are easy to obtain by combining elements of different shapes and combining them in all directions. Some use flat shells and cover the entire surface of the ball with them. The original version is shown in the following photo. If you use thin shells, the topiary becomes like a hedgehog.
It is easy to lay flat shells in the form of flowers and already cover the surface of the ball with them. It all depends on your imagination and the material available.
Manufacturing technology
To make a round topiary with shells (photo below), you need to work like this:
- Take a foam ball and fix the core inside it or on the surface, which will act as a stem.
- Pour gypsum into the prepared pot, mixed with water until the cream is thick.
- Hold the core until the gypsum hardens so that it does not move.
- Cover the surface of the ball with shells using a thermal gun.
- Wrap the stem with satin ribbon or dye it (optional).
- Decorate the pot (side surface and top plane).
- Complete the shells with beads, ribbons, floral sisal.
If it seems more convenient to you the option of initial decoration with the subsequent fastening of the rod in a cast, you can follow the steps in this sequence.
Shell and organza topiary
In addition to the decorative materials listed above, craftswomen often use organza. This is a translucent material that is used to decorate floral compositions, as well as in interior decoration. If you buy an organza of a blue shade, then in combination with shells you will get an excellent topiary on a marine theme. It would be nice to decorate the surface of the pot with river (sea) sand and small shells. The second option is already a beach idea.
How to create such a souvenir, as in the photo above? The algorithm of actions will be similar to the previous option (according to the stages of manufacturing the frame). The decoration of the base is performed as follows:
- Cut the blue organza into squares with a side of about 5 cm (depending on the diameter of the ball). It will take a lot of blanks.
- Take two squares and lay one on the other diagonally.
- Fold the element twice in half and fasten in a corner with a stapler. Such a part is called a bump.
- If you prepared a foam ball, attach all the nuts to the toothpicks.
- Spread the organza workpieces evenly over the surface of the ball, sticking the toothpicks inward. If your ball is not made of polystyrene foam, it is enough to glue the surface with pounds with a thermal gun, without using toothpicks.
- Glue to the surface of the ball between the pounds of the shell.
- Decorate the top of the pot.
- Complete the topiary with beads resembling pearls.
As you can see, making a topiary from a shell with your own hands is not difficult. Choose the sample you like and based on it create your own unique masterpiece. Good luck!