January 13, 2023

Easter Egg “Topiaries”

Summary

I found some super cute but pretty pricey springtime topiaries in a catalogue. I wasn't willing to reproduce them exactly but I did want to use the scale, designs, and colors to make a much more budget and DIY-friendly version.

A few years ago I copied Christmas topiaries from Grandinroad catalogue. I used styrofoam balls, plaster of Paris, and wood. It was an intense and long process and not one I really wanted to repeat plus it was pricey, though not nearly as much as the original. But they also had a spring version which was so happy and beautiful! Grandinroad topiaries

I loved the scale of these topiaries and the springtime designs. I realize that what I am going to show you is not super close to the image to the right, but it was my starting place. The other thing that informed my design was that I already had a supply of six-foot fence pickets I had gotten for free on Craigslist. As a bonus, the idea that these could be stored flat was appealing. Thus the Easter “Topiaries” were born.

Materials:

2- 6’ fence pickets cut to 4’

1 easel back (one of the 2’ offcuts)

3 cleats (from the other offcut)

Nail gun and nails

1 hinge

14” string or wire

staple gun and staples

primer and brush

poster board pattern

design patterns

carbon paper

pencil

paint and brushes

Steps:

Create a pattern.
Trace half of topiary pattern on one picket.
Cut it out with a jigsaw or bandsaw.
Flip the pattern and repeat. (The flipping ensures that your topiary will be symmetrical.)
Using a nail gun or screws, attach the two halves together with the cleats.

Prime. I used a bonding and stain blocking version of Kilz and it did a great job!

Attach the easel back to the middle cleat with a hinge.

Use string stapled to the bottom of the easel and the topiary to keep it from sliding open too far.

On white paper, create designs. Make them appear to curve around a surface so they will look three dimensional. I used the Grandinroad catalogue. (No shame!)
But I also used an actual egg. I drew polka dots and took a photo. Then I printed it out to match the size of my wooden topiary eggs.

egg

Using carbon paper, trace your design onto the prepared surface.

Paint. I used house paint sample pots.

Add shading using a hatching technique or a dry brush.
Add white highlights down the center to really make it 3-D.

Finally, show off your work!