How to Make Topiary Candy Bouquets

Make these cute topiary candy bouquets for your child's next birthday or as centerpieces to decorate the tables at graduation parties and school banquets. They are very easy to do and will make great favors for the guests and honoree. These simple topiary candy bouquets are made with basic floral supplies and a bag of candy. They look almost too pretty to eat. The shine of the Mylar and the bright colors of the candy wrappers create a spectacular presentation of color.

Things You'll Need

• 4-inch clay flowerpot
• Floral foam brick
• Serrated knife
• Hot glue gun
• Shredded basket paper
• 1/4-inch dowel, 18 inches
• 3-inch Styrofoam ball
• Mylar wrapping paper
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Wire twist tie
• Curling ribbon
• Bag of miniature wrapped candy bars
• Floral pins

Instructions

1. Using a serrated knife, cut the floral foam brick to fit in the 4-inch clay pot. Apply hot glue to the inside of the pot on the bottom and sides and insert the cut floral foam. Apply hot glue to the top of the foam and place shredded basket paper over the top.

2. Insert one end of the dowel halfway into the Styrofoam ball. Remove the dowel. Apply hot glue to the end of the dowel and reinsert it into the Styrofoam ball. Insert the other end of the dowel into the center of the floral foam in the pot. Remove the dowel. Apply hot glue to the end of the dowel and reinsert it into the pot.

3. Measure and cut a 14-inch square from the Mylar wrapping paper. Drape the Mylar over the top of the Styrofoam ball and gather it down and around the dowel stake. Wrap a wire twist tie around the gathered Mylar ends to secure.

4. Insert a floral pin through the flap on one candy bar wrapper. Pin the candy bar slightly more than halfway down the side of the Styrofoam topiary ball. Pin more candy bars beside the first and around the ball. Overlap and pin another row over the first, and continue to the top of the topiary candy bouquet. The amount of candy bars needed will depend on how closely the candy bars are overlapped.

5. Cut 12 pieces of Mylar wrapping paper that are 2 square inches. Place a floral pin in the center of a square and insert it between a a couple of candy bars on the topiary candy bouquet. Randomly space the remaining 11 squares around the topiary. Cut four long pieces of curling ribbon 36 inches long. Hold the curling ribbons together and tie around the wire twist tie at the bottom of the ball. Using the back of the scissors, curl each end of the ribbons.