Peppermint Tabletop Topiary Tree

   I just love any kind of topiary tree! I want to do an ornament topiary soon and post, but the idea of using peppermints instead of ornaments came to me tonight, and as you will soon figure out, I am pretty random, so I decided to create this instead! :) Plus, I just love the little soft peppermints and I must say, I ate several as I was making this little tree, so it was much more fun than using the ornaments. Ok, before I continue to ramble on, here is how you make this cute little tree.

Here is what you need:

• wooden dowel or stick
• white paint
• red paint, optional
• foam to fit snugly into pot
• peppermint candy
• hot glue gun
• foam balls
• small ornaments, peppermint, confetti~something to put around the bottom of the topiary in the pot
• something to use as a pot/base. I used a candleholder and the wrapped coordinating scrapbooking paper around it.

   Paint your dowel white and paint the foam balls red, if you wish.(I'm sure it will still look fine if you leave these white, it is just a personal preference:)) While the paint is drying make sure the foam you have for the base fits snugly. I had to shave mine around the edges a little to make it fit. After the paint dries, make a hole all the way thru one of the balls and only halfway thru the other with the dowel. Glue your peppermint pieces all over the balls around the holes that you have just made. After you finish this, take a rubber band and wrap several times around the dowel and push it down to where you want the bottom part of the tree to stop. This will keep it from sliding down too far. Stick the dowel into your foam base in the middle. I used my hot glue gun around it to secure it so it wouldn't become loose. Then slide the balls onto your dowel. Put some sort of a filler at the top of your "base". I used little red ball ornaments. Now tie a pretty ribbon around the bottom.
Now admire how pretty your little tabletop Peppermint topiary tree is!
I hope you all are having a warm, cozy evening! :)
~Crysta :)