Ann Butler Designs Blog Hop - Spring Bloom Topiary

I am excited to be a part of the Ann Butler Designs blog hop!  In the midst of all this snow and ice in North Carolina, I felt like I needed a little touch of spring so I designed this cheerful flower topiary!  Be sure to check out the other participating designers to see what they've created too!

Ann Butler http://www.creativitystirsthesoul.com/2014/01/ann-butler-designs-january-blog-hop.html

Amy Bowerman http://wp.me/p1xj8L-1ub

Candice Windham http://candicewindhamdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-do-i-love-thee.html

Cheryl Boglioli http://wp.me/p2zUiu-1cE

Eileen Hull http://www.eileenhull.com/2014/01/ann-butler-blog-hop.html

Jen Goode http://www.100directions.com/pretty-as-a-peacock-ink-colors-from-clearsnap-and-ann-butler/

Madeline Arendt  http://madelinesthoughts.blogspot.com/2014/01/ann-butlers-stamps-blog-hop.html
Sharon Rienhart http://smrdesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/delicate-valentine.html

Materials: 

Ann Butler Faux Quilting Stamps by Unity Stamp Company - 1” Leaves All Over
Clearsnap® ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler - Lilac
White cotton fabric 
Lavender embroidery floss, needle 
1 1/4” Smoothfoam ball 
Yellow Blumenthal Lansing button 
Wooden skewer 
Darice tin watering can 
May Arts ribbon - yellow print, green print 
Beacon Adhesives Tacky Glue 
Iron 

Instructions: 

Ink 1” leaves stamp with Lilac ink, stamp 8 times on white cotton fabric.  Ink stripe stamp with Lilac ink, stamp 8 times on white cotton fabric.  Heat set with iron. 

Cut out each stamped square, leaving approximately 1/8” on all sides. 

Place 2 leave images back to back, straight stitch embroider around image.  Repeat with remaining stamped leave images and striped images. 

Use fingers to gently remove threads around stitching to create frayed edge. 

Thread each square, through one corner, onto needle, overlapping.   Fan out to create flower. 

Place small amount of tacky glue on yellow button.  Place in center of flower.   Embroider through flower ot hold in place. 

Place Smoothfoam ball into bottom of watering can with hole facing upward. 

Place small dab of glue on top of skewer, wrap with green ribbon.   Place strip of ribbon around stem, tie, then tie ends in knot to create leaf.  Repeat on other side. 

Insert skewer into ball. 

Glue flower to top of skewer.  

Tie strip of yellow ribbon around watering can ending with a bow. 

Add Spanish moss to top of watering can opening to cover ball.