One of my favorite things on this planet?
Seeing something high-end that I know I can recreate for myself without spending that much money.
Sometimes I try it and it doesn’t work out how I planned.
It was high-end for a reason.
But sometimes?
Sometimes when the stars align and the angels sing and the world spins in my direction?
The project I envisioned actually works and turns out better than I can even BELIEVE.
Like this metal heart I found.
What do you think I made with it?
What Valentine’s Day project do you think I created?
If you are thinking THIS.
You would be RIGHT.
Yes.
You were right.
I MADE A VALENTINE’S DAY TOPIARY.
I thought it might turn out.
I hoped it might turn out.
And it did.
Want to know how I made it?
But wait.
Before we get topiary started, can I keep it real for a moment on this DIY blog.
Sometimes step-by-step instructions are challenging for me.
Yikes.
I’m not really that good at them.
I want to be.
Truly.
If we had a giant blog yearbook and we could all vote on superlatives, I would want to be voted “Most Likely To Write a Step-By-Step Post.”
I have pin board after pin board of carefully detailed projects. Each step photographed, numbered and explained down to the most minute detail by people who know so much more about step-by-step-project writing than I could ever hope to learn if I blogged for the next 500 years. But when I start to create a project, my mind starts wandering, my eyes glaze over and I just want jump from the before to the after with only a nod to the in-between and I end up next door eating dinner and drinking sweet tea.
But here’s the thing. I WRITE A DIY blog. One with home tours and DIY’s and spring projects like this and people who want to know how to ACTUALLY MAKE THEM.
So here’s how to make a heart topiary with step-by-step full of details and pictures.
Just for you.
How to Make a Heart Topiary
(from before to after with a valiant attempt at a lot of in-betweens)
// metal heart form //
1. Start with a metal heart
This is the easy part of the project.
You can find heart forms like this in so many different places—your local craft store or even Walmart or the dollar store.
But in case you are snowed in or don’t want to get out or take the time to find another heart, you can order this one (like me) off of Amazon.
These heart forms come in a set of 2 with wires to help keep the ivy in place for under $10.
You can see the set here.
2. Choose your ivy
This is probably the hardest step (and it’s not even that hard).
I like to work with English Ivy because it’s so pretty.
And it looks fancy.
This ivy came from Lowe’s and it’s perfect for the project because it has long tendrils.
The tendrils are the key. If you have an ivy without tendrils—it will take longer to make your topiary.
3. Place the heart form into your ivy
The heart form has little metal prongs on the end.
Just place your heart form in the center of the ivy pot.
And then push it into the dirt. The prongs are long enough that it will be super sturdy.
4. Remove all questionable leaves
Before you begin to wrap the ivy?
Make sure all the of the dried leaves and any leaves that don’t look cute are removed.
It’s harder to take them off once you have the stems wrapped around the heart. You can just snap the leaves off with your fingers.
5. Wrap tendrils of ivy around the heart form
Keep wrapping until the edges of your metal heart are covered.
As your topiary grows, you can wrap more of the tendrils.
But for now, just wrap the longer ones and let the other ones drape over the sides.
6. Wrap the wire around the ivy
The kit I bought had wire with it.
I cut the wire in half and used smaller pieces to help “train” the ivy to wrap around the heart.
Just a few pieces of wire will help keep everything in place.
7. Trim and water
That’s it.
Your heart topiary is ready.
Just lightly water it when the soil gets dry and I like to mist my topiaries with a mixture of a couple of drops of dish soap to 1 cup of water to prevent spider mites (which are English Ivy’s greatest enemy).
Whew.
That was a little exhausting.
All that step-by-stepping.
I think it was worth it.
Maybe now……
…..my topiary and I will make the yearbook.
PS If you liked this project?
Here are a few more of my step-by-step favorites:
How to paint a plywood subfloor
How to fix sagging couch cushions
How to make a shutter wall
How to make drop cloth curtains
How to make a bicycle wheel clock
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