Reindeer Moss Topiary DIY

5 Materials
$15.00
1 Hour
Easy
This handcrafted topiary is unlike any other. It's made of reindeer moss which is not a moss at all, but lichen. And what is lichen, you say? It's a combination of fungus and algae plants that's a winter food for deer. I've always admired regular topiaries (green ones) but thought they were too expensive. And making one really wasn't that appealing to me - until I saw a bag of preserved reindeer moss in a nice rich fuchsia color. Yes, fuchsia - how cool is that?
So I easily put my topiary together, using a 10 inch flora craft foam ball for the top, a small branch that I found in the woods, a half of a Styrofoam ball for the base that was from a previous project; wine color acrylic paint to color the balls so the white foam wouldn't show through, tacky glue and a urn that I purchased on clearance a few years ago. And of course, three bags of preserved reindeer moss.
To begin, after inserting the stick branch into the ball base, I painted the Styrofoam balls and let them dry.
Next, I glued the moss on both balls using quick grab tacky glue. I found this better than using hot glue which made the moss hard and my fingers hot, hot, hot! Ouch!
Once all of the moss was glued on and dry, I had fun deciding where my topiary would go. It looks perfect in the foyer, by the front door . . .
or by the fireplace, near the tv.
Or in that hard to decorate corner . . .
or maybe in the living room, where there's always an open space . . .
No matter where I put it, I know that it makes for a timeless decorative accent piece - for now, the holidays or whenever, year after year!


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Suggested materials:
  • 10 inch foam ball
  • Wine color acrylic paint
  • 3 bag of preserved reindeer moss
See all materials
Gail@Purple Hues and Me
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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3 of 11 questions
  • Lwc19653229 Lwc19653229 on Nov 04, 2017

    How did you color the moss.

  • Millies_mom47 Millies_mom47 on Nov 05, 2017

    So you say you bought the reindeer moss. But where from a florist or a craft store? I've never seen it for sale here but if you tell me where you got it I might be able to find a similar store here.

  • Lottie Crafts Lottie Crafts on Nov 07, 2017

    how do you dust it?

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