Easter Decorating DIY -- Moss Bunny Topiaries

You can enter to win a few moss bunnies of your own HERE
(giveaway ends March 28, 2011, 9:00 PST)

I admired a trio of sweet little faux moss bunnies at my friend Geri's house a few weeks ago.  Lo and behold, on St. Patrick's day, my dear friend left a bundle of the fuzzy bunnies on my doorstep along with a lovely card.

To give the bounding bunnies a place of prominence on our table, my daughter and I antiqued a small crate and a three terra cotta pots to create a Moss Bunny Topiary Centerpiece.

Here's how you can create one of your own:

MOSS BUNNY TOPIARIES

Materials

3 Moss Bunnies from Pier One Imports ($2 each)

3 Terra Cotta Pots ($1 each at the craft store)

3 4" Faux Moss Pot Topper ($1.99 each at Michael's)

DecoArt Americana Paint, Snow White

A small sponge brush

A paper towel

Numeric stamps and black ink

Awl or bamboo skewer

Hot glue gun

Newspaper

Step 1:  Dilute white paint by about 50% with water.  Using a foam brush, paint entire pot, inside and out.

Step 2:  To "antique" the painted pot, I ran it under the tap and gently rubbed away some of the paint with my hands.  Using a paper towel, I buffed and dried the painted pot, and used the foam brush and additional paint for touch-up.

Step 3:  Ink your numeric stamp and apply to pot.  Use a gentle dab of the foam brush to apply a light coat of the diluted white paint over the stamped number.

Step 4:  Coil newspaper or packing paper inside the pot.

Step 5:  Trim faux moss topper to fit inside the mouth of the pot (I trimmed about a 1/4" around).  

Step 6:  Use an awl or other pointed instrument to punch a hole in the center of the moss.  

Step 7:  "Dry Fit" the moss round, to make sure it will fit nicely inside the pot.  Allow about an hour for the pot to dry.  Working in 2" increments, apply glue to inside rim of pot and adhere moss.  Work your way around until the entire piece is attached.  You may use the awl, inserted into the center hold to help give the moss mound some shape, and help it adhere to the glue on the sides of the pot, as you get closer to finishing.

Step 8:  Put a small dab of hot glue on the bottom of the bunny stick, and insert through the hole in the moss.

FOR THE CRATE

Materials

1 "Finish It" CD Crate (Michael's $4.99)

DecoArt Staining/Antiquing Medium

DecoArt Americana, Asphaltum

Foam Brush

Paper Towel

Step 1:  Make a mixture of 50% Staining Medium and 50% Asphaltum paint.

Step 2:  Using foam brush, apply mixture to entire crate.

Step 3:  Using a soft cloth or paper towel, buff the crate to soften the finish.

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