HOW TO MAKE A KISSING BALL TOPIARY

SKILL LEVEL: EASY TIME: 30 MINUTES

• 2 Martha Stewart Living™ North Pole Collection kissing balls

• Martha Stewart Living™ North Pole Collection 101-pack ornaments

• Martha Stewart Living™ North Pole Collection ribbon – 1 30ft roll

• Cordless drill (We reccomend RYOBI ONE+ 18-Volt lithium-ion compact drill/driver kit)

• 3/4in dowel, 48in long

• Planter (We used a 14in x 27.5in slate rubber self-watering planter)

• Rocks • 1 8in and 1 10in square of cardboard,

with 1in holes cut from center (Card-board can be adjusted if you use a different size planter)

• 1in spade bit • Hose repair clamp for 3/4in dowel • Staple gun & staples • Scissors

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YOU WILL NEED:

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

In the first ball, drill one hole into the plastic center. The hole will be about 1in in diameter, leaving plenty of room for a 3/4in-diameter dowel. This will be the top tier of the topiary. In the second ball, drill two holes directly opposite one another. This will be the middle tier of the topiary.

Staple the ribbon to the top end of the dowel and wrap it around, twisting and turning the ribbon and dowel as you go.

Stop between half and three-quarters of the way down the dowel. The bottom section of the dowel will not be seen.

Cut the ribbon and fold the edge under, stapling it neatly into place.

Attach a hose clamp halfway down the dowel.

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HOW TO MAKE A KISSING BALL TOPIARY

STEP 4

STEP 5

Fill planter halfway with rocks to ground it. Add small cardboard and place it snugly into the planter, on top of the rocks. Cardboard will help ensure that the dowel stays in place.

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HOW TO MAKE A KISSING BALL TOPIARY

STEP 6

Place the other cardboard cutout a few inches above the first, creating a platform in the planter where you’ll place more ornaments around the dowel.

Cardboard will sit a few inches below the top of your planter to leave room for ornaments.

Insert dowel.

STEP 8

STEP 9

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HOW TO MAKE A KISSING BALL TOPIARY

Make a pair and place at either side of your front door or flank a mantel for a festival holiday look.

Place ornaments on the cardboard platform in the planter as the bottom tier, high enough to cover any unwrapped area of the dowel.

If using outside, glue ornaments in place with hot glue gun.

STEP 7Slide your second-tier ornament ball (the one with two holes) down the dowel so that it sits on the clamp. Place your top-tier orna-ment ball (one hole) over the top.