• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cottage at the Crossroads

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Gardening
  • Recipes
  • Canning
  • DIY
  • Holidays
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Gardening
    • Recipes
    • Canning
    • DIY
    • Holidays
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » DIY » Crafts

    How to Make a Spice Drop Topiary

    By: Jane · Updated: 4 Feb, '15 · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    Hi everyone! I wanted to share with you a little gumball (spice drop) topiary that I made recently. I made it for our kitchen  to go with the gingerbread theme that I have going on in there.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads
    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    I used 1 ½ bags of spice drops for a 6 inch Styrofoam ball, but the amount will depend on the size of bag and the diameter of your ball.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    I used a terracotta pot that was already painted black and green and a thick candy cane. To anchor the candy cane in the pot, I used some floral foam. But my suggestion would be to use a slightly larger pot and put some rocks in the bottom for  added weight. The top of the topiary is surprisingly heavy and mine would topple over easily if I didn't have it in a secure place.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    I kept putting in small pieces of foam until the peppermint stick was securely anchored into the pot.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    To make a hole in the Styrofoam ball, I just pushed the peppermint stick into the foam.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    If you didn't want to use a peppermint stick, you could always use a wooden dowel wrapped with ribbon. (Don't look at all the scratches in our table-that's an upcoming project for the new year!)

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    Now you're ready to start adding the spice drops onto the Styrofoam ball. To do this step, remove the ball from the peppermint stick.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    I used whole wooden toothpicks to attach the spice drops, but it would have made it so much easier if I had cut the toothpicks in half! It was a little hard to push those toothpicks all the way into the ball so I will save you the trouble that I had!

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    Alternate the colors of the spice drops as you are adding them and try not to eat too many of them as you are working.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    Aren't they pretty?

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    Carefully add the top part onto the peppermint stick and cover the foam in the pot. I used a little green colored moss, but I think some pretty shredded paper would look better.

    How to make a gumball topiary | cottage at the crossroads

    It's so cute sitting on my kitchen counter, and I'll show you how it goes with some other things that I've made in here soon!

    Now if only I can keep Leo from eating those spice drops from the topiary!

    More Crafts

    • Peat pot with pumpkin 1
      Thrifty Peat Pot Pumpkin Holder
    • Ruffled tea towel cherry bowl and sign 2 square
      No Sew Ruffled Tea Towel
    • Bunko girls on steps 2
      Bunco Friends Lunch and Crafting Time
    • Patriotic mini easel place card 2
      Patriotic Mini Easel Place Cards

    Sharing is caring!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. debbiedoos

      December 16, 2013 at 7:54 am

      Ahhh that is so cute Jane. Of course I would eat it all.

      Reply
    2. Suzy @ Worthing Court

      December 16, 2013 at 7:34 am

      Oh goodness, Jane. I used to LOVE these spicy gum drops as a kid and haven't thought about them in forever! Love your little topiary and really love the candy cane "stem". Merry Christmas to you and Leo!

      Reply
    3. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles

      December 15, 2013 at 6:49 pm

      Love it, Jane! I'm with Leo, I'd have a hard time not eating them, too. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Savannah Granny

      December 15, 2013 at 3:51 pm

      Jane, This is so adorable. It seems like a fairly quick project. Nowadays, that's what I need!
      Love the idea of the peppermint stick. The candies bring back memories of my childhood.
      Have a great day, Ginger

      Reply
    5. Katherines Corner

      December 15, 2013 at 12:54 pm

      I was thinking how cute it is and that our grandchildren would have all of the gum drops picked off quickly, giggle. xo

      Reply
    6. Mary Ann

      December 15, 2013 at 11:58 am

      I don't know if it would work here, we LOVE spice drops! It's really cute, though!

      Reply
    7. Betty

      December 15, 2013 at 5:26 am

      That is so cute and easy. I know my grandkids will love to help me make a couple. Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply
    8. Gwen

      December 15, 2013 at 5:22 am

      Actually because they aren't glued on it is a fun way to have a candy dish!!! Eat the topiary 🙂
      I like it with the peppermint stick a lot. I'm with you--that crinkled party bag paper in Christmas green or just whatever would look cute. Is that chalkboard paint at the top? Have a SWEET Christmas would be cute around the pot too. Oh I'm way too tired and mind too wound up!!. The way you did it looks great !!! But I've never seen big bags of the candy like that...good thing for I love gum drops!!! Mine would forever need refilling too as I'd be nibbling too!!

      Reply
    9. michelle

      December 15, 2013 at 2:37 am

      This is really cute. I would love to make one,but I have a cat with a sweet tooth. It wouldn't last a day with her a round.

      Reply
    10. Kim

      December 14, 2013 at 9:48 pm

      Just too too cute!

      Reply
    11. Babs

      December 14, 2013 at 2:57 pm

      So cute ! Your gum drop topiary reminds me of the little plastic trees we used to get to put the gum drops on, only yours is cute. Gosh, I haven't had gum drops in years...or orange slices either, now that I think about it. Hugs and have a great weekend.

      Reply
    12. Carol Speake

      December 14, 2013 at 10:04 am

      Cute Jane. Glad my project inspired you. My dogs ate mine too and mine was top heavy as well. Cute and fun though! I'll miss you in the group.

      Carol

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads

    We're Jane and Leo!

    Thanks for stopping by! We're renovating and preserving our family's 100 year old home place where we garden, complete a few DIY projects, and do some cooking. Please leave us a comment so that we'll know that you were here.

    about →

    Reader Favorites

    • Setting up a gardening journal
      How to Set Up a Garden Journal
    • Wooden garden obelisks
      DIY Wooden Garden Obelisk
    • Sweet cucumber relish featured
      Sweet Cucumber Relish
    • Cucumbers in raised beds
      Growing Cucumbers in Raised Beds

    Gardening How-tos

    • Best way to remove weeds from large area
      Best Ways To Remove Weeds From a Large Area
    • Potting mix vs. Potting soil
      Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil
    • How to dry and store fresh garden herbs
      How To Dry Herbs
    • 1
      Instant Pot Canning Basics

    Growing Vegetables

    • Fall decor 063
      Our Fall Vegetable Garden
    • Garden and yard may 2013 132
      Evolution of a Garden
    • Celebrity tomatoes in cages
      How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes
    • Growing lettuce in containers 030
      Growing Lettuce in Containers

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    © 2021 Cottage at the Crossroads · All Rights Reserved

    Contact Us · Privacy

    685 shares