Ballard Designs Coral Topiary Knock-Off

July 11, 2012

If you are anything like me, you get the Ballard’s catalog in the mail and just pour over it. Page by page. Soaking it in. Absorbing the beauty.

And trying not to look at the prices.

In the most recent issue, I found myself going back again and again to one page. The page that had this Coral Topiary on it. It is so beautiful.

It’s price? Not so much.

There are A LOT of things I could do with $99 and buying a coral topiary isn’t one of ‘em!

So, I thought, “Well, I’ll just make one!” To which the voice in my head replied, “Yeah right!”
To which I replied, “You just watch me!” To which it replied…oh…ummm…wait…maybe I better stop before you all realize the full extent of my craziness.

And, of course, you know how the story goes. The “best laid plans” are always met with road blocks…and not just from the voices in your head!

I could not find affordable faux coral to save my life.

Not in the fish section of stores, not at the pet store, not at TJ Maxx or Marshalls.

Oh no! Was everyone else making Coral Topiaries too???

Sure, I could find some here and there but it was all so expensive and I might as well have just ordered the topiary from Ballards!

Then I saw it…a little mesh bag with something “coral-y” looking in it. Would it work? Could I pass off a Sea-Sponge as coral? It was worth a try!

Then I reached that point I always reach every time I attempt anything craft-y. The “this could go either way” point.

The below photo was taken when I had reached that point…in case you couldn’t tell.

If you want your family to really think you have gone off the deep end, start cutting up a sea sponge and hot glue it and some seashells to a foam cone.

Ummm…do I keep plowing forward or just chuck the weird looking cone into the garbage? I decided to just plow ahead!

Because we all know that white spray paint can work wonders on anything.

I’m so glad I didn’t toss it in the garbage after all! Although, I’m not sure that it looks exactly like coral.

So, I changed it’s name!

This way no one will leave me a comment telling me that it doesn’t actually look like real coral.

Right? RIGHT?

Of course, I had to show off my other “beachy” creation. Simply adding twine to the bottom of a glass hurricane and attaching a starfish gave me some more seaside décor and I found the seashell candlestick at TJ Maxx, my home away from home.

I liked my twine-y, starfish creation so much I made another one!

So, there you have it. My attempt at a Ballard’s knock-off.

Maybe if the voices in my head cooperate I will get up the nerve to try another one sometime!
“No you won’t!”

“Yes I will, just watch me!” Umm…I better go now.

Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today,

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