Toddler Activities: Candy Topiary

Cup or small vase for base

Styrofoam to fit in mug or vase (florist cylinder or cut a piece to fit)

Styrofoam shape (heart, star, cone)

Dowel

Candies

Wilton White Cookie Icing (for flat surfaces only, see tips below)

Duncan Hines Cake Frosting (recommended for any non flat surface)

Red or Pink Shredded Grass

OTHER MATERIALS

Craft Glue

Waxed Paper or Parchment paper to work on

Small dish or muffin tin for candies

Small glass pebbles for additional weight in the jar or mug (optional)

1. Stick the dowel into the foam. Remove and place some glue into the hole and push the dowel back in. Let dry.
2. Place a large sheet of waxed paper or parchment paper on a flat surface.
3. Pour/sort candies into small dishes or a muffin tin.
4. Use the White Cookie icing like glue and pour a generous amount on the styrofoam.
5. Paint and let dry.
6. An iridescent or glitter paint will add shine or you can spray with Acrylic Sealer.

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

For best results use CAKE FROSTING to stick on candies. After testing Craft Glue, Wilton Icing and Frosting we found the Wilton Icing is good for flat areas and helps define where to place candies but for any sides, cones or non flat surfaces, use cake frosting. The candy with stick and NOT slide.

If you choose to do a pattern, lay out the candies on the waxed paper.

The heart will get surprisingly heavy with the candies so make sure you test stability. We added some glass craft pebbles to create a more stable base.

At Michael's Crafts Store we found pre made shapes like circles, stars and hearts for one US dollar.

Keep out of reach of very young children when displaying! It is very irresistible looking!

EDUCATIONAL TIP

Sort candies into muffin tins by type, shape or color. Make a few simple patterns together with your child on the waxed paper to help develop patterning skills.

OTHER IDEAS

Christmas Peppermint Tree

This was done using a cone shaped styrofoam found in any craft store, or WalMart craft area. When finished decorating, we put a TBS of frosting on the plate and placed decorated cone onto it.

MATERIALS

Styrofoam cone

Peppermints, Jelly Bellies and Red Hots

Duncan Hines White Frosting

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Christmas Chocolate Tree

This was done using a cone shaped styrofoam found in any craft store, or WalMart craft area. When finished decorating, we put a TBS of frosting on the plate and placed decorated cone onto it. Due to the decorating of the chocolates this is a little trickier and more appropriate for 4+ or an adult to make the designs.

MATERIALS

Styrofoam cone

Mini Chocolates in squares and small rectangles, Small Candies

Duncan Hines White Frosting

Cookie Icing in tubes with the decorator tips.

Designs

We used the flower shape tip and just squeezed it onto the chocolate, the pointed tip for a simple bow, and again the pointed tip for three dots for the snowman. We used a marker to make eyes when dried.

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