Terrarium Tuesday: the fool proof terrarium tutorial

so

you want to make a terrarium

but you're afraid you're going to kill it

well i've got a confession

i {just like many of you} kill plants

{gasp}

what? the plant loving, terrarium building, floral designer girl kills plants?..

you bet i do

want proof

this used to be the cutest little fern

then i killed it

{my bad}

the thing is

plants have minds of their own

sure there are very specific reasons a plant dies

{i've studied every possible scientific cause of their death}

but in my opinion

plants are going to do what they want to do when they want to do it

regardless of how much we tend to them

if they want to die

they're going to

and sometimes it's the opposite

a completely neglected plant will continue living and living and living

and just not quit

{even if you want it to}

minds of their own i tell you

minds of their own

well here is a tutorial for all you self proclaimed

"plant killers"

it's the easiest terrarium you will ever make

and one that you don't have to worry about dying days after you make it

it is absolutely fool proof

materials

glass container

sand

craft moss bought at michaels

small pebbles

twig cut from our mulberry tree

instructions

pour as much or as little sand as you want into jar

add your moss

add your pebbles

add your twig{s}

enjoy your kill proof 

and absolutely adorably darling terrarium!

Happy Terrarium Tuesday!

DIY Terrarium Tutorial: Reuse, Recycle & Regenerate

its the perfect tuesday
for a little dose of terrariums

i've got a huge thing for terrariums

they're adorable and pretty stinking cool
and they make my heart flutter all over the place

 you can find them just about anywhere now
i found these in a clothing boutique on pier 39 in san francisco for $20
{which is a bit steep if you ask me...}

i also have a mini obsession with glass jars
they're just so nifty

maybe its because you can use them for anything

{drinking, crafting, q-tip holding...literally anything}

and sometimes it's that olive jar, jam jar, or pasta sauce jar sitting in your recycle

that will make the perfect terrarium

 no need to spend your life savings on a crate and barrel apothecary jar

{though i wouldn't mind owning one or two of those...}

when you can just reuse use what you already have

 i also have this soft spot in my heart for reject plants

you know
the ones that sit on the clearance racks in garden sections

waiting for their imminent death
they're just so sad

i always do a quick walk by just in case i can save a plant or two

and bring them back to health
and sometimes a terrarium is the perfect place
for a helpless plant to regenerate and make its comeback
and on occasion there will be a very sweet guy working in the garden department 
who will just give you clearanced plants for free
{a smile may increase your chances}

so here's a little DIY terrarium tutorial for those of you
 that like to reuse, recycle and don't want to break the bank

my materials

olive jar, pasta sauce jar, baby food jar, kerr jar, all from the recycle {$0}
irish moss Sagina subulata purchased with a home depot gift card {$0}
a rescued zebra plant Hawthornia fasciata {$0}
a rescued echeveria hybrid Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' {$0}
soil from a potted plant in yard {$0}
rocks from yard {$0}
bark and twigs collected from yard {$0}

the moss terrarium

1. begin by placing a layer of rocks in your container

2. add a layer of soil

3. remove moss from container and break up rootball

4. place moss in container and press down gently to nest it into the top of the layer of soil

5. add rocks, bark, twigs, or figurines for embellishment

{if desired}

6. water enough so things are moist but do not saturate 

7. place lid on container

{lid will need to be removed occasionally for air flow}

8. enjoy your creation!

the succulent terrarium

1. place layer of rocks then a layer of soil

2. remove succulent from container break up root ball

3. place succulent{s} in soil

4. use a spoon to add soil around the succulent

5. add embellishments 

{i added some moss and bark}

6. water but do not put a lid on the container

{succulents need air circulation}

7. soak up the cuteness!

follow same steps for these smaller plantings

for $0

i recycled 4 glass jars

saved two succulents

 made 4 terrariums

and had an absolute blast doing it

terrariums are perfect for table tops

bookshelves

window sills

and make great gifts

{housewarming, get well, birthday, just because...}

i'm currently keeping these little guys all to myself though

as they've now made their new home on the dresser in my bedroom

DIY SucculentTerrarium Tutorial

I love Terrariums.
I love the oohhss and  aahhss I hear when people glance at them.
I love the wide eyes kids get as they inspect
 the tiny, magical, enclosed garden.
I love the smiles they bring people.
I love that they can spruce up a bookshelf, coffee table, desk
or even add that perfect touch to a windowsill.
And I love that I can bring my oh so favorite outdoors indoors.

Another thing I love?
How incredibly easy they are to make.
Here is a little tutorial on how to make your very own succulent terrarium.

Materials:
any glass jar
{found mine in the cupboard}
potting soil and assorted Aloe plants
{great prices and selection at my local Wal Mart}
rocks and twigs
{from around my apartment complex)
moss
paintbrush
big bowl
spoon

{1} place a layer of rocks at the bottom of your glass container,

this helps with drainage.

{2}cover rocks with a layer of your potting soil,

as much or as little as you desire.

{3} remove your succulents from their containers,

break up the root ball and get rid of excess soil.

{I actually split my larger Aloe plant into three}

{4} Use your finger, a spoon, etc. 

to dig and make spaces in the soil for your plants.

{5} place plants in desired locations.

{6} after plants are placed in the container,

add more soil to cover any exposed roots 

and to help secure the plants in place.

{7} When you're plants are planted and you're done adding your soil,

use a small brush to brush of excess soil that may be stuck in the plants crevices. 

{8}now it's time to add those personal touches!

add twigs, moss, rocks or whatever tickles your fancy to give your terrarium some character.

{9} enjoy your new little, bitty garden

{10} enjoy your new little, bitty garden.

Happy terrarium building to you!

Love Language

This is how I tell someone I love them.....

I make them a mason jar terrarium.

You should try it sometime,

it's so fun!

Build Your Own Terranium, Wait I Mean Terrarium

Rewind to a few weeks ago.

I got the most adorable birthday gift from my roommate Stephanie.

A Build Your Own "Terranium" Kit.

Clearly she knows me well.

My adorable roommates were all introduced to terrariums when I moved in.

Stephanie can never remember what they are called and refers to them as "terraniums", ha I love it!

Check out how adorable this kit is!

She picked out rocks from a beach town 30 miles north of here.... 

Heart shaped rocks.

These past few weeks have been crazy with traveling, midterms, finals, moving out, etc.

and I've been having a hard time finding the right time to put my terrarium together.

But, today was the perfect day!

My adorable succulents, picked out by Stephanie and Bre.

Adding the pebbles and activated charcoal.

Layering on the soil and prepping to place the plants.

And walaa, my bubble bowl terranium, excuse me, I mean terrarium :)

 I even had a little extra material to 

make a miniature mason jar terrarium!

Thank you for the sweetest and most thoughtful gift ever Steph, 

you are so wonderful!

Now its time to get back to cleaning, packing

 and maybe studying for my last final....

DIY Mason Jar Terrarium

Two things I love: mason jars and terrariums.

I had a little extra time on my hands at work last Saturday. I got inspired to do something crafty, with plants of course. I looked around to see what I had to work with. I eyed some mason jars that were staring at me from the shelf. I grabbed one and knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was pretty lucky, all the materials I needed were just laying around and it took about 5 minutes to make.

Items I found and used:

Mason Jar

Wire

Media

Small pebbles found under the counter

2 little succulents-pulled from beds outside

Moss-picked up outside (thank you rain)

Pliers 

Spoon

Fork

You can easily find items in and around your house that can make an easy and quick terrarium. Old jars, containers, even wine or margarita glasses. Walk into your front or back yard and I'm sure you will find what you need to put inside your terrarium. Pebbles, soil, moss, twigs....get creative, experiment, have a blast!

The perfect touch to a garden, a porch, a table top, a windowsill, an outdoor or indoor dinner party...whatever your heart desires!

 My boss decided we will see how this little guy holds up the next couple of weeks. It will be a trial to see if we should make more and sell them at the shop next quarter. I'm all about it...naturally.

A New Home

If you recall a few weeks back I got to take home a lovely fern with me from my professors nursery. 

My little Deer Fern- Blechnum spicant.

I have been tending to him diligently, but have been unable to find him a permanent home. He has just been sitting in the "backyard" for the past couple weeks. But, the weather conditions here in SLO have been less than ideal for this poor little guy. With freezing cold temperatures, he has been spending a lot of time indoors. 

The other day I was browsing the home decor department in T.J.Maxx and came across an apothecary jar that I just had to have. For 7 bucks, who could pass that up?! It was the only one there so I quickly snatched it up, no questions asked. 

A fabulous find.

On the drive home I realized I wasn't quiet sure what I would use it for. As I walked in the door, I was greeted by my little fern friend. Then it hit me. BINGO, it's time for another terrarium! 

It worked out perfectly. I already had all the materials I needed and I even got to try out my new gardening gloves (that I love by the way)! It took me hardly any time at all. It now has a home on the bookshelf in our hallway!

We will have to see how this little guy holds up. For now, he and I are enjoying his new home!