A Little Mini World: Creating your own Terrarium

If you are like me, you fall in love with most things that come in a mini size. After all, most things are cuter when tiny; puppies, cupcakes, mini spatulas, baby toms and uggs, tiny play kitchens, and the list goes on. But a mini garden… this sounded absolutely enchanting to me! Obviously, you can see why I fell in love with the new craze for terrariums! It’s a mini living world growing inside a glass container. And need I mention, for those of you with a black thumb similar to mine, the promise that these hearty plants only need watering every couple weeks?! 

The amazing terrariums at high end nurseries can get quite pricey. Although making my terrarium cost more than I was expecting, it was still way cheaper than buying one, it was  tons of fun designing, and it turned out completely unique. If you are not sure this is the craft for you, search for pictures of terrariums online or go to a nursery and you will instantly fall in love and be inspired to design your own mini world in a glass! I promise!

Supplies:

A glass container- You can find very unique looking glass terrarium vessels at various stores or I just bought a large candle holder for $2 at world market. Even though a lid would look neat, moisture will accumulate on the inside of the glass, so go for one with an open top.

Activated charcoal- Some pet stores sell it in the fish department.  I found a nursery that sold me 1 cup for $1 (Thanks Mel’s!) My chemistry expert sister Bridget explained that the charcoal gives off nitrogen, which helps with air filtration which is very good for the soil.

Rocks/Pebbles- I biked down to the river to collect some nice smooth river rocks.

Collecting river rocks (yes its dark and yes I'm wearing a helmet!)

Cactus soil- You can buy this or just mix equal parts potting soil with sand.

Sand- Another ingredient I biked to the river to get, you can  take some from a park.

Decoration- I had a sea shell that I wanted to showcase but then I also found some neat moss that I included.

Succulents- Shop around. I didn’t have any luck at Home Depot; they just had outdoor hen and chicks. I bought my succulents at a nursery with a neat selection. But, then I went to another nursery to get the charcoal and found that they had succulents that were even smaller; too bad. Succulents typically run from $3-5/plant. Be sure to bring your glass container with you for sizing. Otherwise, you will do what I did, and think that you can fit way more plants than you can.

Kitchen spoons and a straw

My assorted supplies on the porch ready for creation time!

Make any of your layers thicker or thinner depending on the size of your container and how high you want your plants. I was hoping to be able to see the different layers better in my container, but I did my layers pretty skinny so that the entire plant would be encased in the glass.

The order of your layers is charcoal, rocks, soil, and then your succulents. Tuck your succulents into the soil by digging a small hole for the plant and then loosening the root ball once you remove it from the plastic pot. You can either put some little pebbles on the top layer or some sand or just stick to the soil as your topping. Then you can add any decorations such as seashells, pine cones, moss, or other knickknacks.

Looking down inside the terrarium

Terrarium tips:

-When putting your charcoal, soil, or sand in, do small bits at a time with a spoon so that you don’t get the inside edges of the glass dirty. Hand place rocks for the same reason.

-Once it is complete, use your straw to blow sand or dirt off your plants. This way you don’t blow the sand into your face but you get plants cleaned off. You can also use your straw to blow a neat wind swept look into your sand. I also dipped my straw in a cup of water to water my plants without watering the entire terrarium.

-Don’t put a lid on your terrarium as it will get very warm inside, baking the plant and causing condensation.

-Keep your terrarium in a location that is sure to get some sunshine.

The fun thing that I like about the terrarium is there is so much room for creativity. You can make yours look like whatever you imagine. I think that next I want to try is to make mini terrariums in a jam jar or in a bottle! I’ll keep you posted on my creations.  Keep me posted on yours!

Crocheted Bunny Egg Cozy

This is the most amazingly adorable crocheting project ever! I first made these when I was doing my practicum in peds oncology. It was 2am on our lunch break when one of the other nurses showed me how. I couldn’t find the pattern this year so I thought I would just call over from my floor to peds oncology one night at work. As soon as I hung up the phone all the other nurses and the electricians that were on our floor erupted in laughter. As I was trying to explain myself and the project I made the mistake of using the phrase ‘keep my eggs warm’. Needless to say I will never live that one down. Just yesterday an electrician in the parking garage asked me how the bunny egg warmers were going.

One of my friends made them to use as place markers on her Easter table. I am making these for the two adorable little girls in my life and then for my family. My mature boyfriend had the bunny give birth to the egg multiple times after having made fun of me for how excited I was about the bunnies! So, I’m sure that your family, no matter the age range, can have fun with Easter egg cozies!

Aww they love each other!

Supplies:

Beige and pink yarn (I use Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice which was great!)

Size 4 crochet hook (the pattern calls for a 5 but I think that makes it too big and gauge does not matter)

Black beads

Plastic yarn needle

Crocheted Bunny Egg Cozy

Cozy:

Ch 2. Connect with sl st

Rnd 1: work 4 sc in loop. Place a marker in first st for beginning of round and move up as each round is competed. You do not connect each round with a sl st like a hat- just work in continuous rounds.

Rnd 2: work 2 sc ine ach sc around – 8 sc.

Rnd 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from *around – 12 sts.

Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around – 16 sts.

Rnd 5: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, rep from * around – 20 sts.

Rnd 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts, rep from * around – 24 sts.

Rnds 7-14: sc in each sc around.

Rnd 15: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around. Fast off.

Stitch explanation:

Sc2tog (sc decrease) Insert hook into st and draw up a loop. Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Ears: (make 2)

Ch. 2 and connect.

Rnd 1: work 4 sc in loop. Place marker in first st for beginning of round.

Rnd 2: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around – 6 sts.

Rnd 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around – 8 sts.

Rnds 4-8: sc in each st around. Fasten off.

Pompom:

Don’t get roped into buying a pom pom maker because if you have 2 fingers and a friend you can do it yourselves! Wrap your yarn around 2 fingers. Then have your friend insert a longer piece of the same yarn through the two fingers. Loosely tie the center, pull off your fingers, and then tightly secure your loops. Cut each loop in the middle so that it becomes a pom pom. Leave the yarn that you tied it with long so that you can attach it to your bunny.

Finishing:

Lightly stuff your ears with some cotton balls. Then using your yarn needle attach your ears to your bunny body. Then using the yarn needle and your pink yarn, embroider a triangle for a nose. Sew on beads for eyes. Attach pom pom tail. Weave in any excess ends.

Dancing bunnies!

And now put an easter egg inside it and make it hop around! You know you want to! And now you’re going to want to make bunnies as quickly as, well, bunnies makes bunnies!

Ebony and ivory?

Adapted from Lion Brand Yarn Company Wee Rabbit Egg Cozy

Easter Peeps S'mores

Oh these are so cute!!!  These could be used as a cute gift or table setting or party favor.  All you need is graham crackers, chocolate bars, Peeps, party bags, and ribbon. That’s right- here’s your excuse to buy Peeps!

In each baggy place two square graham crackers. Then place your chocolate. (Ok ya I could have used less chocolate!) You can either break a bar in half or buy the individually packaged Hershey’s. If you are doing bunny peeps then arrange them on top of each other and slide them in the baggy so the bunny is facing up. If you are doing chick peeps then put your grahams and chocolate in the baggy so they form a little table to place the chick on. Tie up your baggy with some cute ribbon and your adorable Easter s’mores baggy is ready to go!

Kudos to my creative sister Maria and Mom for this one!

Owl Love Your Hair Clips

 

Owls are in right now so of course I had to make a valentine that was owl themed! This was tons of fun to make and the creative options are endless. Like most girls, I probably have way too many hair clips. As you know, I love ribbons! So I’ve started clipping them all to a ribbon hanging in my bathroom so that I can see them all. This craft is a very cute way to do this. And just in time for Valentine’s day, so that you can make it as a gift for a friend or sister. If you are not the sewing kind of gal, don’t worry, just use fabric glue and it will still be super cute!

Supplies:

Felt—just get 1/8 yd of white and then whatever other colors you want (I spent less than $2 at JoAnns!)

Black buttons—I got 5/8” ones.

Embroidery floss—black, white, and whatever other color you want

Needle—one with a big enough hole that the embroidery floss can get through

Ribbon—1/2 yd (gross grain works much better than the silky stuff)

Fabric glue—optional but I think helpful

Cut out your felt pieces. You will want two pieces of the body of your owl. Two circles for the bottom of the ribbon. The wings, heart, belly, and eyes, you only need one piece. Open this attachment for some owl patterns I made. They are the size I used so you can print them and then cut them out for your pattern.

Click here for Patterns

Once you have all your pieces, arrange your owl parts on the body and fix on with a smidge of glue. This will hold them in place while you sew them on. Stitch around the edge of the pieces to not just hold them down, but give the owl that home-made touch. I just did a simple in and out stitch and then tied the ends together in the back. At this point also stitch in the initial you want on your circle at the bottom.

Cut your ribbon the length that you want. Sew your end to the back piece of owl (the one with no eyes or heart) and the back piece of your circle (with no initial). I just stitched a little there and back on the machine. At this point you will also want to cut a small piece of a narrow ribbon and make a little loop to hang the owl from. Stitch this part down as well.

Attach the front of your owl and the front of your initial circle. You can use a simple in and out stitch around the edge or try a blanket stitch.

Blanket stitch

Put your button eyes on where you want them and sew them in with your black floss.

Finally, conceal your excess embroidery floss, from the edging and eyes. Pull the excess floss through to the middle of your felt sandwich with your needle and snip the end so it gets lost inside.

Now hang it up and attach some clips to try it out!

Kissing Ball

I cannot claim the idea for the kissing ball. I saw it on Williams-Sonoma’s website but they were $50 so I thought surely I could make that! It turned out to be a very fun craft and looks fabulous! It would look great hanging on a porch or in an entry way. And you can personalize it to be more glittery or add beads or pinecones or eucalyptus too! According to the English tradition of the kissing ball, when a lady stands beneath it and receives a kiss, she removes a berry till there are no more berries, and no more kisses.

Supplies:

4” floral foam ball

Ribbon

Wire (I got the brown 22 gauge. They come in about foot long pieces near your floral ball.)

Lots of greenery (You can go for another nature run or just go to the floral department or nursery to pick up different pines. I would definitely recommend some holly and some greenery with pinecones if you can find it.)

Metal kitchen skewer or kabob stick.
Sharp scissors or pruning sheers

While you are prepping let your foam ball sit in water. Make a knot with your ribbon so that you have a loop that is as long as you want your ball to hang down. Fold a piece of wire in half and catch it in your knot so that the loop is tied to the fold in the wire.

Stick the wire straight through the ball. Fold them over on the other side into your ball. You should be able to hold your ribbon loop and your ball will hang securely below it.

Cut all your greenery into about 6” long pieces.  Use your skewer to make a hole in the foam (about an inch deep). Then stick a piece of greenery in! Yay aren’t you excited now!!!

Now you want to work systematically about this. I started by giving my ball a mohawk and then slowing make the mohawk wider. I put a branch in about every centimeter or half inch depending on the type of branch.

Mix up all your different kinds of greenery so that it has lots of dimension to it. The last little bit gets pretty difficult as you are trying to hold it, and not stab yourself too much! If looking great isn’t painless, then great looking kissing balls certainly aren’t an exception!

Once your kissing ball is completely filled in hang it up somewhere you can keep working on it. Take another piece of ribbon and cut the ends nicely. Fold it in half and then use a sewing pin to stick it in the bottom so it hangs out longer than your greenery. Now I left my kissing ball as it. However if you are after a more polished look then you want to start pruning so that the ends are more even. Just be careful pruning so that it doesn’t look like you hacked off the ends of all your branches.

I’ve heard this can last way over a month. I’m sure it lasts much longer outside. Be sure to take care of it and hang it in the shower and give it a water occasionally.

Jazz’n it up ideas:

Put some big silver bells at the bottom.

Twist a 6” piece of wire around the tip of a bead and then stick it in your ball.

Twist some little jingle bells on wire and stick them on.

Now your ball is done and ready to hang! (And maybe be kissed under!) Merry Christmas and happy kissing!

Mail Time

I love getting mail! I absolutely love the anticipation you get Monday through Saturday when possibly something could be waiting for me! Throughout my college years I would skip to the mailboxes after lunch singing the mail time song every day. Most of the time it was the box of disappointment, but occasionally joy would explode like fireworks when I opened the box and there would be a letter, or even better, a package slip! Now on the other hand, my mom hates the mail! How could it be? Well once I moved out on my own and got my big girl job I realized this hatred for the mail box. It became a box that practically begged me for money. I decided I need to put the joy back into mail. This happened several ways:

First: my sister Bridget began sending me postcards. Not just one from a trip I couldn’t go on, but a weekly picture of the beautiful state of Colorado. Way to go sister!

Second: I signed up for the Nordstroms and Anthropologie catalogue. Those are always fun to look through! Also I signed up for the Ulta and JoAnns coupons. Fun and free once a month.

Third: Josh sent me a card (He is my boyfriend. He does not live far away.) It was sweet and fun!

Fourth: I will combine the joy of mail time and the joy of Christmas with this fabulously fun craft!

Mailed Plastic Bottle Snow Globe:

First get a plastic water bottle. I used a half the plastic save the planet one type one (Aquafina). However, it got a bit beat up in the mail so I would recommend something a bit more sturdy. Assuming you have a flimsy cheap one, it only weighs ½ an ounce. According to the post office you can send something in a mail box that is less than 13 ounces. Woohoo we’ve got 12 ½ ounces to play with!

Next you need to go on a run and take with you and pair of scissors and a plastic bag.

Notes to my readers:

- The run on this craft makes up for the muffins I posted last week so yes run!

- Yes I know, running with scissors is a very bad idea! I run with the not sharp kid scissors. My nursing judgment tells me that I most likely would not be able to impale myself with these.

- If anyone was wondering why I am such a slow runner, this is why.

- I recommend listening to Christmas music on your iPod for this run and you will most definitely be in the best of spirits.

As you run look for tiny tiny pinecones and a nice looking pine tree stub that is only a couple inches long. I grabbed several different kinds of branches to see which looked and fit best in the bottle. Also I grabbed a branch of this neat little white plant and also a curly stick to add some decoration to my branch in the globe. Be creative on your nature run.

Cut a door opening in the side of your bottle. Use a small amt of hot glue to prop your Christmas tree up in the middle. Stuff white tissue paper around it on the bottom. 

Take a small piece of paper and write your note on it. Roll it up nice and tight and then secure it with a small amount of glue stick or a sticker or, best of all, some ribbon. You could also roll a picture up with your note if you are sending it as your Christmas card! Add your note in the bottle.

Next you will want to go to King Soupers, Fred Meyer, or whatever your fancy is. Take your supplies. In the produce section you need to find a vegie scale. (If you have a mini food scale at home, then you can do this in the luxury of your kitchen). Weigh your bottle with the already added necessities and your pinecones. Don't forget to make sure you've got the lid on the scale as well. Remember you need to stay shy of 13 oz since you have to close your door with your address label and add the stamps and snow. Once your globe is complete, seal your door off with your address label. Then place 4 stamps (Christmas ones preferably) around the bottom.

Now that the door is sealed, open the lid to put your snow in. For snow I used some white paper confetti and some glitter confetti. I also added some tiny white pompoms.  Then seal your bottle up with the lid.

Finally, I added some snowflakes with white glitter puff paint around the outside of the bottle as well. Let those dry plenty. Then go find a blue mail box to send off your Christmas joy!

P.S. If you are too embarrassed to go the grocery store to use the scale, don’t worry. I was all stressed out about the weight but in the end the hand on the scale never moved past zero!

Source: some girl on the internet whose name I cannot remember. I feel that it is ok that I do not site her since I gave her credit for the idea and then I changed the snow globe a lot.