Back when I was in high school, 5 years ago give or take a century, terrariums were all the rage.
And they are all the rage again.
Cool. Groovy. The bee's knees, I tell you!
All you need to make your own DIY terrarium is:
- a container
- gravel or small stones
- charcoal
- potting soil
- some small plants
- fun doodads to liven up the place
I bought my Anchor Hocking cracker jar at Walmart for $5 and change. It comes in different sizes and this one is the large 1 gallon size (for those huge saltines, I suppose).
I scuffed up the metal lid with sand paper and spray painted it to give it a more vintage look (I used Rustoleum's Lagoon color).
I have bought these jars numerous times over the years and always paint the lids and then all of a sudden they look like they came straight out of the 50's.
I added roughly ½ inch of stones on the bottom, followed by 1 inch of charcoal and topped by 2 ½ inches of potting soil.
Then I gingerly planted the plants, set my Adirondack chair and purple martin birdhouse up, misted the foliage with a little water and screwed on the lid.
I don't expect to have to water it again for a few weeks, if not a few months. A few years might be pushing it.
Wouldn't these make a great Mother's Day gift?
Add a box of wine and a card and you're all set.
Other posts you may enjoy:
DIY Terrarium Woodland Version
DIY Coffee Pot Terrarium
Rustic Log Bird Feeder
Cristin Frank
I've been looking for some interesting Spring centerpieces for my home - thanks for the inspiration!
Lisa Hall
Adorable! This would be a fun project for me and my Granddaughters...they love helping in my garden and this would be an added bonus! Thanks for sharing!
Faye
This is so cute! I missed this post! I would love to try this someday.
miniature-gardening.com
What a fun idea! We featured your post on our facebook page...with a link to your blog. Thanks.
Susan Limber
I ordered a gnome, a 5 in. trellis, and little mushrooms from eBay to decorate mine. They have a lot of cute little minis that would work.
Leslie Harris
Pam I love this! In fact I wanted to make a special birthday gift for a girlfriend this weekend and this is perfect. You're so creative!
Leslie (Gwen Moss)
Flora
I so like the way you made this terrarium. Maybe I will try this.
susie @ persimmon moon cottage
This is such a cute terrarium. That jar makes the perfect container. I love the way you "retro-ed" it with the blue lid, and the furnishings are perfect.
Shannon {Cozy Country Living}
This is such a pretty project! My 10 year old daughter would absolutely love to help me make something like this. What a wonderful gift idea too!
DaiseyJayne.com
That little chair and birdhouse are too cute!
Vickie @ Ranger 911
Adorable! I have old jars like yours that my family hates. I used them as cookie jars and the lids always got stuck so sneaking cookies was next to impossible. Maybe they'll each get a new jar with a painted lid for Christmas. Great idea!
Sandy, Sisters of Season
Cute idea . . love it :O)
Debby
I might just do this for my mom. Did you get the doodads at a garden center. I did think it was an old jar. Thanks for all the instructions.
Marissa
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!
Oh I wish you could come to my house, so that we could do this project together cause somehow I know I would ruin it.
I wish I was as crafty as you..
Ellie VanCaster
I so remember making lots of them, then making macrame hangers for them and gave the out for any possible occasion.
Everyone who got them were so sweet and never once said "No more please" 😉
Margaret
I love it!! Looks adorable. I must try making one.
Margaret