DIY Mini Potted Plant Holiday Ornament

Even though I don't put up a Christmas tree, I am smitten with Anthropologie's ornaments this year - like this one that looks like my puppers and this very beachy jellyfish ornament.  One in particular caught my eye and even inspired a knock-off DIY: this little potted plant ornament.

Isn't it the cutest gift for someone with a green thumb?  Years ago I thrifted four mini terracotta planters for an abandoned dollhouse project, so I decided to make a set of little potted plant ornaments of my own!

It took a little bit of trial and error - and in the process I accidentally smashed my fourth potted plant (another leafy one, in an unpainted terracotta planter).  But they turned out so cute, it was definitely worth the effort!



Here's What I Needed:

• Mini planters - this version has saucers - or try these mini metal buckets as a non-breakable alternative
• Epoxy or resin
• Faux flowers/leaves
• Thin ribbon or cord
• Hot glue gun
• Black glitter
• Tooth pick

How to Make a Faux Mini Potted Plant:

The first step was easy: I decided to paint two of my terracotta pots with some pale blue chalk paint.

The next step was to try and replicate the look of soil.  I made a lot of failed attempts here, but I'll tell you what worked.  I had a massive bag of black glitter from when I painted my vinyl flooring because I ended up skipping the glittery topcoat I had schemed, so I was looking for an excuse to make a dent in my epic glitter stash and glitter really replicated soil so well.

To contain the glitter, I glued a small circle of cardboard inside my planter to block the hole and keep glitter from escaping.  For the painted planters, I added a dab of paint to hide the cardboard, but that's optional because no one will see the bottom.

Next, I filled the pot with black glitter.

I would have liked to have used resin to secure the glitter and "plants," but it is so expensive!  Instead, I found a two-part epoxy at the dollar store.  It works and smells like the brand name epoxy we often use for projects, but a lot less expensive.  With my pots filled with glitter, I poured the epoxy on top and stirred it around using a toothpick.  While the epoxy was setting, I inserted some small stems clipped from some faux plants my Mummu had in her craft supply.  It required some patience to hold the stems upright while the epoxy dried but eventually the epoxy had thickened enough to keep the  plants upright.  With the epoxy still tacky, I sprinkled on another layer of glitter and set it aside to cure overnight.  In the morning, I poured off the excess glitter and was thrilled with the result!

Another idea could be to stuff the planter with a cork, or really anything you can firmly glue in there, and then just brush on some mod podge or exoxy and dust with black or brown glitter - or maybe stuff it with some air dry clay and paint it black.  There are lots of options but I used what I had on hand to save some $$$.  Plus I love the glitter, especially the way it settled just a bit with the epoxy the way soil does after you water a plant the first time after potting it.       

To hang the plants, I used a hot glue gun to secure some thin ribbon and make little slings.  If I was more patient, I might have made mini knotted macrame plant hangers - that would be really, really adorable.

And that's it!  There are lots of ways to personalize this DIY tree ornament, from painting a design on the pots, to making pots out of found objects.  It's the perfect project for using up craft scraps!

P.S. If you're looking for another easy DIY Christmas Tree ornament idea, take a look at my glittery spider ornaments and read the legend to find out why every tree needs a spider...

Easy DIY Walnut Plant Dolly

Feel free to congratulate me on keeping this massive jade plant alive for the past year and a half.  It's a little dusty, but growing!  Hello little leaves.

Everyone says these are easy to maintain, but I've killed one before (after many good years together), so every day that this guy looks green and happy is a victory for me.  He seems to be enjoying his spot in the lakehouse, although he and Szuka do fight for window space.  Whenever I move him to wash the floors, she immediately settles into his spot, staking her claim on the whole wall of windows.  I don't move him often, though, because he weighs a TON.  His relatively stationary life has made him grow a little kitty womper, because I don't rotate him enough. 

Looking for an easy way to move this massive plant, I started looking into plant dollies but I couldn't find a cute one so I abandoned the search.  While shopping online for supplies for a different project, I stumbled across nice low profile castors and decided that a DIY walnut plant dolly might just be the easiest thing to make!

Supplies:

• Round Wood Cutting Board (I bought this exact one)
• Castors with Plate (these are the exact ones I bought - I bought a pack of 10, needed 4)
• 3/4" Screws

To make life easier (we loathe cutting circles), I bought a solid wood cutting board.  I ordered mine online and it was kind of expensive, but I always see inexpensive ones at places like Home Goods and HomeSense.  A less expensive wood, like bamboo, will only cost around $10 and acacia is in the middle (around $30).  I just love me some walnut.

For size, I recommend choosing a cutting board that has a diameter 2 to 4 inches larger than the base of your flower pot.  For thickness, I went with 3/4" and for strength I don't recommend any thinner, but thicker would work too.  I also chose one with a juice drip groove just in case but I doubt I'll ever need it because I've never over-watered the plant before.

How to Make a Plant Dolly:

The next step was painfully easy: just place the castors equally spaced out, about an 1/8" from the edge of the cutting board.  The wider the castors are placed, the more stable the dolly will be, so I inset them just enough so they can't be seen from the top.

Mark where the screw holes are once the castors are positioned.  Remove the castors and pre-drill the holes.  Put the castors back in place and screw them in.  Just make sure you don't screw to the other side (you can use a piece of tape on your drill as a poor man's depth guide, that's what I do).

That's IT!

I am obsessed with how cute this looks!  The walnut really blends in nicely with our floors and these castors glide so smoothly, although, because the jade is so heavy, it's still really stable.  We need to purposefully move it, which is good.  A lighter plant might go skittering across the floor when brushed against, with such smooth castors.  No problems with Szuka knocking it over because she realized one Day One that the jade now moves, so she's been really gentle around it, it's kind of adorable.  If you have some overzealous pups or kitties, castors that lock (like these cuties) might be a good investment - and maybe even a super shallow wood bowl or a cutting board with a lip might be a good idea. 

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14 Gorgeous Ways to Display and Decorate with Succulents

My Mom and I are both notorious plant killers, which puzzled the older generations of women in our family, who had decorated their homes in the 1970s when plants and macrame plant hangers and all that jazz was trending hard.  Although house plants will always be a mainstay of interior decor, there's definitely been an intense plant craze that has swept the decorating world once again.  Mom and I resisted for awhile - in the interest of plants everywhere - but it's impossible not to get caught up in the frenzy because plants really make a house feel homier.  Now I'm up to nearly twenty plants, some of which I've propagated myself!

Aside from a large snake plant and a pretty substantial jade plant, most of my house plants are shrimpy little guys.  I really want a trendy, giant cactus but I can't seem to find any around here.  Succulents, however, are abundant and widely available.  Looking to find new ways to display and care for succulents, I started a Pinterest board full of plants (and house exteriors) to help encourage my green thumb, both indoors and outside.  In the process, I've stumbled across some insanely gorgeous and inventive ways to display succulents, so I wanted to round up my favorites for all of my reluctant plant-lovers out there...

P.S. my planter is vintage McCoy but this one is so similar!

Pop a Succulent in a Wall Pocket:

These Umbra Trigg hanging planters are so modern, plus they're such a great way to position those light-loving succulents where the lighting situation is ideal.  In a small house, I really don't have that many surfaces where the light is suitable, so I'm seriously tempted to pick up a couple wall pockets (although this set of four wall pockets has a more mid-century feel, I think):

Let a Succulent Chill in a Hanging Planter:

The glaze on these hanging planters is so rich - of course I love that teal on the right, but I'm also pretty smitten with the softly faceted shape.  As an added bonus, they're handmade!  An un-glazed edge and hemp cord enhance the earthy, boho feel without a stitch of macrame.

Corral a Group of Succulents in a Table Top Garden:

I fell in love with this image of a cactus garden and I can't stop thinking about making a succulent or cactus garden of my own.  I've gone so far as to track down a great deal on a lot of baby succulents, but the perfect container (and spot to put them!) eludes me.  I do love this Mkono ceramic succulent planter because it has a drainage hole to keep those plants healthy, plus the white ceramic is classic and timeless.

Plant a Bevvy of Succulents in a Bar Cart:

I have been pining for that popular turquoise Ikea RASKOG cart for years, but have no where to put it (and no reason to buy it) so I couldn't justify the impulse purchase.  But people are SO inventive - here it's used as a mini succulent garden on wheels.  It's a great way to make sure the succulents are always positioned in a window with the best light.

Stack Succulents in a Tiered Planter:

When I first spotted the Living Art Vertical Garden, I immediately started to ponder a DIY version - and I'm still considering making one.  There was one in shades of mint and turquoise that I loved, but it's sold out.  This one is on sale for $15 (from $50), so I think it would cost way more to buy the supplies.   

Grow Succulents on an Indoor Wall:

For inside, this mini succulent wall is so perfect - and that rustic wood frame is such a great complement to a lush collection of plants.  Another genius way to make use of vertical space in a home and make room for more plants!
 

Place Succulents on an Outdoor Wall:

This DIY outdoor succulent wall is made with handrail you can buy from the hardware store, which makes it a fairly simple DIY project.  This is a great way to keep succulents - or herbs - away from curious critters.

Enhance Succulents with Copper Planters:

There is something about copper that makes me look twice when it's used as a planter - I just love the lush color combo of vibrant green plants with that warm metallic hue.  I spotted an adorable collection on The Glitter Guide and just went totally nuts for them! 

You can re-purpose copper finds from the thrift store (some companies in the 1970s made sets of drinkware in gorgeous hammered copper with matching trays - I'd love to score a great set like that for an arrangement), or you can just pick up a copper planter online.

Protect Succulents in Terrariums:

I honestly thought the terrarium trend would be played out by now but it's still going strong!  I love this brass geo terrarium because it's so elegant (although this house-shaped one is pretty darn cute too):

Add a Shocking Dose of Gravel to Succulents:

I just love when a succulent is topped with gravel - it adds such a fun punch of color (like this grouping of pink topped succulents and the pink gravel terrarium below):

I tracked down some turquoise gravel on Amazon so, of course, now I'm really into the idea! 

Invite a Succulent to the Office with a Multi-Purpose Planters:

Phone dock desk planter.  How awesome is that?    

Treat a Succulent to a Found Object Planter:

I have been obsessed with the rotary phone planter idea and I even snagged an old phone from my grandparents.  Hubby, on the other hand, thinks it's the weirdest idea ever and is totally unconvinced.  That's okay!  I might have an even wackier idea for that phone, anyway.  But now I'm keeping my eyes peeled for unique objects that can find new life as a succulent planter...

Arrange Succulents on a Wreath:

I spotted a gorgeous, rainbow succulent wreath on Instagram and pinned it to my Crafts and DIY board - and it's now one of my most re-pinned pins!  People LOVE this wreath - seeing the reaction has been so interesting.  I'd really love to make one for my front door, but I think this is a DIY that will really add up unless you have access to super inexpensive succulents (these are pretty cheap).  If you're interested in giving it a try, this succulent wreath tutorial is SO thorough (or you might want this mesh succulent wreath form as a solid foundation).

 
Try Succulents as a Table Runner:

Also filed under, "I probably can't afford this, but I love it so much": succulent table runners!  If I attended a wedding or event with a succulent table runner, I'd be stuffing my pockets like crazy.  Look how gorgeous!

Have you tried any unique ways to style or display succulents?  I'm still a "place gently in planter with good drainage and hope for the best" kinda gal, but I'm thinking about branching out...

P.S. If you're looking for a great resource for caring for succulents, check out Succulents and Sunshine - her guide to watering succulents has been so helpful!

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How to Paint Terracotta Planters so They Don't Look Painted

Did you know that you can spray paint terracotta planters to give them a modern finish that looks like ceramic?  I've inherited quite a few plants and they can't all go in $200 planters so I purchased a few terracotta planters in various sizes and gave them a makeover!  Read on for my tips and tricks for painting terracotta, and also why my first attempt looked terrible... 

After updating a plant stand my papa made by refreshing it with paint and adding DIY walnut shelves, I also spruced up the plant stand that came with my Whoville plant (I keep forgetting his actual name, but to me he looks like he belongs in Whoville):

You'll probably think I'm bizarre, but that janky terracotta planter was all I could see when I sat at the dining room table.

I replaced it with a new terracotta pot,. but didn't love the look of them au naturel.  A lot of DIY tutorials, however, suggest just brushing on the paint and I don't love that look, either.

Instead, I gave mine a few coats of Rust-Oleum Tremclad Oil Based spray paint in Harbour Blue.

And I hated it.

The colour is gorgeous and so glossy, but in the living room it stuck out like a sore thumb, making every colour look dull by comparison (and that is no small feat in my colourful world).  I gave it a light sand and repainted the terracotta planter in Rust-Oleum Universal Enamel Paint + Primer in One - Gloss White, the same colour as the stand. 

Now it looks fresh and modern - I love the crisp white with the green.

Sometimes it's better to keep things simple.

Emboldened, I decided to paint a larger terracotta pot for the enormous Jade plant I also inherited.  Worried about leaking, I crammed him and his terracotta pot into this slightly larger pot (without drainage) for the 1600km journey:



Unable to salvage his old pot, I picked up a really large pot at Canadian Tire - did you know the terracotta pots sold there are made in Germany?

Here it is with a brand new paint job:

I was amazed at how well the terracotta planters took the paint!  Unfamiliar with most anything related to plants, I assumed the terracotta would be super porous, but the paint went on like a dream. 

Because I used spray paint, they look factory finished - my Mom was actually convinced they were ceramic (which would have cost me a lot more for this size).  Plus, because the paint finish is glossy, both planters can be washed and wiped down easily!

The little spikey plant on the wall unit is yet another inherited plant - he was living with the Whoville plant but I moved him into a sweet little vintage McCoy pot.

With almost all of my new plants re-homed, the lakehouse is feeling a lot greener.  I'm so nervous about keeping all of these plants healthy (especially the orchids and the Jade - the last plant that bid farewell to the world in my care was a Jade)...

UPDATE (May 27 2016): Readers were curious about how the paint would hold up and whether it would peel or flake off.  My planters still look brand new and there has been absolutely no flaking or peeling.  I think the secret is using a primer + paint in one! 

Huge thanks to Rust-Oleum for providing the spray paint for this and many other DIY projects!

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