Terrific Terrariums! An Ecosystem in a Jar!

If you're anything like me, and enjoy flippin' through design magazines, I'm sure you've also noticed the sudden popularity of desktop terrariums... no, not the ones that house lizards and snakes... the ones with cute little plants inside! These guys are EASY to make and so fun to assemble to fit your (and your home's) style! Also, they're a thousand times easier to care for than a house plant. I went with succulents as my plant of choice, but there are many options.

(the following directions are for a succulent/cactus garden, but its all the same, all you need to do is swap out the cactus soil for regular indoor potting soil, and lose the sand)

You will need the following:

• an awesome jar/container/apothecary jar/any other creative idea for a container! (as long as it's awesome) ;)
• activated carbon (sold at fish/pet stores)
• pea pebbles
• cactus/palm soil
• succulents (go for the super tiny ones...)
• sand or gravel for the top (not necessary... but it makes it look "finished" if you ask me)
• small brush, ( a paint or makeup brush should do the trick. )
• and if you're feelin funky, possibly a tiny figurine to put in your tiny ecosystem! (Mine is a lil' man sitting on a log playing a guitar. Picked him up at a flea market in Brazil!) be creative! anything can work!

Step 2:

Clean and dry the glass container. Layer the bottom of the jar with 1 and 1/2 inches of pea pebbles. This provides good drainage for your little plant friends. "Learned the hard way" tip: WASH the pebbles first! You'll be surprised at just how dirty they are right out of the package and it will make your jar look the same.

Step 3:

Add a 1/2 inch layer of activated charcoal on top of the pebbles. This serves as a filter for the plants and will nix any odor or extra moisture.

Step 4:

Add a 1 inch layer of soil on top of the charcoal/pebble layers. Place your new plant friends in your desired arrangement and pull the soil back to plant em. Start with the smallest plants if you are planting multiple plants. Add enough additional soil to cover the plant's root system and fill the holes. After you've got em just where you want, even out the soil and press around the plants to insure they are snug as a bug in a rug in their new home!

Step 5:

Pour enough sand in to make a layer that completely covers the soil. (about 1/2 inch) then use that lil' brush to give your succulent leaves a nice cleanin'. Brush off all the extra sand and dirt and BAM! Terrarium project done!

Re-vamped Hanging Letter Organizer

Another renewal!

Here’s my most recent “renew”.... a hanging letter organizer that i found broken at a garage sale and believe I bought for $1.

** Tip: When hunting at garage sales or thrift stores for items to restore, ignore the color or any finishes on them! look for pieces that come apart for easy painting and reassembling! Remember, youre gonna sand and repaint everything and all you really need is a good skeleton...

Before.....

After!!!!!

To Renew this letter organizer, i took the backing off (it was just staple gunned in, as backing usually are..) lightly sanded it, primed it, and spray painted it white. Then I used scrap fabric to wrap the backing, stapled it back on, and voila! a new crisp white letter organizer with a little lime-green, mod flair!!

(also-these letter organizers a EASY to find at any goodwill and re-finishing one is a fun, quick DIY decorating project!)

a MUST share! : www.save-on-crafts.com!

www.save-on-crafts.com

seeing as Im'm a lover of all things discounted, this site has quickly become one of my new favorites. The craft items and decorating supplies on this website are not only affordable, (better than affordable....down right insane!) but they also carry many hard-to-find items, such as birch paper, antique birdcages (that start at about $20!) and a wide range of apothecary jars.

here are a few of my favorites straight from their site!

Enjoy!

Bird Cages (Set of 3) $35!

Natural Birch Covered Flower pot or Vase $7

French Lavender Bundles $8.50!

Natural Twig Stick Birds nest (would look SO cute as a table centerpiece or displayed on a vanity!) $3

A Bouquet With a Purpose!!

So I was in the bookstore.. flipping through craft books for inspiration, when I came across these simple flower pens. Im sure we've all seen them somewhere before... you know.. the pen with a big silk flower on the end?... well.. I just happen to be in the market for some tabletop decorations and thought, why not a BUNCH of flower pens... in a vase... like a bouquet! Now im not usually a fan of silk flowers but if you're like me, and one of those people who cant ever find a pen when you really need one.. this is little project is perfect! just TRY to misplace these writing utensils now! :)

Below is the (SUPER EASY) DIY guide to making your own!

All it takes is:

• A vase
• 3 or more silk flowers (the kind with the metal running through the stem..)
• florist tape
• a ball-point pen for each flower
• scissors

First, cut your flowers to your desired length (remember, you're gonna attach the pen, so make them about 1-2 inches shorter to compensate)

Next, position the flower next to the pen so about 2/3 are overlapping. Wrap with the florist tape nice and tight.

Last- stick em in your vase!I added a few decoative leafy branches for a more "natural" look.. and Voila! a Bouquet thats both beautiful and functional!

Enjoy! and never lose a pen again!!

~Sarah

A hint of Lavender as you drift to sleep...

I almost forgot one of the best parts of making your own pillows!-- The opportunity to add a little scented sachet bag before you seal up your seam!!I chose Lavender for the pillows on my bed. And boy oh boy is it a relaxing aroma!

Below are a few aromatherapy basics

(according to www.aromanaturals.net) that might help you narrow down your options when faced with the difficult "what scent do i choose" dilemma...

Lavender- especially good at calming the nervous system, relaxing the body and enabling blissful sleep.

Chamomile- Used in aromatherapy, it is at its best helping with those who suffer from insomnia.

Bergamot- does its job by relieving stress and enabling relaxation. Gives a sense of well-being.

Sandalwood- a calming agent; it relieves nervous tension and helps you relax.

Peppermint/Spearmint- used in stress reduction and meditation and can help energize and improve clarity in thinking.

Eucalyptus- can be used to alleviate symptoms of the common cold and help with breathing.

Vanilla-Scientific studies have shown that this aroma brings to mind positive and happy memories.

Enjoy! and take some clarifying breaths with your new aromatherapy (super adorable and affordable) pillows!!

Making Something out of Nothing: Scrap fabric into a dog bandana

Now, everyone says they have the cutest dog in the world... but unfortunately for everyone- I am- in fact- the winner of that award....dont believe me? ok... you be the judge....

Meet Gadget
yeah- i know.. its just ridiculous how cute that little thing is...
and seeing how shes so cute and all, its only right that she have adorable little accessories as well. Now im not your “throw a sweater on her and carry her around the mall in my juicy jumpsuit” kinda gal, but i think every dog could use a cute little bandana! its sporty, comfortable, you can dress it up- or dress it down... (ok im getting carried away...)

But anyways, I was up to my usual crafty business when I thought, “Geeze.. you always have so many little scrap pieces of fabric Sarah ,what should we do with all of them?...hmmm what small thing could be decorated with such a small piece of fabric?...
Lightbulb! A small pet!
ergo: Doggy Bandana!

Below is the (SUPER EASY) DIY instructions on how to make your little four-legger fashion-forward!

Step 1:
Pick out your fabric and cut it into a square. What size square you ask? well... i think the bandana should cover about 2/3 of your pets neck, so measure Fluffy’s neck, then figure out 2/3 of that (this is middle school math here peeps...), Then add about an inch to compensate for when you hem the sides under...
soo... to demonstrate....
Fluffy’s neck is 9’’ around....
2/3 of that is 6’’...
plus the 1 inch for the hem...
that means you’ll be cutting a 7x7 inch square! voila!

Step 2.
Turn edge under abut 1/2 inch and hem so you have a nice seam. Repeat for all 4 sides.

Step 3:
Fold the square in half into a triangle and sew up the side open sides starting at the corner opposite the fold.
Now don’t sew the whole side up... what I did, and found is an awesome little trick to making the bandanas last, is leave a hole big enough for my dogs collar to fit through.
That way, you just slide the collar through the bandana, there’s no need to fashion a strap or tie, and its free to move without getting tangled up on the collar!

Step 4:
Slip your collar though! now if you use a leash that attaches to your collar, you can cut a small hole in the top layer of the bandana where the ring for the leash is the stitch the edges (like a button hole).. This way the bandana will stay in place and you can still use the leash!

Now that you’re done- DECORATE!
I used some leftover rhinestones from another project and glued then on to make a “G” (for Gadget...)

Here are some other ideas that are sure to make your tail wag! Enjoy!

~Sarah





**FOLLOW UP: Heres a photo of Gadget (a little camera shy..) rockin her new bandana!!

More adorable photos to come...