Tillandsias – It’s All About Air

Photo by Tom MacDonald

Hello Crafters!  Here’s a ‘sneak peek’ of a tillandsias (also known as air plant) story I worked on for Organic Gardening Magazine. The story and all the projects I created will be featured in the December/January 2015 issue of Organic Gardening Magazine which goes on sale November 4th.

Check back after November 4th for all the project details and how-to’s!

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Moss Place Card Holders With Felted Wool

Natural moss is often my inspiration when creating floral arrangements and crafts. It is so incredibly soft and magical in its natural setting. Honestly, a feeling of guilt comes over me when I harvest this green gold. Yes, you can buy it in bags from various sources but it’s never quite the same as a freshly picked batch.

In an effort to recreate nature’s wonder and to tread lightly on Mother Nature, I whipped up these felted wool moss-inspired place card holders.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Felted wool – I used Dimensions Brand Felt Works found at Michaels craft store
• River rocks
• Dish-washing detergent or soap
• Craft glue
• Razor blade
• Card stock paper

With the exception of the dish-washing detergent, you can find all of the craft ingredients at any craft store.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Select the approximate size of the moss cap you want to create by pulling the felt apart.
2. Form it into a ball or oval and add one drop of dish washing liquid onto the felt. Then, while running it under warm water, roll the felt into the shape desired. The dish washing liquid helps form the shape when it dries. Be careful not to add too much soap.
3. Form the wet felt over a rock and let dry overnight.
4. When the felt is dry, remove it from the rock, place glue under the felt and glue it to the rock. Let dry completely.
5. Using a razor blade, create an incision on the top of the felt moss and insert a place card.
6. You’re done!

Here’s to adding magic to your next event or wedding…happy crafting!

Chicken Feeder Succulent Trays

I LOVE the Tractor Supply store. It is the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States. Since my grandparents were farmers, maybe it’s in my DNA to love this store. However, as I discovered, it not only serves the needs of farmers but crafters too!

Stick with me gang….take for example these inexpensive chicken feeder trays.

All you need are some succulents, potting soil and pea gravel and you get this!

A unique autumn centerpiece!

 
You can buy the succulents, potting soil and pea gravel at most plant nurseries. Simply add about 1/2 inch of potting soil to the bottom of the tray, remove the succulents from their nursery containers and place them creatively in the tray. So they fit nicely, you may have to remove some of the soil around the base of the succulents. Then finish off the tray with a layer of pea gravel.  Place in a sunny location and water once a week.

Easy, right? Happy crafting!

Ornamental Gourd Wreath

This wreath has to be one of my favorite creations. It was easy to assemble and all of the wreath ingredients were collected at my local nursery and craft stores.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Small gourds
• Grape vine (optional)
• Moss
• Foam wreath form
• Floral picks
• Floral wire
• Glue gun

Here’s how you do it:

1. Wrap floral wire around the wreath form to create a loop to hang it.
2. Insert  floral picks into the bottom of the gourds then randomly insert the gourds into the foam wreath form. You can also put a dab of hot glue on the  bottom of the gourd for additional support.
3. This step is optional – for texture and interest, wrap  grapevine around the wreath and secure with floral wire.
4. To cover the exposed foam, hot glue moss into all of the crevices.
5. Done!

Happy Halloween and happy crafting!

Repurposed Pantry Jars As Party Favors

Hello crafters! A while back I posted a project titled, Repurposed Jars for the Holidays. It was a big hit on my blog so I decided to repurpose MORE jars but this time as tiny terrariums. I think they’d be awesome as wedding favors!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Jars from your pantry
• Craft store acrylic paint
• Tiny succulents
• Potting soil
• Small pebbles
• 18 gauge aluminum wire
• Card stock paper
• Tiny spoon or twig
• Wire cutter
• Pencil

With the exception of the jars, succulents and potting soil, you can pick up all project ingredients from your craft store. The succulents and potting soil can be purchased at your local plant nursery.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Empty, clean and remove label from the jar.
2. Paint jar lid your favorite color.
3. Add about 1/2 inch of soil to the bottom of the jar.
4. Remove the succulent from the store container and remove any excess soil that is around the root system. Don’t worry about hurting these little guys, they’re super resilient.
5. Insert the succulent into jar and secure the roots of the succulent in the soil using a small spoon or twig.
6. Add a layer of pebbles.
7. Cut a section of wire to wrap and twist around the neck of the jar.
8. Using a pencil, curl the other end of the wire around the pencil to create a coil – this will hold the name tag.
9. Create a name tag with card stock paper, slip it in the coiled end of the wire and your done!

This project is super easy and inexpensive to make. And best of all, it makes a super and unique gift. Oh, and caring for these little lovelies is a breeze:

Check every couple of days to see if your terrarium needs water. If it is dry add a tiny bit of water.

If your terrarium is closed, take off the top every couple of days to air it out. If you see lots of condensation or have added too much water, leave the top off until it has had a chance to dry out.

Pull off any leaves that show signs of yellowing or damage and prune plants if they grow too large.

Don’t fertilize your terrarium because you don’t want to encourage growth.

Happy crafting!

 

 

Pretty Tea Cup Favors

Happy Sunday! If you’re looking for a unique favor for your next event, why not repurpose some orphaned tea cups. There are a gazillion uses for these lovelies but I think they make the perfect vessels for tiny plants and look so charming. They’re perfect for give-aways at weddings or events!

You’ll need:

• Tea cups – your cupboard, flea markets and antique stores are perfect sources for these lovelies
• Tiny plants like ferns, succulents, violets, and orchids – the selections are endless
• Moss – any craft store will carry this item
• Paper, twigs, and all-purpose glue for a place card pennant (optional of course) – again, craft stores have tons of paper options and your back yard can most likely offer up some twigs

Here’s how ya do it:

1. Simply repot the plant of choice directly into the cup. It’s important to have plenty of soil around the root system of the plant.
2. To conceal the dirt, add moss around the base of the plant.
3. You’re done! OR you can add hand-made place cards like I did. Cut paper to the desired size and shape, write your guest’s name on the card then glue it to a tiny twig. Poke it into the cup and you’re done!

Happy crafting!

 

Repurposed Vintage Spigot Handles

My friend Kate and I found these cool vintage spigot handles at our local antique store. The shapes are so unique that I had to have them — they were inexpensive and the sale was made.

With E-6000 adhesive, I reinvented them as magnets by simply gluing round hardware store magnets on the back of the spigot.

And voila’!

Happy crafting!

Simple Flower Arrangements & Flea Market Finds

 

Last week I had the privilege to do some floral styling for a video shoot. The photographer we worked with was photo journalist and Pulitzer Prize recipient, Matt Rainey. The images he captured are exquisite and Matt was kind enough to share these photos with me so I could share them with you.

For this assignment, I used simple and elegant thrift store vessels to compliment the freshly cut spring flowers. There’s really no need to spend big buck on vases … let the flowers express themselves.

How To Make A Unique Spring Wreath

Spring is here and what better way to celebrate than to make this unique and elegant garden wreath. Simply gather nature’s gifts and start creating!

 

With the exception of the plants, I found all my project ingredients at A.C. Moore craft store.  You’ll need:

• A wreath – an inexpensive and sturdy grapevine wreath will do just fine
• Small plants of your choice – I am using a tiny fern and two Forget-me-not plants
• Sheet moss
• Green florist wire

Here’s how you do it:

Expand the wreath by pulling apart the vines to create a nest for the plants.
Remove the plants from their pots and gently remove most of the soil from the root ball. Not to worry, these little guys will survive just fine.
With your hands, create a small ball at the base of the plant by molding the roots and the remaining soil.
Cover the root ball with sheet moss and tie it securely with florist wire and insert into your wreath.
Your done!

It’s so simple and to keep your creation fresh, simply water when the moss surrounding the root base is dry to the touch.

Happy spring and happy crafting!

Tiny Twig Trees

 

We’re on the holiday home stretch right now and if you’re looking for ideas for a super cute gift or party favor, you’ve come to the right place. These tiny twig trees are fun, easy, and sure to please.

You’ll need:

• Twigs
• Hot glue gun
• Tiny containers to compliment your tiny trees
• Moss
• Dry floral foam

Here’s how to do it:

1. Create the tree by laying out five pieces of twigs on a flat surface; one is the trunk, second is the base of the tree, the third and fourth are the sides and the fifth is the center.
2. After you have the shape desired, place a dab of hot glue where the twigs touch each other.
3. When the glue is dry insert dry floral foam into the container then insert the tree into the foam (trunk first).
4. Glue some moss to cover the foam and you are done!

Happy Holidays and Happy Crafting!