Make Miniature Terrarium Place Settings

Share your love of gardening with these tiny take-home terrariums.

By: Melissa Caughey

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Photo By: Photo by Melissa Caughey

A Quick and Easy Craft

Share your love of the garden with guests with these living table place settings.

Gather Your Supplies

For this craft will need: Assorted succulent clippings / Glass votive holders / Birch wood finishing veneer / Paper towels / Crafting paper / Wood stain / Hot glue / Potting soil / Small stones / Scissors

Cut the Strips

Flip a glass votive holder over. Wrap a length of wood veneer around the entire circumference of the bottom. Mark where it overlaps with a pencil. Cut the length of wood veneer including an extra 1/2 inch overlap. Measure as many lengths of veneer as needed.

Apply the Stain

Spread out crafting paper on your work surface. Work in a well ventilated area. Dip an end of a paper towel into the stain and apply a thick coat on the wood veneer, running along the grain. With a clean paper towel wipe off the excess. Repeat for each strip of wood.

Allow to Dry

Place the wooden veneer strips aside to dry completely prior to moving onto the next step.

Prepare for Gluing

On the top of the wood veneer strip, apply a 1/2 inch of hot glue.

Make the Rings

Wrap the opposite end of the veneer around to make a ring and press it into the glue. Squeeze the ends together with your fingers until the glue has dried and set.

Ring of Glue

Apply another ring of hot glue just under the top rim of the wood veneer ring like so.

Add the Rim

Set a glass votive into the ring with glue around the rim. Press and hold until it sets. Repeat the process on your remaining votives.

Succulent Cuttings

Snip the tips off of your favorite succulents. They make perfect miniature versions of your favorite plants.

Add Soil

Add a small amount of soil to the bottom of each glass votive.

Top Dressing

Next add a thin layer of small stones to top dress the soil.

Add Succulents

One by one, remove the leaves from the bottom of the succulents' stems and tuck each succulent into the soil.

Bits and Pieces

On a side note, don't throw away those leaves you removed from the stems. Try tucking them into some potting soil and seeing if they take root. They are just baby plants waiting to happen. Soon enough you'll have more succulents.

Care and Maintainance

Do not water your miniature terrariums for a few days after planting. When you do, only use a couple of tablespoons of water. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. Place the terrarium in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

Let them Grow

Once they outgrow their miniature terrarium homes, the succulents can be replanted for years of enjoyment.

Good Things

Set a terrarium at each of your guest's place setting. You could even try making a larger succulent terrarium for the centerpiece of your table.