Miniature Succulent Terrariums

Share your love of gardening with these miniature take-home terrariums for the holidays.

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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A Quick and Easy Craft

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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.

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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.

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Allow to Dry

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Prepare for Gluing

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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.

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Ring of Glue

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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.

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Succulent Cuttings

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Add Soil

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Top Dressing

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Add Succulents

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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.

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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.

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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Let them Grow

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

Photo: Photo by Melissa Caughey

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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.

Make Miniature Terrarium Place Settings

A Quick and Easy Craft

Gather Your Supplies

Cut the Strips

Apply the Stain

Allow to Dry

Prepare for Gluing

Make the Rings

Ring of Glue

Add the Rim

Succulent Cuttings

Add Soil

Top Dressing

Add Succulents

Bits and Pieces

Care and Maintainance

Let them Grow

Good Things

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