DIY succulent terrarium

I'm obsessed with succulents. Many of you know this. They are just so adorable! And so easy to grow. Plus they grow just about anywhere, and if you plant little clippings they grow into a new plant! I know I've mentioned this, but it thrills me to no end. Guess I'm easily amused.

I came across this glass container today while cleaning out a cupboard. I never really use it for anything. 

So I put a little potting soil in the bottom, then a nice layer of moss (left over from my mother's day creation... which by the way is so happy it's blooming!!). I added a bunch of water, then poured out the excess. Then I clipped a few stems of succulents from my existing plants, and pulled off one hen. Or chick. 

I tucked them into the moss and added some cute little pebbles for a rustic look.

Et voila! 

Super simple, took about five minutes, and looks so cute. I've been meaning to check the thrift stores for interesting containers to fill like this. I just love instant gratification. Especially when it's basically free!

This is way off the subject, but I thought you'd like an update on our new kittens!

On the left is Cleo and on the right is Quinn. They are almost 5 months old and driving us crazy! In that wild, chaotic, into everything kitten way. But oh, how I am enjoying them. 

They play hard, then crash. Often on our laps. Usually together. I just love having these little sisters. They have so much personality, and they are each so different from the other. Just like kids I guess. Love them. :)

Mom's day

I love mother's day. I've had some great ones in my five (this will be my sixth) years of being a mama! I love hanging with my little family and getting to relax a bit, but my favorite way to spend mother's day is with my own mom. It seems we've been lucky enough the last few years to get some great weather so we often enjoy some time on my parents' amazing patio, playing games and lounging. Sadly, that won't be the case this year due to the Season Of Endless Rain. But we will make our own (indoor) fun. My mom makes everything fun. She is smart and beautiful and loves to laugh. She adores my boys. She is an amazing cook. There's never a dull moment when she's around. She is my best friend. Love her. 

Here's my gift to her this year:

A living succulent wreath, handmade by me! My mom and I both adore succulents and have eyed these wreaths in magazines and at the home and garden shows lately. I've been wanting to attempt to make one since I don't have $100 to spend on one, gorgeous though they may be. I'm hoping she will love this gift.

I found an easy tutorial at prudent baby and followed it pretty closely. Here's what I bought:

wreath form, craft store 

bag of moss, fred meyer's 

4 succulent plants to supplement my clippings

floral wire, fred meyer's 

2 packages of bobby pins 

First I wandered around outside (in the pouring rain) with a bag and some scissors and took little clippings of all my existing succulents. You can plant these little sections and they will each grow into a new plant! This is how my little collection has grown over the last year or so. I don't have a ton of variety yet, which is why I bought some from the store (which I separated and also clipped) to add to the wreath. 

Let these clippings air dry for a day or two to form a sort of scab over the cut part.

Next I soaked the moss in a big bowl of water for ten minutes or so, then started stuffing it into the back side of the wreath form. I made sure it was stuffed really full and tight, then wrapped the floral wire all around the moss to hold it in place. Then I did the same for the front side and added more wire. 

To add the plants I used a pencil to "drill" a hole into the moss, then placed the little stem into the hole and used a slightly bent open bobby pin to secure the stem. Don't poke the bobby pin through the stem, just around it. Repeat a zillion times with all your little succulents! They look pretty arranged in sections of similar plants. The wreath on Prudent Baby is so gorgeous... she has such an amazing variety of colorful succulents. 

Mine are a bit more basic, but it still turned out so pretty! I started with the bigger plants...

...then filled in with smaller ones.

Ta-da!! All finished. This took a couple hours to make, but I had a lot of fun with it. Got pretty dirty though. It would be a much better outside project, but when its 45 and raining sideways the kitchen counter and lots of newspaper will just have to do.

Happy mother's day to my mom and all the other amazing mamas out there!

Sweet Little Succulents

We recently spent an afternoon at my parents' house (which we do all the time- they are awesome) and got to enjoy the company of a dear friend of the family. Not only did she cook a fabulous dinner for us all, but she taught me the coolest tip, and I am so excited to share it! Maybe everyone knows this and I'm just a bit slow to learn, but don't burst my bubble, ok? :)

This particular friend, who absolutely fascinates me (I wish she had a blog- I would read it obsessively), is just full of ideas and craftiness and awesome conversation. She gave us this gift when we had Beckham, and I was floored by her creativity. 

It's an antique wooden child's rocking chair, with the seat removed so it can hold a flower pot. She filled the pot with these adorable little succulent plants, and it looks so perfect on my porch. 

Isn't it the coolest, most unique baby gift?!

Well, it turns out you can pull pieces off these little plants and just stick them in a new pot. They will root and grow into a whole new plant! I did not know this!!

So I picked some off those plants, and some off this plant:

And a few little hens and chicks:

I replanted them into a couple small pots I had, and look how cute they turned out!

I am just crazy about these little succulents. I can't wait to hit up some garage sales and find cool containers to plant them in! And I don't even have to buy new plants!

I love stuff like that.