How to Make a Whimsical Moss Terrarium

This is a project we have been wanting to do forevah...and we finally did!  Tell me that little shroom I made with clay isn't the cutest (no, I didn't make the wee little frog but I've had him for as long as I can remember and I just think he's adorable)...

Now, that the weather is warming up, we have been having gardening fever (even though we don't have a real garden, tee hee ;)  But, we have planted lots of herbs...cilantro (yuuummy), basil, oregano, parsley, peppermint and spearmint for my tea.  Then we planted our upside down tomatoes again this year and I even threw some chive seeds on top.

We also got some funny little pea pods and they have sprouted already...now, if the girls would only eat them!   We got some organic cucumber and squash seeds to plant and I'm hoping that our tentative move, will be perfect timing to plant them in our new yard :)

Anyway, on with the good stuff.  Making a moss terrarium of your own is so easy and fun, very inexpensive, and it's very easy to take care of.

First you need a glass jar of some sort.  We got a terrarium jar from the craft store, but you could use even just a bell jar you have around the house.

Then, you'll need to put a thin layer of pebbles or stones on the bottom.  We used some that I use for crafting, but just some rocks from outside would be fine too...

I couldn't find 'activated charcoal,' so we picked up this 'activated carbon' from the local pet store for about $6, and it has worked just fine...

  Put a handful of the carbon on top of your rocks.

Then, layer in a relatively thick layer of soil...

And for the moss, we cut a piece slightly larger than our jar. 

Where did we get our moss you ask?  Well, my daughter remembered seeing some near her school playground that was just getting trampled by the kids...so we felt the need to 'rescue' it, tee hee.

So, you put it on top of the dirt (I love the forest clover already growing)...

 

...then, I took the back of my trowel (or you could use the back of a spoon), and kind of just tucked in the edges of the moss...

...and voila'...

 

Now, for the fun part...decorating it!  I made a little clay mushroom and painted and glittered it, then dug through some trinkets I've had for ages and found a perfect little frog and a cute little statue of a man reading, then we put some shells from our recent beach trip in there too...

We have our terrarium sitting in our sun-room and it's gotten many compliments from friends and visitors and we love it so!

As far as taking care or your moss terrarium...it only needs to be spritz with water about every 2 weeks, so this is an easy way to bring some nature into your home, even if you don't have a green thumb! 

Keep it out of direct sunlight and if it builds condensation on the glass, just take off the lid until it evaporates.  See...easy peasy ;)

For more fun DIY and handmade goodness, check out these sites and have a lovely day...

 

Jamie :)

Comments

[Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage]

Love it!! I made one with a cloche a few weeks back -- best $3.50 I ever spent!!

[Theresa]

This really and truly puts the W in whimsical! Love love love it, Jamie!!! :) Theresa

[Tabitha Blue]

Oh it's so, so cute! We had lots of herbs and tomatoes last year, this year we're trying a couple of raised beds to get more veggies... but the fresh herbs, OH, enjoy... they were wonderful. I'm doing the potted herb garden again this year.

And I love your clay shroom.

:)
~Tabitha

[tristan]

that is awesome!

[Jenny]

This is sooo neat. Saw you on SITS. I'm sending this blog along to my daughter. She will adore this, too!

Thanks for the wonderful idea and awesome directions!

[dena miller]

Love it!!! I have a gold fish container that I was thinking of using for a project like this. Just curious, what is the purpose of the charcoal or carbon?

[Nydia]

How cute!! If my 6-year-old son sees this, I'm in trouble! LOL

Kisses from Nydia.

[Kim @ Everything Etsy]

So cute! We made a couple awhile back, and then we gave them away as gifts. Your little mushroom is adorable! :)

~Kim

[Zemphira Creations]

Wonderful. My daughter is a moss lover. The mushroom is great. Think you can grow a Jack in a Pulpit in there? Fun!