THURSDAYS THRIFY FIND

The little beauty on the left is my thrifty find of the week. I picked it up at Goodwill for $3 and when I find a a way to make an equally thrifty base I'm going to fill it with mini terracotta pots, terrarium plants, and moss.

Terrariums can be made from just about anything....even light bulbs! The image on the right is a terrarium made out of picture frames from Country Living. I thought it was a fun project for this week since we've been talking about spring and spring colors; and there's no better color to add to a room then some greenery!

You can find the step-by-step instructions for this project below...


Picture Frame Terrarium
Supplies & Tools:
* Picture frames: four 5" x 7", two 8" x 10", and two 11" x 14"
* Drill with a 3/32" bit
* Fine weight sandpaper
* Plywood or plexi glass scraps and a means to cut into triangles
* #6 x ½" wood screws
* Four 2" mending plates
* Two corner brackets
* Two 1” utility hinges
* Paint & brush

Step 1: Remove the backs and glass from eight frames (four 5" x 7", two 8" x 10", and two 11" x 14"). Lightly sand each frame's surface.
Note: You can find used picture frames at any thrift store, yard sale or second hand store for not a lot of money. Since you need specific sizes for this project you may have to shop around a little bit. Make sure they are solid wood with a simple narrow frame. Don’t worry if they match because you’re going to paint them later.

Step 2: Align an 11" x 14" with an 8" x 10" frame as shown. Drill one hole near the top and one near the bottom, through the larger frame and halfway into the smaller; screw together. (The screws you use should correspond with your drill bit. We suggest a 3/32" bit and #6 x ½" wood screws.) Repeat with other 11" x 14" and 8" x 10" frames.

Step 3: Arrange the two L's you've created as shown. Attach them to each other using the same method described in Step 2 to form the terrarium's base.

Step 4: Place two 5" x 7" frames facedown. Align a 2" mending plate at each end of the frames, as shown. Drill pilot holes and secure with screws. Repeat with the two remaining frames.

Step 5: Align the two sets of 5" x 7" frames as shown. Attach a corner bracket inside each end of the eave, using the method described in Step 4.

Step 6: Line the resulting roof up with the base, as shown. Place two 1" utility hinges, spaced evenly apart, over the joint where the pieces meet. Drill holes and screw together.

Step 7: Trace the inside of an eave on paper. Cut out, and trace the resulting triangle onto a piece of ½"-thick plywood. Repeat; then cut the wood.

Step 8: Fit the cut wood into each end of the roof. Attach by pre-drilling holes from the outside of the roof into the triangles and securing with screws.

Step 9: Wearing gloves for safety, smooth wood filler over the terrarium's exterior, filling in the joints and covering the screw holes. Let dry for several hours; then lightly sand.

Step 10: Paint the piece white (or turquoise, or red, or any color you choose!). For a distressed finish, apply a dark furniture polish over the paint after it dries. Let sit for a few minutes; then buff off.

Step 11: Replace the glass from the bottom up. Place hot glue in the corners of each frame, pop the pane in, and run glue around each frame's inside edge.

Place in the terrarium your favorite plants and enjoy! For a list of terrarium appropriate plants suitable for low, moderate or bright light visit The Garden Helper.

MOTHER'S DAY CRAFT PROJECTS

Since it is the week ramping up to Mother’s Day and we’re already talking about gardening today, I thought I’d start by sharing a few easy projects from Kaboose. These are really simple, eco friendly, kid friendly projects that can be as basic or intricate as you make them. Almost all the materials are things you might find laying around the house.

Tin Can Herb Pots

Egg Carton Bug Mobile

Lady Bug Garden Pets

Milk Jug Flower Pot

Egg Cup Insects

GARDEN SPOONS

Still gardening, knitting my mobius scarf and coming up with more craft projects for Etsy. Just wanted to share with everyone the garden spoon markers I finished this weekend. I found old spoons at the thrift store, added text to images of vintage botanicals, printed them and sealed them on the spoons with several waterproof coats of clear acrylic. I love how they turned out! What do you think?









I'm also excited that the first of my seedlings sprouted yesterday...

STARTERS & MARKERS

I finally found enough time this last weekend to finish my starter seeds. I guess I’m still on Idaho time because I am now four weeks behind for spring planting in Texas. As you can see I used egg cartons and toilet paper rolls to create starter beds for the seeds. I found it helpful to tape sections of paper rolls together and label them with the type of seed. Because the cardboard absorbs the water I set them on a tray next to a window. Most of what I grow in my container garden is herbs for cooking and cut flowers. Since I lost almost all my plants to the Idaho winter and/or the stressful move to Texas I had to start from scratch. My basic shopping list includes:

Basil (trying a Lime Basil this year that I’m very excited about)
Oregano (great for making French bread)
Sage
Mint (got to have it for those summer time drinks)
Chamomile
Lemon Balm
Strawberries
Heirloom or African Daisies are a must!

I know what you’re thinking, “Where’s the good stuff like tomatoes and rosemary?” Well, as much as I love growing them neither of us eats many tomatoes and the other basic herbs like rosemary, thyme, celery and dill are not herbs I use frequently. I use Basil, Oregano and Sage for cooking because it suites my taste palette; and I use Mint, Chamomile and Lemon Balm for making drinks. I also found I’m more drawn to certain fragrances. For example, Common Sage reminds me of home in Idaho and Pineapple Mint has a refreshing summery scent. I suggest you pick the herbs or flowers you use the most or ones that have a special meaning to you because you’ll enjoy your garden a whole lot more.


Because I’m now in Texas I found cactus seeds are fairly common so I decided to try some for fun. Above is a picture of my little cactus growing garden I put together out of mini terracotta pots and an old bread pan. I actually got a little too creative and probably would have been better off just spreading the seeds in the bread pan. However, it actually worked out to my advantage because unlike most seeds the cactus pots must be covered with glass during germination to create a greenhouse effect. I didn’t have a piece big enough for the bread pan but due to a recent household accident I had several smaller pieces of glass that fit over the terracotta pots perfectly. I’m hoping in a couple weeks I’ll have cute baby cactus like these that I can arrange in other indoor/outdoor pots to make cactus gardens.


While I’m waiting for my seeds to grow I decided to work on another project making garden markers. I simply started by researching on Etsy what other people were making and found one I wanted to recreate myself. If you don’t have time or resources to make your own, here are a few suggestions to buy garden markers:

Set of 10 Cooper Plant Markers at Takit $23



Rustic Ceramic Markers $10 each



Engraved Silverware Markers $6-8 each

Hammermann
Wooden Hive

And my favorite handcrafted garden markers by Daisy Chestnut $8-12 each.


I’m attempting to make something similar but with images of vintage botanical prints. I’ll let you know how they turn out!

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

And for me that means potting plants and gardening crafts! To my delight spring comes early here in Texas, as it does in many of the southern states, so I’m ramping up to enjoy some new potted herbs and flowers. Since I live in an apartment and don’t have a garden of my own yet I rely on container gardening. I’ve collected quite a handful of ceramic and terracotta pots over the years on sale but as my love for gardening has grown I’ve started looking for ways to expand without spending a lot of money. One of the cheapest and most effective ways to grow potted plants both inside and out is to use soda bottles or milk jugs. They are especially great for flowers or vegetables that need a lot of moisture because the base can retain extra water that is wicked back into the soil as it gets dry. You can also use soda bottles in your garden or containers to help conserve water by keeping moisture near the roots. Check out the “Scrooge Bottle” at Instructables.com.

If you know where to shop you can usually find starter plants, vegetables and herbs for a reasonable price, but the cheapest way to fill your containers is by making your own starters from seeds or cuttings. By making your own starters you can get exactly what you want by picking out the type of seeds you want rather than depending on what the store has available. If you’re like me and only have a few containers, not a whole garden to fill, you can share or trade your favorite seeds with your friends and family or save them for next year (Note: making starters and gardening can be fun for everyone. Make an afternoon out of it with ice tea & mint from your herb container). Egg cartoons, egg shells, toilet paper rolls and newspaper are just a few of the many household items that make great starter containers. Not to keep talking about soda bottles, but they also work great in creating mini greenhouses to assist starters in growing.

Okay, I’ll keep talking for just a moment because used soda bottles can improve your outdoor experience beyond planters. They can be used to make:
* Bird Feeders
* Insect Traps
* Windproof Candle Holders
* Ice Packs for your cooler (simple fill bottle 80% full of water, put lid on and freeze overnight)
* and even a Garden Trellis!

Just to name a few.

Container pots come in all shapes, sizes and colors. You can pretty much turn any household item into a container garden with a little creativity. I’ve seen bathtubs, sinks, old toilets, barrel drums, mason jars, reclaimed wood, shoes, buckets, old crates, burlap sacks, etc. One of my personal favorites is using vintage tin cans. They are just as bright and festive as the flowers planted in them. You can usually find cheap vintage tins at thrift stores or your grandmother’s attic if you don’t have any of your own lying around. If you want to be even more cost effective and environmentally friendly, you can simple use your recycled tin cans saved from coffee, soups and sauces and either paint them and/or embellish them with vintage pictures printed from online. Mix a few tin planters in with other ceramic or terracotta pots to make a colorful statement.

Another popular recycled gardening container is tires. If you live in an apartment I do not recommend throwing tires and dirt in your front yard without permission from your landlord because it will kill the grass. However, if you’re looking for a larger planter for your patio or deck you can place a tire ontop of a scrap of plywood (cut circular to fit the base of the tire) and elevate it with feet, another tire or tire rim to keep it from damaging the patio/deck surface. You can find some great tire planters and instructions at Wuv’n Acres Gardens.

Don’t forget container gardens for inside your home! More on that topic another day.