Succulent Tower

Succulent Tower

Last summer, I made a fun little “succulent tower” to put on my front porch.  At the time, I was just playing around and had no idea that someone might want to know how to make their own.  When it was finished, a few people asked me to blog a how-to, but since I hadn’t taken step by step photos, I couldn’t do that. {Yes, I’ve heard of bloggers starting over to recreate the scene, but… blogging isn’t my day job, so I don’t have time for that.}

Well, I accidentally let mine freeze this winter (oopsie!) and had to redo it, so here’s a half how-to.

Supplies Needed:

a tiered wire basket ( mine is similar to this one from Crate & Barrel  )

sheet moss (I got mine at JoAnn’s)

a few sheets of newspaper

scissors

2 cups (approx) gravel

2 cups (approx) play sand

Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix

Assorted succulents – I used 1 Ripple Jade (Crassula arborescens undulatifolia) for the top tier (broken into three parts), 4 (4 oz) Echeveria “Dondo”, 2 Key Lime Pie (adromischus cristatus) and 2 Graptosedum “California Sunset” (Graptosdeum)… but you can really use anything that’s small and will fit in the container you’re using.

Since I laid the groundwork last summer, I don’t have photos of these first three steps, but they’re pretty easy to visualize:

1.  Use the scissors to cut strips of the sheet moss, slightly wider than the width of each tier of the wired container, and place them inside each tier, moss-side-facing-out, starting the strip at the top edge of the wire basket (the “extra” width of the strip should curve around the bottom of the basket slightly, towards the inside of the tower).  The moss is mostly for looks, but it also keeps the soil contained, so you just need to make sure the edges are covered so soil doesn’t fall through the wire.

2.  Cut (or tear) newspaper to fit in the bottom of each tier and lay it flat all the way around.  Again, this is just to keep the soil from falling out and still allow for water to drain.

3.  Create a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of each tier to help weigh it down (and provide better drainage), then sprinkle the sand evenly over the gravel for each tier.

4.  Continue to fill each tier with the cactus potting mix, careful not to fill above the edge of the container.

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5.  Determine the placement of the succulents by placing them (in their plastic container) where you think they look best.  You can mix up the types and placement, but I wanted a more uniform look for this project, so I kept them evenly spaced (3 parts around the top, 4 of the same around the middle, and 2 of each kind, alternating, along the bottom tier).

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6.  Working one at a time, dig a small well for each succulent and then gently place it, reinforcing with soil to keep it in its spot.  I always feel like potting succulents is weird because they’re so light (no moisture in the soil) that it doesn’t have that satisfying “plop” into the potting mix that flowering plant does.  Just mound up soil round it once it’s placed, but be aware it still may feel fragile.photo 3smOnce all of the succulents are in place, they may be a little dirty, but don’t worry.  Once you give the entire tower a gentle watering, they’ll be bright and beautiful!

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In the warm months, I water my succulent tower once a week or so… and obviously I’m going to have to try harder in the winter with this one. (ha!)

FREE Red Mustache Printable

FREE Red Mustache Printable

With St. Patty’s Day right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to help you get in the Spirit O’ the Irish! How about this straw idea for your St.Patty’s shindig this weekend?  Kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy these!redmustaches

Simply download the free printable (HERE), print on white cardstock, and glue them to any decorative straw (like these stripey ones).

Serve these in your favorite drinks this weekend and see how many “Irish Eyes are Smiling” in return!

Happy Early St. Patrick’s Day!

 

Hidden Remote Tutorial

Hidden Remote Tutorial

When I saw this idea featured in Country Living magazine last year, I thought it looked like a pretty fun (and clever) idea.  It seemed easy enough (and 0h-so-cute), but I’m going to be honest:  This little project was NOT as easy at it appeared.  In fact, I think the CL article had it listed in just 3 or 4 steps… They conveniently forgot to talk to the person who actually did the cutting with the X-Acto knife about the extra step:  Tending to your blistered fingers!  Maybe it was just my unskilled X-Acto hands (I’m a little out of practice since college), but if you’re interested in doing this project, I thought I’d warn you up front.

If you still think this project looks fun, here ya go!

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You will need:

Glue (I went old school Elmer’s)

Small foam brush

A book that’s thicker than your remote control

About 10 inches of grosgrain ribbon

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1.  Flip to the back of the book and generously apply glue on the back book cover.  Using the foam brush, evenly spread the glue.  Close the book to “paste” the last page to the back inside book cover.

DSC_0130sm2.  Holding the pages of the book together, add glue and use the foam brush to evenly coat the edges (all three sides).

DSC_0136sm3.  Open the front of the book and trace your remote’s outline with a pencil.

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4.  Using an X-acto knife, carefully cut away the pages of the book in the shape of the remote’s silhouette.

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(repeat this process – for days if necessary – this part won’t be fun – just keep shaving away!)

DSC_0154sm5.  Using hot glue (or the Elmer’s), adhere the grosgrain ribbon to the base of the hollowed out space.  This will help you “lift” the remote out of the hole you’ve dug for it.

DSC_0156sm6.  See how nicely it fits in the opening?  This part was NOT easy… just keep testing the remote and carving more paper from the sides of the hollow space.

DSC_0159smThere you have it… a hollowed out book to hide your remote!  It was more work than I expected, but it was also kind of mindless to do while watching tv, and I like the end result!

Christmas Dinner Centerpiece

DSC_0529This holiday, I went with a slight variation of the centerpiece I used for Christmas dinner last year…  I seem to keep getting stuck on using those gorgeous evergreens, hydrangeas (because I love them so much) and my “new” deer figurines.  So sue me.

Luckily,  this time I was able to incorporate an unique piece that my grandmother gave me this past weekend at family Christmas “on the farm” – a gingham enamelware coffee pot.  It was just so cute with its wrap-around pattern and squatty body – I couldn’t resist!  That baby became the center of my tablescape pretty much as soon as it was in my grubby little hands.  I think it was just perfect, perched atop a sliced tree trunk, among  boughs of fir and evergreen, adorned with antique glass ornaments and votive candles to complete the look.

I just love how it turned out so homey and personal (and even more importantly – SIMPLE)!  Merry Christmas everyone!

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Books and Birds Place Card and Menu

For my #booksandbirds Halloween party, since I was going with a literary-theme, I thought that books would be the perfect vessel for the menu, AND serve as place cards too!

Using a few books on hand, I created these with pretty minimal effort, using:

– Black grosgrain ribbon

– Scissors

– Hot glue/glue gun

– Existing books

– Printed “Name Plates” for each guest (you could also do this by hand if you needed to)

– Printed Menus

1.  Cut the grosgrain ribbon to fit around the cover of your book, overlapping about 1/2 – 1 inch.

2.  Using a glue gun, secure the grosgrain around the book cover.

3.  Use a dab of hot glue on the back of the “name plate” and affix it to the grosgrain ribbon, carefully hiding the “overlap”.

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DSC_0948For the menu, of course I went with literary-themed courses.  I even made it look like a “Table of Contents”.

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For this get-together, this is what was on the menu:

Julius Caesar {Salad}

Crepes of Wrath {Main}

Sense and Sensibility {Greens}

Edgar Allan Poe-tatoes {Side}

Adventures of Huck Finn {Dessert}

Tequila Mockingbird {Cocktail}

 

Definition Straw Flags

For my #booksandbirds Halloween party, I decided to make definition straw flags to coordinate with the literary theme.  Using the definition of “drink” related words, such as beverage, drink, tipsy, sip, and potion to make these straws extra fun and festive!

DSC_0795smWant some for yourself?  Lucky you, here’s a definition straw flags!  Simply print, cut out along the dotted lines, and use double-sided tape to adhere to your favorite paper straws!

Cheers!