I had been meaning to make a terrarium for a while now, but I finally got to it last week. I put together a post about the process for west elm, using their tall glass jar.
The full instructions and list of materials needed can be found at west elm’s blog, Front & Main. I also talked about how to care for your terrarium, and what I would have done differently.
You could simplify the process by choosing a smaller container and just placing moss inside (like this one) with a few interesting rocks or objects. Of course, you could make it more complex too, by choosing an extra wide vessel and combining more plants of different sizes and textures.
I’d love to try a succulent terrarium next time, switching out the rich potting soil for a sandier blend, and using an open-air container. I think it would be fun to gather some HO scale model items to make a little scene, too. I do have a special fondness for miniatures, after all.
Jenny
April 17, 2012 at 12:29 pmWow, this is so pretty! I think I have found a Mother’s Day gift!
Jacklyn
April 18, 2012 at 1:37 amOoo good thinking! I’m with you!
Valerie
April 7, 2013 at 10:36 amLove it! used your tutorial to make my very own yesterday! Thank you!! BTW, where did you find that amazing wood ampersand?!
Making it Lovely
April 7, 2013 at 9:56 pmIt was from Crate & Barrel.
katrina
April 17, 2012 at 12:35 pmNicole, you are brilliant. This is the prettiest terrarium I’ve ever seen!
Danielle
April 17, 2012 at 12:43 pmSo pretty! And the how-to’s and tips were very helpful!
Making it Lovely
April 17, 2012 at 2:16 pmGood, I’m glad!
paige :: approaching joy
April 17, 2012 at 12:58 pmSo very dainty and alive. I love it!
Pam
April 17, 2012 at 12:59 pmWhere did you get the yellow flowers (Billy Buttons) I’ve been searching for a long time for these and haven’t been able to find them at a reasonable price. Thanks!
Making it Lovely
April 17, 2012 at 2:17 pmI bought all of my supplies from Sprout Home in Chicago. The billy buttons were $2 a stem.
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home
April 30, 2012 at 2:44 pmOoh, we love terrariums, and make them all the time as gifts! We also buy our supplies at Sprout. Love those guys!
Donaville
April 17, 2012 at 1:10 pmDelightful :) I’ve had my eye on that Terrarium Craft book for a while (my local B&N didn’t have it in stock last time I checked). Where did you get the lovely pink geode?
Making it Lovely
April 17, 2012 at 2:17 pmI found that at Sprout Home, too.
Sarah
April 17, 2012 at 1:11 pmYou did such a great job! I LOVE terrariums. I’ve made a few, but I went on vacation once and kept the AC off in the house. I came home to some very sad terrariums =(
Making it Lovely
April 17, 2012 at 2:19 pmBummer. They didn’t like the hothouse environment?
Heather B
April 17, 2012 at 1:25 pmI LOVE that! Especially the slice of pink agate(?), so lovely. What are those super-cool yellow spherical flowers? I’ve seen them before but I have no idea what they are. It’s Brilliant!
Making it Lovely
April 17, 2012 at 2:18 pmThey’re billy buttons, one of my favorites!
Evelyn
April 17, 2012 at 2:14 pmOh wow, this looks so great! The earthy browns! Love it!
Ashley {GirlyObsessions}
April 17, 2012 at 2:19 pmThis is a beautiful post and a great tutorial! My husband and I made some terrariums around the holidays, but they are starting to look a little unhealthy. I’m going to use your post as inspiration and start over! :)
Making it Lovely
April 17, 2012 at 2:22 pmDid you add a layer of activated charcoal to the bottom? I hear that’s the trick.
GirlyObsessions
April 21, 2012 at 2:20 pmI did, but I think the type of plants we mixed required different conditions, so they couldn’t really survive together! Oops…
Chloe's Mom
April 17, 2012 at 3:56 pmHow long will something like this last?
tinajo
April 17, 2012 at 5:22 pmIt’s so very pretty – I really like it! :-)
Judy
April 17, 2012 at 5:30 pmOh, i’m in love with your site! Where did you find the beautiful brown and white drapes?
Judy
April 17, 2012 at 5:33 pmOne more request(please, what is the name of the font you used for the names of the people who are leaving comments. I haven’t seen it before.
So simple and lovely!!
Alli
April 17, 2012 at 8:22 pmThis is the prettiest one I think I’ve ever seen!
Michelle
April 18, 2012 at 1:01 amThis is by far the prettiest terrarium I have ever seen. I just did a google search of terrariums and most of them look like hideous alien habitats. Your terrarium, however, is a stunning masterpiece that I would love to have in my home!
jessibee
April 18, 2012 at 10:30 amI agree with Michelle…this is the best terrarium I have ever seen! I love billy buttons and they look so great in there with the pink stones.
I am, however, totally distracted by the black and white pillow on your chair…where did you get that? I love it!
Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet
April 18, 2012 at 12:11 pmToo cute! I love it!
Andrea Howe
April 18, 2012 at 1:05 pmThe billy buttons add the perfect touch. I wonder how well they’ll do in there? And I just emailed you – because we are having a brain twins moment right now talking about the succulents, sand and miniatures ;)
Jenna
April 18, 2012 at 2:59 pmSo pretty!!! I just bought a bunch of succulents that I can’t wait to plant in a pretty dish. A terrarium is next on my list.
Susan Hazel
April 18, 2012 at 3:29 pmThis was really helpful. I bought a terrarium last year at this little shop in Portland that I love called Noun (http://www.shopnoun.com/). Like a dummy I didn’t think to water it and the plants died. Now, I’ll be able to use the glass container to make a new one and actually water it. Thanks : )
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
April 18, 2012 at 10:38 pmThe terrarium is lovely! I love that you used Craspedia’s (or Billy Balls) in there. They’re one of my new favorite flowers and I had to specially request them to be put in my bouquet at my wedding.
sarina
April 19, 2012 at 12:05 pmTHis is beautiful, I love the added crystal and color. Like you I have wanted to do this forever! Perhaps you have inspired me! Thank you.
Lauren @ with two cats
April 19, 2012 at 3:23 pmHi Nicole! Love the terrarium – it’s gorgeous. I read that you purchased the agate and quartz at Sprout Home but I don’t see those items on their site. Any other ideas on where to purchase them? Thanks so much!
Jennifer
April 20, 2012 at 10:25 amI love it when I find a fun new blog! Your blog is really lovely!
Jennifer:)
DIY :: How to Make a Terrarium « twistedewe
April 20, 2012 at 11:09 am[…] cool apothecary jars and also to create some gorgeous living art. How cool is that?! Click here to head over to Making It Lovely for the full post and directions. Share […]
What We’re Clicking This Week | Hatch: The Design Public® Blog
April 20, 2012 at 12:12 pm[…] While I’m the world’s worst Do-It-Yourselfer, I am very tempted to try my hand at making a terrarium thanks to Nicole over at Making It Lovely. Back in the seventies, these things were as popular as macramé, and the last one I made was in elementary school in a 2-liter plastic bottle (what was up with the liters? I think they came out back when we still thought the states metric conversion was imminent). Nicole’s is much more fresh and beautiful than the one I made back then. Check out how cool hers is, with instructions and more pretty pictures here: […]
Camellia
April 20, 2012 at 2:42 pmLove this. I’ve been searching and searching for those little yellow flowers (Billy Buttons, right?) I’m going to intensify my search because they are such a perfect touch!
What We’re Clicking This Week - 软装公司,软装网,软装 | 软装公司,软装网,软装
April 20, 2012 at 3:20 pm[…] While I’m the world’s worst Do-It-Yourselfer, I am very tempted to try my hand at making a terrarium thanks to Nicole over at Making It Lovely. Back in the seventies, these things were as popular as macramé, and the last one I made was in elementary school in a 2-liter plastic bottle (what was up with the liters? I think they came out back when we still thought the states metric conversion was imminent). Nicole’s is much more fresh and beautiful than the one I made back then. Check out how cool hers is, with instructions and more pretty pictures here: […]
Wild About: April 20, 2012 | Dearest Nature
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Terrific Terrariums » Jeni & Tim
April 21, 2012 at 11:46 pm[…] time. I regularly check in with Nicole Balch’s blog, Making It Lovely. This week she posted a terrarium how to with amazing pictures. I was inspired to finally make my own this […]
Jeni
April 22, 2012 at 12:34 amThanks for sharing Nicole! I’ve been wanting to make a terrarium for a long time. Your post inspired me and I completed mine this weekend.
make your own terrarium « charlotte anabar
April 24, 2012 at 4:54 am[…] seeing them everywhere (with a twist!) . For the entire tutorial it’s right over here at making it lovely! I started keeping all of my beet jars, pickle jars, mince onion jars, etc. so I’m truly […]
Katrine - make it & fake it
April 24, 2012 at 6:45 amWOW; this looks amazing!! how long will it last for? Doesnt the flowers need air? (This is prob such a silly question, but im not good at keeping anything green alive!!!)
love K
Gretchen
April 24, 2012 at 3:02 pmLove to try! It’s beautiful!
KellyGreeny
April 25, 2012 at 11:59 amThese are great. The pink geode makes it!
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May 7, 2012 at 1:56 pm[…] the selection lacking. I ended up with a rubber tree plant, and I used the moss I had leftover from making my terrarium to fill in as shrubbery.The Marimekko tablecloth was the one I’d written about last year. I […]
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不只是植物。DIY家居装饰盆栽造型 | 我爱搜罗网
June 15, 2012 at 12:58 am[…] 原文地址：https://makingitlovely.com/2012/04/17/diy-terrarium/ 分类：DIY•生活, 自然笔记 标签：diy, Terrarium, 植物, 自然 文章为原创文章，转载请注明出处，否则将追究相关法律责任。 双重诱惑——红茶糖霜柠檬蛋糕 随心所欲的休闲运动风。Insight 2012 Lookbook […]
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August 22, 2012 at 3:02 pm[…] have a new found passion for making terrariums, like the one I made above. And this one after the jump. And I’ve been dreaming about making even more after […]
Ellen W.
October 12, 2012 at 9:17 pmI love terrariums! My Mom use to make these growing up~ So many variations and ideas- I love your tutorial, so vibrant n’ fun!
Thank you
@>——-
DIY Terrarium | Savvy Living
January 6, 2013 at 12:08 am[…] ::SOURCE:: […]
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February 3, 2013 at 8:55 pm[…] In case you’ve been living under a rock during the current terrarium craze, Emm and I put together a little tutorial for you. Truthfully, we left out some steps, but I’ve found that for open terraria like we’ve made, the charcoal and sand aren’t vital. If you want a true tutorial though, complete with video, Nicole has a great post on making a terrarium. […]
Polly's Picks: 45 BEST Charming Lifestyle DIY & Tutorials EVER - Mrs. Polly Rogers | Decorate, Make, Create! | Mrs. Polly Rogers | Decorate, Make, Create!
March 8, 2013 at 9:55 am[…] 44. Make a sweet little terrarium with this tutorial: https://makingitlovely.com/2012/04/17/diy-terrarium/ […]
Melyssa
March 19, 2013 at 2:36 amBeautiful terrarium! Your pictures are so bright and easy to follow, too! I even included it in a new article on my site, “11 Creative Projects to Make Your House a Home.”
Thank you for the inspiration!!
xo,
Melyssa
http://thenectarcollective.com/2013/03/11-creative-projects-to-make-your-house-a-home/
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Yvonne Osborne
August 16, 2013 at 3:02 pmThe use of semi-precious stones is so creative! I’m going to have to copy that next time!
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November 18, 2013 at 2:07 am[…] useful links that I should have used if I wasn’t that lazy… https://makingitlovely.com/2012/04/17/diy-terrarium/ (They have lovely photos and large terrariums!) […]
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