Tuesday, November 11, 2014

... making tiny graveyards and a skull terrarium...



With my dad's ability to see potential in everything, my mom's sheer crafty-nature, and growing up in a world where nothing was quite me, I love a good DIY project. 

A few years back I saw a post on Pinterest of a graveyard terrarium for sale. Ha! I can do that, I thought; and, I did. The terrarium(s) (because I ended up creating a small one out of a champagne coupe with moss from my backyard) have been in my life since March 2012. Last year while I was cleaning some of the plant smudges from the larger terrarium, something moved inside and I about had a heart attack! How was the undead returning from their plastic gravestones?!? 

Nevertheless, I discovered that I had trapped an earthworm in the terrarium. He lived in their for about three years. Poor little guy. He was freed into the garden (with my mom whispering that he probably would have a better life remaining in the terrarium). But freedom is freedom.



I recently polished off the contents of my large Crystal Head Vodka, which was purchased during last year's Black Friday sale so it took me almost a year to drink. I wanted a little project so I decided that with a few chopsticks and some patience, I could make this tiny opening work. TADA! Another terrarium is ALIVE! (Hopefully sans any earthworms)

19 comments:

  1. Those are amazing! You are so crafty and inventive, I would not have thought of having a glass skull filled with plant life. :D

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    1. Thanks! I like tranforming objects. I sometimes call myself a Craftisf-somewhere between crafts and Art.

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  2. I have the same Crystal Head vodka. Best Vodka ever! Those terraniums are so cute

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    1. Thanks! I actually didn't drink vodka much until I found this. Not sure if I discovered that I liked vodka or I just simply like the vase :p

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  3. You've done a brilliant job with the terrariums and great idea using the Crystal Head Vodka bottle for one. Have you ever come across the 'Beetlejuice' terrarium?

    http://uncrate.com/stuff/beetlejuice-terrarium/

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    1. Thanks!

      Yes I have come across the Beetlejuice terrarium via Pinterest. When I was looking at how much such items cost ($350) I determined to come up with my own design and try it out. My terrariums don't cost anywhere near that. The largest one probably cost about $40 with the glass container, plastic graves, carbon, rocks, and plants. I recall the hardest part was finding the plastic graves because it wasn't close to Halloween. I thought I was going to have to make them.

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  4. I love terraniums! and such a good idea with the skull vodka bottle. looks fantastic!

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    1. Thanks! I'm trying to decide if I should take the skull terrarium to my work office :D

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  5. Oh, this is awesome, now I want to make some! But I have nowhere to put them near a window, so they'd probably die. :-(

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    1. They don't need direct light but they do need a bit of sun. The moss would probably live without sun... My moss is from my backyard.

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    2. Good point, I remember bringing home a chunk of moss from Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and putting it in water on a china doll plate. It sat for at least a YEAR on a bookcase that got no natural light whatever, and it stayed green! Hmmm, now that's a thought...

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  6. I love the tiny gravestones, what a great idea! We have two skull vodka bottles now, one empty, one full. I don't actually drink vodka, just my boyfriend and his friends, but of course, I appreciate a good skull! :P

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    1. I didn't drink vodka either when I started dreaming about what I could do with the skulls :D Now I'm all about blood orange cosmos.

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  7. Wow! I love these. I am going to look for some glass to use for terrariums now. Thanks for the tip!

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  8. Oh, I have GOT to do a terrarium like this! It will be awesome with my "over the top" (says beleaguered spouse) Halloween decor. I love finding new ways to both garden and celebrate my fave time of year!

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    1. Ha ha, my husband is more than tolerant :) I'm having a hard time keeping the foliage moist inside the skull... especially since it's in my office at work. I think I need to add a new plant :-/

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