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Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds

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Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature WorldsTerrariums. Teeny, tiny worlds filled with pretty stones, soft sand and tiny living plants. A beach scene might include some found driftwood and seashells, while twigs and moss will be more prominent in a forest scene. They’re beautiful to look at and gratifying to create. They’re amazing conversation pieces and guests in your home can’t help but smile as they peer through the glass into the tiny world inside.

Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature WorldsCrafters and non-crafters alike will love the sense of accomplishment that comes with building one of these tiny worlds. If you haven’t made a terrarium yet, the book Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds is an ideal starting point. Within its pages are stunning photographs of micro scenes, explanations of supplies needed, and plenty of step by step instructions that are easy to follow.

Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature WorldsThe book is sectioned into three main parts: supplies, themes and resources. The chapter titled Practical Matters takes you through the various supplies you can use to build your terrarium. From sand and dirt to succulent plants and every seashell, pebble and piece of moss in between. The explanations and wide array of supply options, along with their photos, are fabulous. Many of the supplies you’ll use are items you can find in nature.

Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature WorldsThe themes I refer to are the four chapters titled Forest, Beach, Desert, and Fantasy Terrariums. Each section is packed with beautiful photos depicting tiny worlds, some with miniature creatures like deer or birds, others with sparkling gem stones or minuscule houses. Each theme has several tutorials with a total of 50 projects.

Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature WorldsThe book doesn’t leave you ready to get started but without resources. At the end of the chapters you’ll find a listing of websites and stores where terrarium supplies can be purchased. As mentioned earlier, many of your supplies can be found in nature and in thrift stores and consignment shops. However, there are store keepers that cater to the terrarium lover and are ready to supply you to the nines.

Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature WorldsEven if you open this book, gawk at the photos and never actually build a terrarium, it’s good enough eye candy that it will make a lovely coffee table book. However, if you’re ready to try your hand at building a tiny world, this is a great place to start.

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY! You can win a copy of this gorgeous book to hold selfishly in your arms cherish! Go here to enter.

Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds is written by Amy Bryant Aiello, Kate Bryant, photographed by Kate Baldwin, and was published through Timber Press, Inc. All photos in this post are copyright Timber Press, Inc. and were used with permission.

Book Review: Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds

Comments

  1. I want that book, I want that book, I want that book..oh the beauty of it…and the wonderful information. I can see the cutest terrarium/// love the book soooooooooooo much that I have gone ahead and put it on my amazon wish list, but hope I win it. Thank u.

  2. I have thougt of making these small worlds – but haven’t gotten around to it. I think this book is the perfect inspiration and HEALING tool. Looking into and creating a miniature setting of your own, helps decrease stress and has a variety of influences on healing the body and emotions. Children as well as adults can receive these benefits – It’s a small world after-all as they say! Thank you for creating this book

  4. I love looking at miniature worlds and drawing them. I like working small and this would be something different then working with fibers and paper. I’ve always wanted to try but didn’t have the knowledge to do it. This book looks like the answer . Couldn’t think of a better way to start the new year than to learn something entirely new. What wonderful gifts they would make. Thank you.

  5. I have made two terrariums inspired from memories of my childhood that held a lot of trial and error and trial. I so wanted to get it right to kindle those memories, one quick look of this book and I knew it was written for me and lovers of our natural world. Please count me in for the giveaway.

    • Please note, commenting on this post (while very nice) 🙂 will not enter you in the giveaway! Please be sure to click the link within the post to go to the actual giveaway and leave a comment there. Thanks!

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Christmas on a Budget – How to Style Your Christmas Table Using Things You Already Own

Before you buy a Christmas table runner, another packet of decorations or six matching napkin rings, have a proper rummage through your cupboards.

Not a quick glance. The sort of rummage that finds the lovely serving bowl behind the salad spinner and the ribbon you bought for a project you were absolutely going to finish.

There is a good chance you already own most of what you need for a beautiful Christmas table.

When you are saving money this Christmas, decorating is a sensible place to cut back. Everyday plates can look festive, ordinary jars can hold greenery, and a few decorations borrowed from the tree can become a centrepiece.

The secret is choosing a simple look and repeating a few details.

Start with the practical pieces

Set out your plates, cutlery, glasses and serving dishes before thinking about decorations.

Check how many people you are seating and whether everything fits comfortably. Place the empty serving dishes on the table temporarily, including protective mats for hot food.

This little rehearsal stops you creating a magnificent arrangement precisely where the roast potatoes need to go.

You do not need decorative charger plates or a different glass for every drink. Use what suits the meal and the people coming.

Gather a small decorating collection

Look around the house for:

  • A shallow fruit bowl, tray or small basket.
  • A plain tablecloth, runner or suitable fabric remnant.
  • Cloth napkins or paper napkins already in the cupboard.
  • Christmas ornaments.
  • Ribbon, twine and gift-wrap scraps.
  • Small jars or vases.
  • Cardstock for place cards.

Choose clean, colourfast fabric that will not catch easily or trail where someone could trip. If nothing suitable turns up, a clean bare tabletop is a perfectly good starting point.

Choose your colour from something you own

Rather than deciding you want a burgundy Christmas and then buying burgundy everything, let your existing supplies choose the palette.

Have plenty of red ornaments? Try red, green and cream.

Own blue-and-white dishes? Add silver or natural paper details.

Have a collection of colourful vintage baubles? Let those be the feature and keep the place settings simple.

Repeat one accent colour in the centrepiece, the napkins and the name cards. That repetition helps different objects feel connected.

Make an ordinary bowl your centrepiece

Put a shallow bowl in the middle of the table and loosely arrange a handful of baubles inside.

Start with larger ornaments, then fill gaps with smaller ones. Stop before they become unstable.

Our Christmas bauble centrepiece tutorial offers inspiration for a more constructed arrangement. For a temporary display, keep your ornaments loose so they can return to the tree.

If you need that bowl for food, choose another container now. Buying a replacement serving bowl defeats the exercise rather quickly.

Give each place setting one festive detail

Fold the napkins in the same way and position them consistently.

A simple rectangle tied with ribbon is enough. Measure one finished tie before cutting the rest so you do not waste ribbon on tails that are much longer than needed.

These festive napkin-folding ideas offer alternatives if you would rather skip ribbon.

For a craftier touch, make a set of paper angel napkin holders using card and paper scraps.

Choose one treatment rather than stacking several decorations on every plate.

Add greenery without turning it into a shopping trip

A few suitable stems in water can soften the table.

Use plants you can identify, avoid sprayed or irritating foliage, and keep plant material away from food. Skip unknown berries, especially around children and pets.

Short arrangements are easier to talk across and less likely to be knocked over.

No suitable garden greenery? Leave it out. It is an option, not a requirement.

Only fill a genuine gap

If everything works except the colour connection, one roll of fabric ribbon on Amazon might be useful. Check the full delivered price and your existing stash first.

Before buying anything, ask whether you could borrow it, substitute it or simply leave it out.

Your Christmas table does not need to look like a department-store display. It needs somewhere comfortable to sit, room for the food and a few thoughtful touches.

The money you keep is part of the success.