Welcome to this months Monthly DIY Challenge! If you saw last months challenge, you heard the news that these challenges were going to be a monthly affair! The challenges will be held every second Wednesday of the month, where we will all take the same item and create something in our own unique way! Make sure to also follow our Monthly DIY Challenge board on Pinterest so you don’t miss a thing!
As you can see above this months challenge is all about clear ornaments. Your first thought would be to make some sort of Christmas ornament out of it, since clearly that is what it says in the name. I on the other hand, went a totally different direction with it. I used the clear ornaments as vases in a wood planter box filled with green and brown luscious moss. Here is how it all came together!
Wood Planter Box
What you will need:
- 15″ wood crate that can be found at Michaels
- moss
- 3 plastic clear round ornaments
- rocks
- stain or paint
- plants
- 2 foam bricks
- tacky glue
I first started off by staining the wood using Minwax in color special walnut. Once dry, then I painted it with a coat of polyurethane to seal it.
While the wood crate is drying, I then started getting the foam ready. The foam is used to keep the ornaments sturdy and in place. To make that happen though, I had to do some minor tweaking to one of the foam bricks. I placed each ornament where I wanted them, then traced around them onto the foam. Then I cut/carved out the foam with a spoon.
I then glued the foam brick that I didn’t carve to the bottom of the wood crate, then glued the carved one on top of that.
Once I got the ornaments out of the package, I realized they were glass…AGH! Decided to still just go with glass, but soon discovered that was a bad idea. While putting the rocks in, glass started easily breaking if I didn’t place the rocks in one by one and very gently. So back to the craft store it was to get some plastic ones. So much better using plastic. I think if I still ended up using the glass ones, they wouldn’t be able to withstand the weight of the rocks and would have eventually started breaking. I mean the glass was so thin and brittle even just the slightest shut of a window would break them! Once I had the correct ornaments, I filled them up about half way to the top with some decorative rocks that can be found at Michaels.
Once the foam bricks were dry and glued down to the wood, I took my moss and placed it all along the sides and the top.
I used some fake plants in the vases, as that is what I had on hand from another project I was going to use it on. I know, I know I am sure a lot of you thinking “Fake plants!” Honestly fake works for me, because for the life of me I cannot keep plants alive. Although I did manage to keep my succulents alive all summer long that I had in my succulent planter :). I do think eventually I am going to switch them out with some succulents or something, but for now I just went with these since I already had them, making it easy. This project really came together as I had envisioned, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how everything turned out! Who knew that clear ornaments would make perfect little vases!
Now let’s see what all the other lovely ladies created with their clear ornaments!
You can find me linking up here!
Tara! Love it, great share. I just added to my save file for a must try. Thanks for sharing!
Mari recently posted…Turn it Up Tuesday!
Thank you so much, Mari!
What a great idea!! I never would’ve thought of this! It came out awesome, Tara!! 🙂
Christina @ Operation Home recently posted…Monthly DIY Challenge: Glass Ornament Gift Tags
Thank you, so much Christina!
This is such a creative idea! I never would have thought to use them as planters! Love it!
Katie @ Little House of Four recently posted…Clear Ornament Arrow Marquee {Monthly DIY Challenge}
Thank you, Katie!
Oh my gosh, this is AMAZING! It totally looks like something you would buy in a high-end store. I just love everything about this. And don’t worry, I’m totally a plant killer too and love fake ones!
Erica recently posted…Let It Snow Ornaments: December DIY Challenge
Erica, you are so sweet! That just made my day, thank you so much!
Love your idea! They look so pretty:)
Thank you so much, Ilona!
Seriously SO creative. I love terrariums and love that you put them in the crate to display. Well done my friend!
What are these terrariums you speak of?! haha! See that is why fake plants work for me, I have no clue the name of the plant that I even put in my vases 🙂 Thank you, Bre!
Can’t wait to try this project in February when the winter days are driving me crazy and I need some fresh flowers on my counter. I love the rustic touch with the wooden crate. Awesome.
Michelle Lepak-Dandelion Patina recently posted…Holiday Candy Bar
Thank you, Michelle. I agree with you, come spring I am going to put some fresh REAL flowers in mine and cross my fingers I don’t kill them 🙂
Tara this is AMAZING. I honestly love love love it! I want to make one for myself or for a gift. Thanks for the fabulous idea!
Bre @ Average But Inspired recently posted…A Clear Ornament Snowman – Monthly DIY Challenge
Thank you so much, Bre!
Absolutely BRILLIANT! I couldn’t possibly love this any more!!! SO creative!
Kristi recently posted…Rustic Pallet Wood Christmas Card Tree – Day Ten of 12 Posts of Christmas
Thank you, Kristi!
Love your planter, Tara! So unique… I instantly thought of Christmas ornament but glad how you took it a totally different direction! Looks great 🙂
Kendra @ http://www.joyinourhome.com recently posted…Hot Chocolate Mix Ornaments- Monthly DIY Challenge
This is so creative, Tara! And so pretty, I seriously love the way this looks. The fake plants are right up my alley too. I love to garden but can’t keep a houseplant alive for anything 🙂
Amy | Canary Street Crafts recently posted…Your Turn To Shine – No. 11
This is fantastic! You’ve got mad floral skills. I’m featuring this on Think & Make Thursday this week! Cheers!
Karisa | Petite Modern Life recently posted…Modern Christmas Printables
Love this spin on it for a cute DIY plant!
Lindsey recently posted…Front Entry Makeover Reveal
YES! YES! YES! I LOVE THESE! So that must be why I’m shouting! Ha! PINNED. Thank you so much for linking up with Found & Foraged. We hope you can join us again next Saturday at 8PM CT. Can’t wait to see your next project!
Kyla @HouseOfHipsters recently posted…Free New Year’s Party Invitations
I am loving this! Featuring at this week’s Wednesday Whatsits!
Rachel @{i love} my disorganized life recently posted…Cup of Everything Cookies {cookie recipe swap}
This is so good and smart! Seriously, love it. Found you via House of Hipsters!
Ashley@Biggerthanthethreeofus recently posted…Top Posts of 2014