Wood Terrarium with a Winter Theme

Good Morning lovelies! This is a project I have wanted to bring to life for a while, and I think it is such a versatile decor piece for each season. I made this wood terrarium from scraps from our build, and added a few succulent cuttings, branches, and mixed in some mandarins and pinecones for a festive touch. All of the plants are from my everyday indoor collection. I am so thrilled to be joining some amazing Canadian bloggers in a crafty hop! If you are new here, you can catch some more of my holiday decor here, and my cottage tour here. Be sure to visit the other bloggers linked at the end of this post for more Christmas craft inspiration.

In case this is your first time here, I’m Ashlea! Welcome. I love to share DIY projects, and the reno’s we are working on in our home. We added an 1100 sf addition to our place, and my hubby and I have had a hand in every inch of the process from foundation to finishing. I’m slowly working on decorating each room, and our next big project will be to tackle the kitchen! We just welcomed our 4th baby- bringing the count to 3 boys and 1 girl aged 9 years-4 weeks. Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.

Now, I have to be honest… I asked myself “is this a craft?” and then I asked my hubby Matt too… because while I like crafting with paper and glue, fabric and all that- I am more inclined to build things with wood. So, if this is not technically a craft- I am sorry! I should have gone with the faux fur pom pom tutorial 😉 Either way I hope this brings a little inspiration to you today. I wanted this wood terrarium to resemble a miniature greenhouse, and have a very rustic and handmade feel.

I finished it using chalk paint and antiquing wax. These antique brass hinges came from my stash, and while there is no need for the lid to open, it added an authentic touch.

I like to have things in my home that can serve multiple rooms, and be used throughout the seasons. This could easily be filled with winter greens, and then herbs in the spring. I am partial to succulents these days, and use them in all seasons. If you don’t grow them, you should!

To make this terrarium I used the following supplies:

• 4 8ft 11/16 square pine
• 1/2″ plywood for base and gables(a 2ftx2ft square would be plenty)
• decorative cove trim
• Wood Glue
• 1 inch brad nails
• Hinges + screws (optional)

Tools

• Nail Gun
• Skill Saw
• Chop Saw
• Drill
• 1″ drill bit

The finished dimensions of my terrarium are approximately 24″ long, by 12″ wide and 11.5″ tall. This is based on the scrap pieces I had. I won’t be supplying a cut list today, but I will show you the process of how I assembled this. It was pretty simple.

Step One: Make Side Panels

Create 2 equal rectangles for the sides. Assemble with wood glue and nails.

Add a centre piece to each frame. Do not attach them to the base yet.

Step 2: Attach Long Rails

Attach the bottom rail on both sides using wood glue and nails. Be sure to square everything up as you go. You will then attach the top rail, and the 2 centre pieces.

Once you have your frame assembled, glue and nail it to the base. It is now starting to take shape!

Step 3: Attach Gable Pieces

I cut 2 gable pieces out of scrap plywood, and drilled a one inch hole in each gable. I then glued and nailed them in place.

Step 4: Build Top Frames

For the top you will build 2 identical rectangles. One that will be stationary- and nailed into the gables, and one that will hinge. I also added a ridge cap to my terrarium, then attached the hinges.

Step 5: Attach Decorative Cove Trim

You can see in the photo above that I added trim along the base where the plywood meets up. I then finished the entire thing using white chalk paint. I used a small amount of antiquing wax to bring out the details including the dents and nail holes. This lends to the rustic look that I love. For tips on how to apply dark wax for an aged finish- I’ve got a full tutorial here.

For the arrangement in the wood terrarium I started with a layer of decorative moss, and two moss topiary balls in simple terracotta pots. I then placed pinecones, spider plants and succulents nestled in the moss, and finished it off with some oranges and large branches. I don’t plan to keep this as a permanent arrangement, but you could definitely modify things slightly to make this a more water tight planter. I can’t wait to play around with this wood terrarium in the future!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope there weren’t too many typos from this sleep deprived mama. And thank you so, so much to all of the lovely Canadian Bloggers who created such beautiful and inspiring Christmas crafts for us to all enjoy!  Be sure to pay them all a visit- you can find their links below.

Praying for peace for you and yours during what can be such a bustling and busy time for many. May you have time to quiet your heart, and focus on the true gift of the season.

-Miss Ash

Let’s connect: find me on facebook, instagram, youtube and pinterest.

From left to right, top to bottom:

AKA Design | Vinyet Etc. | The DIY Mommy | A Pretty Life

Sustain My Craft Habit | A Pretty Fix | Making it in the Mountains | The Learner Observer

BrooklynBerryDesigns | Country Parent | Craftberry Bush | Amidst the Chaos

northstory | Life is a Party | Pink Little Notebook | hodge:podge

This Mamas Dance | Rambling Renovators | Suburble | PMQ for two (not shown)

More Christmas Projects: