moss terrarium for mum

I made this mini moss terrarium for my mum for her birthday.



I used a vintage moss green coloured brandy glass – green is mum’s
favourite colour. It’s stuffed with mosses, lichen and even a tiny
flowering plant – a Kenilworth Ivy or Ivy-leafed toadflax.



Cue gratuitous mini moss-scape close-ups..
To see the full beauty, click the photos to view them larger..









I love making these little miniature gardens, I cultivate mosses and lichens to grow in pots in my yard – moss and lichen are some of my favourite plants. I also love the Kenilworth Ivy plants, they grow all over the walls where we live.

I use collected beach glass as the drainage material in the bottom of a glass terrarium, carefully washed first. Then I add a layer of activated charcoal which is also used for aquarium filters. For these mini terrariums I don’t add a soil/compost layer, just a layer of re-hydrated dried sphagnum moss, which acts as a barrier to stop soil washing down to the cleansing charcoal layer. Then I add the mosses and lichen which have some soil trapped in their roots from my pots outside – they only need a little soil. They like indirect light and regular misting with a water spray.

tiered cake stands from vintage china and party food

I made these tiered cake stands for Cyan’s Alice in Wonderland birthday tea party from a collection of vintage china teacups, plates and saucers. Some pieces I already had, I bought a couple of lots on ebay and the rest were found in charity shops.

I was inspired by this one made by Anji (yes – the same name as me!) of multi-purpose wings, the first time I had seen this idea. I used my hot glue gun to stick them together so it should be possible to take them apart later, as per this very helpful tutorial from Sherry of Creations From My Heart. Actually I am so pleased with them, I don’t know if I want to take them apart now! Not sure what else to do with them though..?

Here they are in action..



Filled with sweet treats..



Cupcakes with toppers I designed..



Jammie dodgers, jam tarts (pastry by my Mum and baked by Karl), and mini jammie dodgers.. grapes and mini marshmallows on sticks in a sugar bowl..



More cupcakes, marshmallows and marshmallow mushrooms; and the two-tiered stands in-between held sandwiches and carrot and cucumber flowers..





We had mismatched vintage china teacups and saucers for the kids to drink out of – which they loved – and not a single thing got broken!



Tea was served (apple juice tea or orange juice tea!) in two little teapots from our play tea-sets..



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