DIY: Glass Garden Totems and Art Towers

Milk Glass Tower by Marie Mims Butler

My garden writer friend, Marie Mims Butler, shared this sparkling craft on her Facebook page recently and it reminded me that I have been meaning to make a Glass Garden Totem with the vintage glass vases I have been collecting. Pictured here are a few of the art glass towers that Marie created.

This an easy craft. However, this is a not a child-friendly project, except for under very close supervision.

Clear Glass Tower by Marie Mims Butler

Materials:

- clear silicone caulk

- various glass pieces

- glass gems (optional)

Amber Glass Tower by Marie Mims Butler

Instructions:

• Select your glass pieces. They can be from your own collection or from vintage shops and garage sales. Ask friends and family if they have any old pieces laying around and collecting dust.
• Stack your pieces. Some pieces of glass are not smooth and you want them to fit snugly against each other, so test them out first to make sure they have full contact. Use glass plates and saucers as a platform between two tall pieces (like a vase or candle holder) that don't match up perfectly.
• Take photos with a digital camera or your smart phone and try out a few different options before you settle on the one you like best.
• Wash and dry the pieces and try not touch the surfaces again that you will place the adhesive on, so you don't get oils from your fingers on them.
• Join two pieces at a time together and set each grouping aside to dry according to the directions on your caulk adhesive. Then join those sections together and again wait for the proscribed drying time.
• Place your finished totem in the garden in a level spot. Enjoy!

Glass Tower by Marie Mims Butler

TIPS:

• You can use the caulk adhesive to attach more glass gems to decorate the glassware more, if desired.
• The glass surfaces can fill with water, so add mosquito bits or check it regularly and tip out any standing water.
• If you want the top level to be a bird bath, make sure the water level is shallow (1-inch in depth) and clean it at least weekly with a 10% bleach solution.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a few pennies from Amazon.

This is a monthly blog series on DIY projects for the beginning home gardener. Look for the other installments in this DIY blog series by putting "DIY" in the search box here at washingtongardener.blogspot.com. 

DIY: Garden in a Glass

Guest blog by Daisy-Nelly Nji
 
If you are someone who’s always been interested in gardening but never had the space for it, this DIY project is for you. By building your own terrarium, you too can grow luscious plants in your office or home. The best part is you don’t need very many materials to start your garden and maintaining it is a breeze. Below are some simple instructions on how to get this garden for yourself.

Materials:

1 Clear Glass or Plastic Container

Pebbles

Potting Soil

Moss

Cacti/Succulents

Step 1: Place about an inch of pebbles at the bottom of the container

Step 2:  Add a light layer of moss on top of the pebbles (this will help keep the soil from settling into the pebbles)

Step 3: Add about 2-3 inches of potting soil on the top of the moss

Step 4: Remove the Cactus/Succulent from its container and plant it in the soil (depending on how big your container is you can plant and arrange numerous cacti as desired)

Step 5: Place the Succulent in direct sunlight and lightly water the base of the plant every two weeks as you notice that the soil dries out

Tip: Change the size of the container every year or so, in order to accommodate your plants growth. 

About the Author

Daisy-Nelly Nji is a senior journalism student at the University of Maryland. She is a multi-platform journalism major in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. This spring, she is an editorial intern at Washington Gardener Magazine.

This is a monthly guest blog series on DIY projects for the beginning home gardener. Look for the other installments in this DIY blog series by putting "DIY" in the search box here at washingtongardener.blogspot.com.