Here is a fun little project submitted by a web visitor (Lynda) and my thanks go to her for sending in the great pics and project idea!

It is a little tiny living terrarium inside a charm bottle. This thing is really cute and it can be hung on a chain and worn as a necklace. And it is really small. You can see it compared to a penny.

She gives us some tips on how to make it and at the bottom of this page I have links if you want to buy some of these charm bottle kits. They cost about a dolar each. You can buy ten of them for about ten dollars.

Here is what Lynda has to say about making it:

I crushed up 2 small pieces of activated charcoal for the very bottom and added a pinch of potting soil to anchor the tiny moss.

I actually used a small sewing pin, the type with the ball heads to tamp the soil down. I also used a stitch ripper to slide the moss in the bottle. Then I bent the tip of the pin slightly and wrapped a tiny piece of paper towel around it to clean off the inside of the glass.

I added 2-3 drops of water and corked it.

Since I just made it this morning I need to keep an eye on it to see when it will need more moisture. I haven't pushed the cork down too tightly yet either, which I will have to do to wear it. I plan on using 20 inch length of 1/4" ribbon, no clasp, just a knot.

The bottles came as a necklace kit which included the corks and the small screw eyes for $9.99 from ecrafty on amazon.com. I would like to add some tiny stone chips maybe as well if it doesn't take up too much room. I also sculpt felt and I was thinking I could make a tiny 'feltarium' for those who don't want a live plant. I sell my crafts at a small store in Bridgton , Maine and I may just offer these if they work out.

Here is a picture of the moss she collected for this project.
(Send me an email if you recognize this kind of moss)

RESOURCES, Charm bottles and more

10 Miniature Glass Bottle Charms KIT w Cork Tops & Eye Screws 3/4 inch 18mm Weddings Jewelry Altered Art Message in a Bottle

10 pack of mini glass bottles + 10 eye screws for inserting into cork tops for charm making. 18mm or 3/4" tall, 1" tall with cork. Bottle Diameter: 13 mm. Bottle Diameter(Inside): 6 mm. Bottle Capacity: .5 ml. Clear glass mini treasure bottles with cork stoppers for interchangeable pendant art, message in a bottle charms, keepsake charms, momentos, altered art, travel treasures, more!

MINIATURE GLASS BOTTLE with STOPPER and LOOPS - spice apothecary

Can be filled with sand, beads, glitter, herbs, etc. Bottles are 7/8" tall not including stopper. Ideal for amulets, treasures, dioramas and miniature projects

Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds

Easy to make and a wonder to behold, jewel-like terrariums are winning over a new generation of crafters and gardeners. From the simplest of combinations, like a single bromeliad paired with tiny fragments of driftwood in a miniature globe, to incredibly intricate worlds of stones and bones, feathers and ferns, terrariums today marry gardening, fine-art, science, and a touch of modern whimsy, and they are the latest craze in crafting and indoor gardening.

Terrarium Craft is the first step-by-step project book for this new audience. Authors and nursery owners Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant offer up everything a beginning terrarium crafter needs to get started, from advice about tools and materials, information about plant choices and simple maintenance tips. 50 unique projects offer fantastical inspiration alongside easy-to-follow instructions and ingredients lists. From the nature-inspired combination of blue-tinted echevaria and a milky-white shell to the darkly beautiful pairing of pyrite, black moss, and begonias, there's a terrarium for every taste and style.

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