Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Gumball Terrarium

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 9

Once upon a time I found a treasure at Goodwill.  A red metal gumball machine (a reproduction, not a vintage one), and it liked me and needed to come home with me. 

Red Hen Home gumball machine

It came home and sat in my closet for a month or two, until I started redoing my son’s room with accents of red.  You may have seen it on his dresser, although nothing was in it!

Red Hen Home Handbuilt Bedroom Dresser 5

I don’t know how it happened, but one day inspiration struck!  I swear I heard a whisper on the wind…"I want to be a terrarium!”

When I was a little girl, my mother had a terrarium that was one of those big glass jars turned on it’s side and made to look like a pig.  I used to think it was so cool!  But a gumball machine…even cooler!

I started by taking everything apart.  At that point I was committed, because I couldn’t remember how to put it back together.

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 1

I raided my kitchen cupboards for something with which to make a waterproof bottom.  The likely candidates:

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 2

The whipped topping container won out!  I cut it down, drilled a hole in the middle, and squished it into the bottom of the gumball machine.

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 3

I used waterproof silicone sealer to seal the edges and the hole in the middle.

Next step was to fill it up!  I put a layer of small gravel on the bottom, followed by activated charcoal (apparently it inhibits mold growth and odor—both big pluses in my book).

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 4

Next came the dirt, and the plants!  I searched on the Internet for low-light terrarium plants, and then got some help at a greenhouse to find them.  My son’s room doesn’t get a lot of sun on the best days, and in Seattle, there aren’t that many bright days period

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 11

I could have spent a lot of money on cute little accessories for my my son’s terrarium.  I found all sorts of cute miniatures meant for fairy gardens that wanted to come home with me!

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 8

I limited myself to one small turtle on a rock.  My five-year-old thought he was real, and then she wanted a terrarium of her own!

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 10

I think his dresser looks much happier with a touch of green, don’t you?

Red Hen Home Gumball Terrarium 6

 

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Linking up here:

Domestically Speaking Elizabeth & Co.
Primitive & Proper Thrifty Décor Chick
Friday Remodelaholic The Scoop!
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special The DIY Show Off
Beyond the Picket Fence Coastal Charm
Knick of Time
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect No Minimalist Here
Common Ground My Repurposed Life
From My Front Porch to Yours
A Little Knick Knack

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, that is SO cute!

Homeroad said...

Korrie that is so adorable! I used to have one of those but I gave it too goodwill years ago... hmmmm, maybe I could get it back? LOL!
Susan

Cassie Bustamante said...

LOVE this! saw a gumball machine at a yard sale this weekend and kicking myself now!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

So cute and clever Korrie!

wisp said...

Such a creative idea! I think it's awesome. :) And the turtle is just the right touch. ;)

SImple and Serene Living said...

Great idea, Korrie. My daughters gave me a terrarium a few years ago, but I immediately killed the plants. Sigh!!!

Hetty said...

Really cute and creative! I am on the look out for a gumball machine.

Ali Richardson said...

SOOOOOOOO cool!!! Love this :)

Full Circle Creations said...

Love it!

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

What a creative idea! LOVE the little turtle in your gumball terrarium!

Diane said...

Cute, cute, cute! I love miniature gardens and this brilliant idea I may have to copy.

Audra @ Renewed Projects said...

this idea is so fun and awesome! I love it!

Rachel said...

That is darling! I can remember when I was in grade school and we brought big glass milk jars to school, went on a field trip, and made our own terrariums out of the local fauna. I still remember that field trip because I enjoyed it so much and loved having my own terrarium.

I need to build myself a greenhouse.......

My Repurposed Life said...

Korrie--how cute is your terrarium! super cute and clever repurpose!

thanks for linking up to ccc.

catching you!
gail

Pam said...

Love it....makes a great birdfeeder also. Nice job.

kellythom747 said...

this is fantastic especially since i have one ready to make- love it