Average But Inspired

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Knockoff West Elm Brass Base Terrarium

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Last weekend I got to go shopping by myself.

As a mother of small children, do you know how precious that time was?

I was actually able to browse around and go into stores with breakable merchandise.  It was so liberating and SO INSPIRING!!!

A direct result of that shopping trip was this project . . . my knockoff West Elm Brass Base Terrarium.

West Elm’s Brass Base Terrariums are beautiful.  They come in two sizes – small and large – and are priced at $29.50 (small) and $59 (large).  The interesting thing about the West Elm terrarium is that it looks like the bowl is almost tipped on its side, as opposed to being straight up (like mine).  West Elm also sells the succulents to go inside of the terrarium at $12.50 a pop.

I love the low-maintenance nature of succulents and I wanted one of these terrariums.  But I wasn’t about to lug one around the mall with me, nor was I about to pay $42 for a terrarium and one succulent.  So yeah, I decided to try making one myself.

West Elm’s terrarium definitely looks nicer.  But I think mine is okay, too.  And for just $7 all in (like, with the plants), I’ll take it.  And since my glass bowls aren’t tipped on their side, these can be used for taller plants as well.  Bonus!

Learn to make a DIY faux brass base terrarium. It's easy and makes for a chic and modern planter or terrarium.
 
The best part was that this really and truly was a snap to put together.

Faux Brass Base Terrarium Supplies

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Here are the materials I used to make these faux brass base terrariums:

How to Make a DIY Brass Base Terrarium

Here’s how I put this together:

STEP ONE

Determine the desired size of your wood base by placing your glass bowl on top and deciding how large you want the bottom square to be.  Measure and cut.  (Ignore all the junk in my garage.  We just finished a renovation and had to store a bunch of stuff in there.  It’s normally not this messy!)

Cut wood pieces from a 4x6 to create the bottom of the DIY brass base terrarium.

STEP TWO

Sand your wood block all over and then spray paint it.
 
Spray paint the wooden base of the DIY brass base terrarium.
 

STEP THREE

Once the paint has dried, coat it with a layer of bronze acrylic paint.  This will make the color look richer and your base piece look less like a piece of wood and more like a bronze block.  (The block on the left has acrylic paint on top whereas the block on the right does not.)
 
Topcoat the spray painted wood with bronze craft paint.
 
Check out this other blog post of mine to learn how to create an even more authentic faux brass finish with paint!

STEP FOUR

Once the paint has dried, apply the glue to the bottom of your glass bowl.  Affix to the wood and follow the package’s instructions for proper adhesion.  (NOTE:  the glue does not dry clear so be sure not to apply too much or it will squeeze out the bottom of the bowl and leave a visible glue ring around your bowl and base.)

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STEP FIVE

Once the glue is dry, add your plants and enjoy!

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To get a look closer to West Elm’s terrarium, I should have cut my base pieces smaller.  I’m just going to say that this was my creative spin on the project – ha!
 
– Bre

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deonna Wade says

    Hey Girl! It’s Deonna from the Child at Heart blog. I was just stopping by to say hello! I just went to a wedding this weekend that had something similar on the tables and it was SO pretty. I like how you get out there and do the cutting yourself 🙂 I am doing a great spring necklace giveaway and would love for you to come by and enter to win 🙂 Have a joyful week!
    http://www.thechildatheartblog.com/2014/04/spring-statement-necklaces-from.html

    Reply

  4. Andrea @ This Pug Life says

    Really lovely! I am totally loving the modern succulent displays people are putting together nowadays. Which is funny, because my grandma always had a huge bed of them growing up and I always thought they were so blah!

    Reply

    • Bre Eggert says

      Hi! I know! But then again, everything old is new again, right? The best thing about succulents is that they’re practically no-kill. That’s why I love them! 🙂 Have a good day!

  5. RaChil Luke says

    Wow! Yours is a practical steal! 12.99 for a succulent is six times the amount I want to pay for something I’m inevitably going to kill. These turned out gorgeous 🙂 I am off to explore the rest of your blog!

    Reply

    • Bre Eggert says

      Hahahaha, I know! I seriously couldn’t believe they were selling them for that much. So ridiculous! Thanks for stopping by and for your nice comment. 🙂

    • Bre Eggert says

      Hi and thank you! Yes, I know – it’s almost insulting what they charge, right?! Especially for the succulents themselves. COME ON! 🙂

  8. Meg Sluyter says

    Hi Bre! Stopping by from Show Stopper Saturday. I love your terrariums, they look great! I am so in love with metallic spray paint (copper, bronze, gold, silver, chrome, they are all so fun) right now and any project I can do that uses it makes me super happy, especially one that looks so easy and beautiful. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply

  9. Suzan Sweatman says

    Your terrariums are gorgeous – LOVE them !!!
    I wouldn’t touch a power tool with a 10 foot ( power ) saw LMHO – when the compressor machine goes off I almost have a heart attack !
    Happy weekend
    Visiting from the Shabby Nest
    Hugs,
    Suzan

    Reply

    • Bre Eggert says

      Hi Suzan! Thank you so much! And what can I say, I’m a total bada**. HAHAHA yeah right! I hate it that my husband won’t cut this stuff for me. I cringed the entire time I was cutting these. 🙂 I’m really glad my fingers are still in tact. Have a great weekend!

  10. Wangu says

    Bre your terrariums turned out great! I love them.
    I love that feeling when you do something yourself and save a bunch of coins any you´re standing there so happy feeling like a ninja. It´s great

    Reply

    • Bre Eggert says

      Hi Ronda! HAHAHAHA, I’m glad you find that impressive. I definitely am impressed that I haven’t cut off my hand yet. My husband refuses to do anymore of my little projects, so he’s making me learn how to do all that stuff myself. And then I make him take my picture for proof. Ha! Thanks for your sweet comment!

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