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Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds
A terrarium is nothing less than a miniature world—one that you can create yourself. It might be a tiny rainforest, with lush foliage and bright tropical flowers. Or a desert, with strange succulents planted among colorful stones. Or a Victorian fernery. Or a minimalist composition with a single, perfect plant. Or it might not contain any plants at all. It might be made with crystals, feathers, bones, seashells, bits of wood, porcelain trinkets—anything that catches your fancy and helps create a mood or look. Whatever they contain, terrariums are the ultimate in modern, affordable, easy-care décor. Terrarium Craft features fifty original designs that you can re-create or use as inspiration for your own design. Each entry comes with clear step-by-step directions on how to assemble and care for your terrarium. You’ll also find helpful information about selecting a container, using appropriate materials, choosing the right plants, and maintaining your terrarium. ( It’s easy! In fact, many terrariums are self-sustaining, requiring no maintenance whatsoever!)
196 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 27, 2011
I am a big, big fan of terrariums, as evidenced by the half dozen of them sprinkled around my house. And, small aside, I appear to have inadvertently passed this onto my stepson, who has been caught stealing pearlite from my stash in recent weeks and begging to go to antique stores for interesting glassware. whoops! Generally I prefer the 1970s "A World Under Glass" sort of terrarium books. If you've been my GR friend for long, you have read my rants at other terrarium books. So it was almost pointless for me to even pick this book up, but I did anyway, damn you blogosphere marketing blitz.
At first glance, I thought this book was kind of a novelty one-trick pony, in the vein of many of the other terrarium books I despise. However, upon more careful examination, I decided that it is actually useful and interesting. The list of resources is helpful for anyone who struggles to source some of the more interesting pieces of glassware & plant species for their terrariums. The designs are mostly not my taste, exactly, but the instructions on how to build and care for each type of terrarium is pretty helpful and clear. For the clear instructions & interesting resource list, I give this three stars. "I Liked It." Yes, I did.
The book is broken into practical matters, and then each type of terrarium style: forest, beach, desert, fantasy, with each small world recalling elements from these inspiration sources. I'm going to go super dep-lez confessional and admit that the terrariums with crystals and various rough-hewn gems were my favorites. My heart is on the plaid sleeve of my favorite wolf-howling-at-the-moon tshirt, here. It's just SO MYSTICAL.
Also, apparently the authors own a terrarium store in Portland, where you can source bits & bobbles of necessarily terrarium equipment (of course). When I told my recently terrarium-obsessed stepson about this store, he was dismissive, "Well, that takes all the fun out of it, doesn't it? If you can buy everything in one place?" He likes the hunting and searching for just the right pieces and bits, just like me.
At first glance, I thought this book was kind of a novelty one-trick pony, in the vein of many of the other terrarium books I despise. However, upon more careful examination, I decided that it is actually useful and interesting. The list of resources is helpful for anyone who struggles to source some of the more interesting pieces of glassware & plant species for their terrariums. The designs are mostly not my taste, exactly, but the instructions on how to build and care for each type of terrarium is pretty helpful and clear. For the clear instructions & interesting resource list, I give this three stars. "I Liked It." Yes, I did.
The book is broken into practical matters, and then each type of terrarium style: forest, beach, desert, fantasy, with each small world recalling elements from these inspiration sources. I'm going to go super dep-lez confessional and admit that the terrariums with crystals and various rough-hewn gems were my favorites. My heart is on the plaid sleeve of my favorite wolf-howling-at-the-moon tshirt, here. It's just SO MYSTICAL.
Also, apparently the authors own a terrarium store in Portland, where you can source bits & bobbles of necessarily terrarium equipment (of course). When I told my recently terrarium-obsessed stepson about this store, he was dismissive, "Well, that takes all the fun out of it, doesn't it? If you can buy everything in one place?" He likes the hunting and searching for just the right pieces and bits, just like me.
Read
March 9, 202250 terrarium how-to guides grouped according to forest, desert, fantasy terrariums. so calming to read-- and possibly try
March 23, 2025
Нищо особено интересно или практично за терариумното хоби - книгата залага на хубави снимки (хубави като качество на фотографията, не на самите терариуми).
August 10, 2019
Meh 2.5 stars
June 19, 2018
Simple and straightforward directions on how to make terrariums. Clear explanations of materials used and how to improvise. Beautiful photography.
December 22, 2011
First of all, I have no idea why the description of this book says that it is in Korean. It is not. It is in English.
I have always loved terrariums from the time I was a little girl and we made them in school. These are definitely NOT like those school terrariums. This is much more upscale and artistic. This book marries art/crafting with nature to create decorations you will be proud to display in your home or give as gifts. Sources for the things you will need are given so you are not left floundering around wondering where to get things called for in each design. Each project is easy to do. Each project is pure magic.
If you love surrounding yourself with beautiful things and giving beautiful gifts, you will love this book.
I have always loved terrariums from the time I was a little girl and we made them in school. These are definitely NOT like those school terrariums. This is much more upscale and artistic. This book marries art/crafting with nature to create decorations you will be proud to display in your home or give as gifts. Sources for the things you will need are given so you are not left floundering around wondering where to get things called for in each design. Each project is easy to do. Each project is pure magic.
If you love surrounding yourself with beautiful things and giving beautiful gifts, you will love this book.
August 31, 2016
Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds by Amy Bryant Aiello is a great book to read over and over again for creative beautiful ideas. Terrariums are little or big containers filled with trinkets, plants, grains (sand, dirt), even shells. This book doesn't have any characters except if you count the terrariums. The book has many designs and ways to create your own little terrarium, or jar filled with stuff that you want. Anyway, Terrarium Craft is a great book to have. I recommend this to everyone.
July 10, 2011
Oh, oh, oh...!
I want to hug this book. Page 67, page 72, page 169...
The forest terrariums are by far my favorites, but the fantasy ones are magical as well. Love how each terrarium is presented with a recipe.
Most certainly the best DIY guide I've seen for terrariums, but I still wish someone like the Franklin Park Conservatory would buy all of the supplies & offer a class to take some of the guesswork out of the process. (Hint, hint, hint.)
I want to hug this book. Page 67, page 72, page 169...
The forest terrariums are by far my favorites, but the fantasy ones are magical as well. Love how each terrarium is presented with a recipe.
Most certainly the best DIY guide I've seen for terrariums, but I still wish someone like the Franklin Park Conservatory would buy all of the supplies & offer a class to take some of the guesswork out of the process. (Hint, hint, hint.)
May 13, 2012
If you want to build a pleasing terrarium that will probably die, go for this book. This book loves using succulents like cacti to build terrariums. Given that terrariums are high in humidity, cacti might die in this environment.
August 12, 2018
In terms of Terrarium books, I would say this one is great for the slightly more experienced terrarium lover looking more for inspiration than terrarium basics. This book is perfect for sparking a little terrarium magic. If you need a book to better understand terrariums and how they operate as a whole I recommend Terrariums - Gardens Under Glass: Designing, Creating, and Planting Modern Indoor Gardens. This book is a super quick read with lovely images and writing.
April 1, 2018
Beautiful photography and a great source of inspiration but so many of the terrariums featured seem impractical as living, thriving environments. I'm certain the high humidity that will inevitably develop in many of these pieces will cause their perfectly placed elements to slip and slide into chaos, like nature often does.
February 27, 2023
This is a cute terrarium book!
This is a nice little guide to making terrariums. There's how-tos on various terrarium setups with different themes and glassware throughout. There's instructions on what goes in each terrarium and how to assemble them. Some of the information is high level, but would help people new to choosing and assembling terrariums.
This is a nice little guide to making terrariums. There's how-tos on various terrarium setups with different themes and glassware throughout. There's instructions on what goes in each terrarium and how to assemble them. Some of the information is high level, but would help people new to choosing and assembling terrariums.
August 11, 2017
Nice book to help you make your own terrarium
December 10, 2018
There are a lot of gorgeous and very different terrarium gardens in this book
February 8, 2019
Really fun, inspiring hobby book. The instructions are well=written and illustrated and the terrarium designs are gorgeous. I can't wait to try my hand at some of these ideas.
February 18, 2019
Lovely photos and good ideas. I found this book in a little free library and will return it there for the next person to enjoy.
October 1, 2020
It good
February 15, 2021
One of the supplies listed for one of their crafts is “coyote teeth (found)”. Just one example of the many looney supplies listed to make the ridiculous (and hideous) crafts in this book.
September 2, 2022
Fun terrarium ideas
November 11, 2023
Enjoyable read. 👍
September 7, 2012
Full review and giveaway (ends 9/15/2012) at http://rnslnitelite.blogspot.com/2012...
- - -
I confess: after downloading the review copy on Netgalley, I placed an order for my own copy straight away. Amy Bryant Aiello owns Artemisia, a store that sells terrarium supplies as well as teaches workshops on how to put them together. Kate Bryant is an author and contributes articles about plants and gardening to publications like Portland Monthly. Together they have created a great beginner's book that includes great inspirations for designs that appeal to a modern aesthetic. It also includes resources and suggestions for finding containers and materials to make your own tiny green wonderlands.
As someone who has tried and failed to keep even the simplest, pre-grown bonsai alive, I have to say terrariums are slightly less intimidating. There's something so accessible about the instructions in this book (though I haven't yet read another upcoming release, Keshiki Bonsai, which might do the same for those tiny trees I dread) that makes me feel like I could try one without disastrous results.
While the trend is turning up everywhere from newspapers to hipster DIY forums, it's easy for erstwhile newbies to turn a simple project into an expensive eyesore, especially when it involves living things. I highly recommend that if you get this book, you attempt to follow at least a couple of the projects to the letter rather than just getting all creative from the get-go. The book contains great advice to get the chemistry and biology of your terrarium right so you don't end up with goopy plants or worse, like gnats or mold. Ugh!
This book has gorgeous photos and great information. My only criticism would be that some of the spreads don't quite make sense, but it's only two out of fifty that give me this impression, so I still give the book 4 stars out of 5.
- - -
I confess: after downloading the review copy on Netgalley, I placed an order for my own copy straight away. Amy Bryant Aiello owns Artemisia, a store that sells terrarium supplies as well as teaches workshops on how to put them together. Kate Bryant is an author and contributes articles about plants and gardening to publications like Portland Monthly. Together they have created a great beginner's book that includes great inspirations for designs that appeal to a modern aesthetic. It also includes resources and suggestions for finding containers and materials to make your own tiny green wonderlands.
As someone who has tried and failed to keep even the simplest, pre-grown bonsai alive, I have to say terrariums are slightly less intimidating. There's something so accessible about the instructions in this book (though I haven't yet read another upcoming release, Keshiki Bonsai, which might do the same for those tiny trees I dread) that makes me feel like I could try one without disastrous results.
While the trend is turning up everywhere from newspapers to hipster DIY forums, it's easy for erstwhile newbies to turn a simple project into an expensive eyesore, especially when it involves living things. I highly recommend that if you get this book, you attempt to follow at least a couple of the projects to the letter rather than just getting all creative from the get-go. The book contains great advice to get the chemistry and biology of your terrarium right so you don't end up with goopy plants or worse, like gnats or mold. Ugh!
This book has gorgeous photos and great information. My only criticism would be that some of the spreads don't quite make sense, but it's only two out of fifty that give me this impression, so I still give the book 4 stars out of 5.
October 23, 2011
My love for terrariums goes back to the 1970s when those large, spaceship-style plastic orbs were so popular. Terrarium Craft by Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant is a wonderful book that has inspired me to bring some updated terrariums back into my home.
What I liked most about the book is that that the authors’ creations are from found materials. Instead of expensive Wardian cases, this book shows how to create beautiful scenes from a variety of glass objects you may have around the house or something you will be able to pick up at a thrift store.
The authors provide good instructions for choosing containers and the proper planting materials to provide for a healthy environment for added plants. There are many pages of inspiration for natural and unique materials to add beauty and charm to the desired scene. Plants and mosses are also explained. There are full-page sized photographs of most of the designs.
I especially appreciate the photographs that show step-by-step how to assemble the terrarium. There are 50 terrarium projects with a list of contents and instructions for assembly. They are divided into four groups based on inspiration – Forest, Beach, Desert, and Fantasy. If you are not a plant person, some of these are so pretty that you don’t need to add plants! Just in case you don’t have time to hunt and gather supplies, there is a list of resources to purchase a variety of plants, mosses, and décor.
This is a wonderful book for inspiration and instructions for creating terrariums. It would also make a nice gift book.
What I liked most about the book is that that the authors’ creations are from found materials. Instead of expensive Wardian cases, this book shows how to create beautiful scenes from a variety of glass objects you may have around the house or something you will be able to pick up at a thrift store.
The authors provide good instructions for choosing containers and the proper planting materials to provide for a healthy environment for added plants. There are many pages of inspiration for natural and unique materials to add beauty and charm to the desired scene. Plants and mosses are also explained. There are full-page sized photographs of most of the designs.
I especially appreciate the photographs that show step-by-step how to assemble the terrarium. There are 50 terrarium projects with a list of contents and instructions for assembly. They are divided into four groups based on inspiration – Forest, Beach, Desert, and Fantasy. If you are not a plant person, some of these are so pretty that you don’t need to add plants! Just in case you don’t have time to hunt and gather supplies, there is a list of resources to purchase a variety of plants, mosses, and décor.
This is a wonderful book for inspiration and instructions for creating terrariums. It would also make a nice gift book.
March 19, 2012
Terrarium Craft is a colorful feast for the eyes. The photographer’s attention to detail reveals the highlights of each small terrarium. At 9 x 8” it falls short of the customary size of a coffee table book, but it would serve well there nonetheless. Terrarium Craft’s intended purpose is for crafters. Each terrarium is shown on a full page. The facing page lists the necessary supplies, directions and care instructions. The author also includes a brief paragraph where she shares the thoughts that went into the design of each piece.
As a crafter, had I been provided with all of the necessary supplies I would have enjoyed making my own interpretation of the terrariums that interested me. I did attempt to find supplies that could substitute for those in the book but was somewhat unsuccessful. To the author’s credit she did note that there are specialty terrarium shops and provided contact information for twenty of them.
Had Terrarium Craft been marketed with the added angle of a book for display, the star rating would have been higher because in those respects the book shines. However, the book’s intended purpose has to be taken into consideration.
NOTE: I requested and received a copy of this title via NetGalley.com but made no commitment to review it.
3 of 5 stars.
As a crafter, had I been provided with all of the necessary supplies I would have enjoyed making my own interpretation of the terrariums that interested me. I did attempt to find supplies that could substitute for those in the book but was somewhat unsuccessful. To the author’s credit she did note that there are specialty terrarium shops and provided contact information for twenty of them.
Had Terrarium Craft been marketed with the added angle of a book for display, the star rating would have been higher because in those respects the book shines. However, the book’s intended purpose has to be taken into consideration.
NOTE: I requested and received a copy of this title via NetGalley.com but made no commitment to review it.
3 of 5 stars.
October 31, 2011
I have also wanted to know more about creating a terrarium but was not able to find more information on various terrariums which one could create.
This book contains a very detailed introductions of all the materials required for making a terrarium.
There are many featured terrariums photos in this book that would interested many terrarium fanatics. As the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words
For each making of terrariums of different designs, the authors have listed out the materials and detailed instructions for constructing the desired terrarium.
I believe plant lovers will find this book enjoyable, like I do.
ARC courtesy of Timber Press via NetGalley
This book contains a very detailed introductions of all the materials required for making a terrarium.
There are many featured terrariums photos in this book that would interested many terrarium fanatics. As the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words
For each making of terrariums of different designs, the authors have listed out the materials and detailed instructions for constructing the desired terrarium.
I believe plant lovers will find this book enjoyable, like I do.
ARC courtesy of Timber Press via NetGalley
January 11, 2012
Not only is this book lovely to look at, but it also gives a lot of useful advice. Of particular interest are the descriptions of care and treatment of various types of terrarium-worthy plants and the descriptions of soil mixes. This book will be useful to those who want to try out a terrarium as well as those who want to learn a little bit more about exotic houseplants. I certainly saw a few I've never seen before! I think this will be a good source of inspiration whether the reader attempts to follow one of the terrarium patterns or simply uses the quite helpful plant and care information to try their own thing.
May 3, 2012
My daughter is a crafter and she loves making arrangements of various things so this book jumped out at me when it appeared in my Recommendations. I requested it and was not disappointed. My daughter (who is 8) has gone through this book several times and made lists of all the things she wanted to use. We didn't recreate any terrariums from this book but it certainly inspired us. In the past week she has made at least a dozen terrariums, all with glass items from around the house or from Goodwill. She's used everything from shells and hemp rope to raw sugar and plastic rings (many of ours are temporary terrariums) and has had so much fun.
October 12, 2012
Terrarium Craft is a must read if you are considering making your own terrarium. Even if you weren't thinking about making one, you will be inspired by all the beautiful creations in this book. This book takes you through selection of a container and supplies needed and then proceeds to show forest, beach, desert, fantasy terrariums and how to make them. I would recommend this book for purchase for libraries since terrariums becoming more popular.
October 9, 2011
I love plants and green growing things, but I'm not really one for going out and digging in the dirt. I have a few growing things indoors, (mostly what my cat has deemed inedible). But this book has some fairly clean, and cat proof looking ideas. The pictures are wonderful, the instructions easy and concise. If nothing else you should be inspired to put things in pots.
December 6, 2011
what a wonderful, magical book. i've never even thought of doing a terrarium before, beyond my beta fish bowl anyway. i loved the pictures (again, my nook is only b/w so i'm sure they're even more beautiful than i saw). the whimsical, far-out, spacy and amazing little worlds are really worth a look. a beautiful gift idea for a crafty chica.
January 28, 2014
Plot: B
Writing: B
Vocabulary: B
Level: Easy
Rating: G
Worldview: Find beauty in nature and express creativity with various objects
This is a very helpful primer on how to create a miniature terrarium. Content includes common materials, plant care, and models for forest, beach, desert, and fantasy terrarium themes. I highly recommend this book to gardeners, interior decorators, and kids.
Writing: B
Vocabulary: B
Level: Easy
Rating: G
Worldview: Find beauty in nature and express creativity with various objects
This is a very helpful primer on how to create a miniature terrarium. Content includes common materials, plant care, and models for forest, beach, desert, and fantasy terrarium themes. I highly recommend this book to gardeners, interior decorators, and kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews