A couple weeks ago I told you about planting grass seed indoors… Well, that seed has bountifully sprouted and growing happily on our dining room table, so today is going to be the day to show you the DIY garden inspired centerpiece put together with that planter full of thriving grass.
Back in January, this huge basket tray purchased from HomeGoods was used for the base of the ‘Romantic Centerpiece‘, I like it so much, that it is going to be the base for this garden inspired centerpiece for Spring and Easter too.
It’s kind of funny, I always start out a project thinking, this time I’m going to be nice and neat and tidy… but alas, that thought gets quickly foiled, and this time was no different. You can see the randomly splayed out spring decorating items surrounding the basket tray… Some were for the ‘DIY HOPE sign‘ and some I used to add ‘Spring to the porch‘ and some were for this project. I actually did all those projects on the same day, so thankfully this time the mess didn’t last for too long.
Back to the garden inspired centerpiece.
Knowing that moss was going to line the bottom floor of the basket tray, and that it would easily fall through the open weave of the basket, I lined the bottom with a large black garbage bag.
The planter I made a few years ago just happened to fit perfectly in this huge tray, but if you wanted to make something similar, you could always replace this style planter with something different that fits in your tray.
Once the planter was placed, then I lined the entire bottom of the tray with sheet moss. If you’re not familiar with sheet moss, it is all natural dried moss and you can get in the floral department in plastic bags. And like the name says, it grows in sheets, so you can carefully spread the dried sheet of moss out somewhat and lay it flat. You can see how dirty and dusty the table is just from this process. If the basket tray was left unlined, there would be piles of this material under it every time it was moved, so the lining process is kind of important.
About a week or so after the grass seed was sewn, it sprouted! It is growing so fast! There is something about this fresh spring green grass that just pulls you in to touch it. Both my granddaughters exclaimed oohs and ahhs when they 1st spotted the sprouting grass and love to lightly brush the palms of their hands across the tops of the soft grass. It’s almost therapeutic.
On top of the moss base, I’ve added moss balls, this cute pottery rabbit, a bird and nest, a miniature wire fence, and a few flowering primrose for color. It looks like a miniature garden around the planter.
I found some linens, actually fabric napkins, at World Market and added layers of those pretty patterned napkins under the basket.
I need to explain the cute little yellow bows on the handles of the basket tray… My littlest granddaughter was here one morning and I was doing her hair. I cut a ribbon to tie around her pony tail, but the first piece of ribbon I had cut was too short so I just set that scrap on the table, cutting another longer piece of ribbon off the spool. When I was done with her hair, she saw the ribbon scrap sitting on the table and asked me to cut another one for her just like it, then she meticulously proceeded to tie a bow onto each handle. It took her a very long time as she carefully held the little loops of the slippery ribbon with her little chubby fingers. She was so proud of her achievement and loved that she ‘helped’ me decorate the centerpiece. Even though I wasn’t planning to have bows on the metal handles, there was no way I was going to remove her beautiful little bows… so there they are!
We are really enjoying this garden inspired centerpiece in our dining room, it’s perfect for Spring and for the Easter table, and so fun to watch the grass grow!
Boy, I must live a dull life, when I actually state that it is fun to ‘watch grass grow’ but it is what it is! Or like the famed Popeye says…. “I yam what I yam” 😉
Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by.
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Want to read more?
Click here to see other centerpieces I’ve written about.
Click here to see more Spring and Easter decorating and indoor gardening ideas I’ve had.
Here are some shopping links for you if you would like to create a similar project:
Fabric Napkins from World Market
Miniature Garden Decor at Wayfair
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Chloe Crabtree says
This is so beautiful! I love it! This is absolutely perfect for Spring or Easter! I have always wanted to try one of these centerpieces with real grass. I would love it if you would come by and share this at Celebrate Your Story! The story of how you started blogging after closing your business was fascinating, too. The Link Party opens at 8:00 PM on Saturdays! I hope you can join us!
Liz says
Thank you so much Chloe. I will for sure try to stop by.
Pondside says
What a sweet idea! I can imagine the little ones here enjoying the sprouting grass too. The little yellow bows – well they are a adorable for all the right reasons!
Valerie Roberts says
I love it. This is one of the best centerpieces I have seen! You can use this so many ways after using for a centerpiece. Love the planter you made as well.
LIz says
Thank you so much Valerie, how sweet of you. Thanks for stopping by…
Donnamae says
Looks great…and those little yellow bows made with little chubby fingers…perfection! 😉
LIz says
I know, they are so precious.