I may be giving myself too much credit.
My head may be getting a bit too big.
But….
I’m giving succulents a try again.
With the success (meaning I’ve had it for more than a month and haven’t killed it yet) of the fiddle leaf fig and the banana tree, I’m thinking, hoping, praying that I can keep these succulents alive.
In the past year, I’ve successfully killed two succulents.
Yes, I’m well aware I’m the only person on the planet who can’t keep them alive.
I decided that maybe if I gave this new succulent a cozy, happy, pretty home it would want to live longer, so I made it a succulent book planter.
What better place for a succulent to live than in between the pages of a book?
Heck, what better place for anyone to live than in between the pages of a book?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
DIY Succulent Book Planter
Before I tell you how to make this little project, let me answer your question that I know you are asking, “Aren’t the pages going to get moldy and mildewy from the plant’s moisture?”
Why no, they are not. We are going to seal the pages.
Materials Needed:
- Small Potted Succulent
- Plastic tray to go around base of the succulent pot
- Books that you don’t care to cut
- Dremel Micro 8050
- Pencil
- Mod Podge
- Paint Brush
Steps
Step 1
Determine the order you want to stack your books in. Take the book that will be on top and lay the plastic tray in the center of it and trace around it.
Step 2
Put the cutting disc on the Dremel Micro 8050, and begin cutting through the cover of the book. I put the Dremel on the highest speed to do all my cutting. The Micro 8050 is pretty cool because it can cut, carve, engrave, sand, grind, sharpen, clean and polish—helping you bring just about any brilliant project to life. It’s also cordless – which means no worrying about accidentally cutting through cords – not that I’ve ever done that before or anything…
Step 3
Once you get through the front cover of the book, open it up and continue cutting through the pages.
Step 4
Once you get all the way through your book, your circle may be a bit smaller on the back than the front. Flip the book over to the back and cut the circle as needed. You can go up and down with the Dremel to get a good even cut. It is very light and easy to handle in tight spaces, the Dremel® Micro™8050 is packed with features that have crafters, hobbyists and DIYers in mind: soft grip, LED front-end lighting to illuminate projects, a docking station that continually charges, and an 8V Max Lithium-ion battery.
Step 5
After your top book has its circle cut out, place your succulent pot in the book to make sure it will fit properly. If it doesn’t cut more as needed. If its good to go, move on to cutting the second book. Do this by placing the book you have already cut on top of the book you are about to cut. Use a pencil and trace inside the circle onto the book to be cut.
Step 6
Remove the top book and place the plastic tray around the traced circle. Trace around the plastic tray – it may be slightly bigger and you want that measurement, not the smaller one.
Step 7
Begin cutting out the hole in the second book as you did with the first book.
Step 8
If your pot was the same size as mine, you may not need to go all the way through the back cover on the second book, test the pot in the book as you go to determine how much more you need to cut. If your pot is narrower at the base, as most are, it will be ok if the hole in the second book is a bit angled as you see above. Just test the pot to see if it fits.
Step 9
After all the cutting is done, clean off the books and shake out any pieces of cut paper. To seal the books and keep mildew and mold from forming, you need to apply Mod Podge to the cut edges of the books. I started at the back cover and worked my way through the book. You don’t have to go through every single page, do small sections of pages at a time and you can put it on heavy.
Step 10
On the inside covers of the books, apply Mod Podge all over the cover and pages to keep the book shut.
Step 11
If you want to, you can seal the outer edges of the book with Mod Podge as well.
Step 12
To hold the books together, apply Mod Podge to the covers of the books and place them in the order you want them stacked. Also, be sure to give the top book cover a really good coat of Mod Podge.
Step 13
After the Mod Podge has dried, place your plastic tray in the books and then your potted succulent plant.
Isn’t this a fun twist on a planter?
The Dremel made the process of cutting out the pages go so fast and even I was able to cut out a decent circle.
I’m even liking it more than I expected.
You can purchase the Dremel Micro 8050 online at Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com.
Want more great planter ideas?
DIY Cedar Planter Box – a great DIY project that will add some curb appeal to your home!
Modern Painted Planter Pots – take basic planters and snaz them up with spray paint!
10+ Creative Flower Pot Ideas – full of so many out-of-the-box ideas!
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
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