Autumn is the favorite season for many people, and it's no wonder with the changing of the leaves and homey accoutrements. There's just something about a fall scene that makes you feel all happy inside. But you know what's even more delightful than an autumn diorama? A miniature one. It's so fun to create the tiny fall elements in this autumn-themed terrarium. It even has room inside for a few live tillandsia air plants for some low-maintenance greenery. And good news — no raking required.

autumn terrarium

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Things You’ll Need

  • Glass globe terrarium

  • Cardboard

  • Scissors

  • Craft glue

  • Raffia ribbon

  • Air dry modeling clay

  • Twigs

  • Artificial fall leaves

  • Hot glue

  • Tillandsia air plants

  • Sand

materials

Step 1: Choose a Container

There are many types of containers for terrariums. You can use jars, vases or hanging clear glass spheres. These spheres are ideal because they have a large opening in the front that makes arranging the elements inside much easier. There are also two additional holes on the top to give your air plants more ventilation. I chose a sphere with a height of about 4 1/2 inches.

container

Step 2: Make the Bales of Hay

Bales of hay give this autumn scene a down home feel, and making them is a breeze. Start by cutting some pieces of cardboard that are about 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch in size. Depending on the size of your container, you'll need between 6 to 8 of them.

cut cardboard

Stack the pieces together with a dab of glue between each one to create a rectangular block. This will be the foundation of the bale of hay.

stack

Wrap raffia ribbon around the cardboard block, tying the ends to secure them.

raffia

Continue wrapping raffia around the block until all the sides are covered. Snip off any loose pieces of raffia.

bale of hay

Step 3: Make the Pumpkins

Modeling clay is so easy to use, and it air dries in 24 hours. With some orange clay, form six small tubes of similar size, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch each.

orange clay

Gather the 6 tubes together vertically, and they will immediately stick to each other but still maintain their separate shapes, forming the distinct ridges of the pumpkin.

sections

Round out the top of the pumpkin, and press the bottom against your work surface to flatten it a little.

pumpkin shape

Cut a small piece of a twig and insert it into the center of the pumpkin. Let it dry for 24 hours. Make several pumpkins of various colors and sizes for your terrarium.

stem

Step 4: Make the Trees

Cut a twig that has at least two offshoots.

twig

Take some artificial fall leaves and cut them up into small random shapes, almost like confetti. You can use real leaves, but they would need to be pressed and dried first, or they will shrivel.

leaves

Apply some glue to the offshoots of the twig.

glue

Sprinkle the miniature leaves over the glued areas of the twig, and you have a tree with fall colors. Depending on the size of your container, you'll want 2 to 4 trees of various heights.

tree

Step 5: Hydrate Your Air Plants

You can purchase tillandsia at most nurseries and home improvement stores, as they are very popular right now. When you get them home, you'll want to soak them in water for at least an hour. Then place them on a paper towel for an hour to absorb any excess moisture. I chose a tall plant for the back of the terrarium and a shorter one for the front.

tillandsia

Step 6: Assemble the Terrarium

Start with the elements that will go in the back — in this case, the trees. Apply a large dab of hot glue to the ends of the trees and adhere them to the back of the terrarium. Hold them steady as the glue dries so they remain upright. I like the idea of including one very tall tree that extends past one of the top openings in the sphere. And be sure to leave an empty space in the back for an air plant.

trees

Hot glue the bale of hay in front of the trees.

hay

Glue some pumpkins onto the hay. Leave a few pumpkins as finishing touches for later.

pumpkins

Spoon some sand into the container to cover the bottom. The sand covers up any hot glue residue while providing a dry foundation for the air plants. Look for larger, gravel-like sand rather than fine beach sand.

sand

Sprinkle more miniature leaves on top of the sand to give the terrarium added autumn colors.

miniature leaves

Position the taller tillandsia plant in the back where you left room for it, and the shorter one in the front next to the bale of hay.

air plants

Place more pumpkins in the front to complete your diorama.

more pumpkins

About once a week, remove the air plants to rehydrate them. And once a day, gaze into the terrarium to be transported to your own private pumpkin patch.

fall terrarium

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