Put your creative flair to work

am itching to get into making something creative. I have seen some gorgeous picture frames on easels and on the wall that have been filled with live succulents.

ISo, I am on a mission to make one of these ,but I also hope my enthusiasm will not wane before the project is completed.

I have an old picture frame in my garage and I have some chicken wire left over from my henhouse renovations so am busy watching videos on how it is done.

So if you are keen to make one . . . read along and I will update you with what you need and how to make it.

First of all the equipment that you will need is as follows:

Equipment / Tools

• Small pruning snips • Hammer • Staple gun • Paint brush • Clean cloth • Chopstick or pencil

Materials

• Succulent cuttings. . . ask friends if you have not got any. • Shadow box made of redwood, cedar, or pine, (but it will not last as long), 1x3s, cut to fit the back of the frame. • Picture frame with back and glass panel removed. • Nails • Staples • 1/4-inch plywood backing, cut to fit the back of the shadow box. • Paint • All-purpose potting soil

Firstly, you need to take the glass out of the frame and replace with chicken wire. Then, make a shadow box and attach to the back of the frame. This is going to hold the soil.

Attach the plywood backing and hey presto, you are ready to paint the frame or leave natural and then fill with potting mix through the chicken wire.

On a flat surface start poking in your succulents.

You can make a hole with a chopsticks or you may need to cut the chicken wire in places to open out to accommodate larger succulents.

Put in the larger plants first, then plant the rest as closely as the grid allows. Depending on plant size, not every square will be planted.

Right after you have planted, you may see hints of the wire, but as the succulent wall art plants grow, they will close the gaps.

It will pay to keep your wall art flat for a month while the roots form. Don’t water too much in this time and then water every 2 weeks, misting the succulents with a water bottle.

Your framed succulents can be rested on an easel or hung on an outside wall. Protect them from the mid-day sun and then sit back, relax, and enjoy what you have made!

I can’t wait to get into my project!