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Craft Tutorials | Holiday Crafts | Christmas Crafts | Christmas Terrarium
Christmas Crafts

Christmas Terrarium

Author by Amanda Davis on December 12, 2023 Updated on December 12, 2023

5 from 7 votes
Learn how to easily make a Christmas terrarium to display on your mantle, as a centerpiece for your holiday table, or give as a gift!
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christmas terrarium - red truck and bottle brush trees
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Creating your own Christmas decor, like this beautiful Christmas terrarium, is fun, satisfying, and a great way to add a little holiday cheer to your home.

GLASS CONTAINER WITH RED TRUCK AND BOTTLE BRUSH TREES


 

Why we love this project

There’s nothing quite like a gift made from the heart. While this Christmas terrarium is definitely a great gift idea, it’s also a beautiful way to dress up your own home for the holidays.

christmas terrarium with winter scene and red truck

Helpful Project Information:

  • Age Level: 10 and up
  • Mess Factor: Medium
  • Level of Difficulty: Easy
  • Time to Complete: Less than 45 minutes
  • Cost Estimate: Less than $15.00

Craft supplies you will need

labeled supplies for making a christmas terrarium

Get full list of supplies and directions in the printable version at the end of this post.

How to Make a Christmas Terrarium

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

Preparing the North Pole Sign

  1. Paint the surface of the popsicle sticks in white acrylic paint and leave them to dry fully. Paint the surface of the wooden skewer in brown acrylic paint.painting a skewer
  2. Once dry, cut the popsicle sticks to 2” long, with one end cut on a diagonal.cutting popsicle stick
  3. Place them on a flat surface side by side and using a black marker, print the words “NORTH POLE” onto the painted sticks.north pole written on white sticks
  4. Turn them with the wrong side up and using a hot glue gun, glue the painted wooden skewer perpendicular to the craft sticks forming a miniature sign.adding hot glue to stickspressing skewer into hot gluehand holding mini north pole sign

Preparing the Red Truck

  1. If you’re using a red truck ornament, remove the ornament cap from the top. Additionally, if your red truck has other embellishments that don’t suit the terrarium, carefully remove them and put them aside. In our case, we removed mini Christmas trees using a pair of wire cutters.removing embellishments from ornamentremoving ornament cap
  2. Next, fold a small piece of burlap and glue it to the back of the red truck and then glue a medium-sized bottle brush tree to the back of the red truck.adding burlap to ornamentholding red truck ornament

Assembling the Terrarium

  1. Apply a dab of glue to the rim of the plastic container and press the container with the rim side down into the center of the vase. This container will be used as a riser to glue all the accessories onto.running hot glue around rim of container
  2. Place the red truck inside the vase and leave it to rest on top of the plastic riser, do not glue the truck.
  3. Starting with the largest bottle brush tree, add glue to the bottom and press it in place inside the vase on top of the plastic container.adding hot glue to bottom of bottle brush tree
  4. Add the rest of the bottle brush trees with the largest trees at the far back.adding hot glue to bottom of bottle brush tree
  5. Remove the red truck.
  6. Next, glue the bottom of the North Pole sign and stick it in place in front of the bottle brush trees. Hold it in place until the glue sets and the sign stays upright.adding glue to bottom of north pole sign
  7. Add the artificial snow into the vase covering the plastic container completely. Use your fingers to move the snow around if needed so that the gap between the container and the vase is filled.pouring artificial snow into container
  8. Place the red truck back inside the vase to rest on top of the snow. Add twinkle lights if desired.placing red truck into winter christmas terrarium

Frequently Asked Questions


How do I store this each year?

To store this so you can display it year after year, first remove the truck and wrap in tissue paper. Next, carefully tip the container over another (empty) container or a zipper gallon sized plastic bag. Empty out as much of the faux snow as possible and seal the bag or container. Lastly, wrap the container (keeping the trees inside of it) in bubble wrap. Store everything together for next year!

winter terrarium

Expert Crafting Tips


While we love the red truck theme, you can use any theme you like. Ideas include trees with presents and a Santa Claus, or a scene of deer in the forest. Whatever you like.

You too can easily make a Christmas terrarium to display on your mantle, as a centerpiece for your holiday table, or to give as a gift!

More Christmas Decor Ideas

  • Snowman Hat Centerpiece
  • Waterless Snow Globes
  • Mason Jar Lid Snowman
  • Christmas Village Shadowbox
  • 30 DIY Christmas Wreaths
  • Winter Greenery Embroidery Hoop Wreath

I love to create and share my projects with you! I know it’s hard to remember to come back and search, so I’ve made it easy for you with my weekly newsletter! You can subscribe for free and I’ll send you fun crafts and delicious recipes every week right to your email.

christmas terrarium - red truck and bottle brush trees
Print Project
5 from 7 votes

Christmas Terrarium

Learn how to easily make a Christmas terrarium to display on your mantle, as a centerpiece for your holiday table, or give as a gift!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Crafting Time30 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Age Group: Adult Crafts
Project Type: Christmas
Makes: 1 terrarium

Supplies

  • Large cylinder glass vase 8” high x 8” wide – similar to this one
  • Empty plastic container that fits inside the cylinder vase approx. 2” high and 6” wide (to act as the riser for the terrarium)
  • 2 cups artificial snow or as needed
  • Green bottle brush Christmas trees in a variety of sizes ranging from 3 1⁄2” to 6 1⁄2” tall
  • Red truck ornament 3” long (similar to this one)
  • 2 popsicle craft sticks
  • 1 wooden skewer
  • Acrylic paint in white and brown
  • Burlap approx. 2”x2”

Craft tools

  • Paint brushes, fine tip
  • Black permanent marker (medium tip)
  • Hot glue gun and clear glue sticks
  • Gardening shears and wire cutter (optional)

Instructions

Preparing the North Pole Sign

  • Paint the surface of the popsicle sticks in white acrylic paint and leave them to dry fully. Paint the surface of the wooden skewer in brown acrylic paint.
  • Once dry, cut the popsicle sticks to 2” long, with one end cut on diagonal.
  • Place them on a flat surface side by side and using a black marker, print the words “NORTH POLE” on to the painted sticks.
  • Turn them with the wrong side up and using a hot glue gun, glue the painted wooden skewer perpendicular to the craft sticks forming a miniature sign.

Preparing the Red Truck

  • If you’re using a red truck ornament, remove the ornament cap from the top. Additionally, if your red truck has other embellishments that don’t suit the terrarium, carefully remove them and put them aside. In our case, we removed mini Christmas trees using a pair of wire cutters.
  • Next, fold a small piece of burlap and glue it to the back of the red truck and then glue a medium sized bottle brush tree to the back of the red truck.

Assembling the Terrarium

  • Apply a dab of glue to the rim of the plastic container and press the container with the rim side down into the center of the vase. This container will be used to glue all the accessories on to.
  • Place the red truck inside the vase and leave it to rest on top of the plastic riser, do not glue the truck.
  • Starting with the largest bottle brush tree, add glue to the bottom and press it in place inside the vase on top of the plastic container.
  • Add the rest of the bottle brush trees with the largest trees at the far back.
  • Remove the red truck.
  • Next, glue the bottom of the North Pole sign and stick it in place in front of the bottle brush trees. Hold it in place until the glue sets and the sign stays upright.
  • Add the artificial snow into the vase covering the plastic container completely. Use your fingers to move the snow around if needed so that the gap between the container and the vase is filled.
  • Place the red truck back inside the vase to rest on top of the snow. Add twinkle lights if desired.

Video

Expert Tips & FAQs

  • To store this so you can display it year after year, first remove the truck and wrap in tissue paper. Next, carefully tip the container over another (empty) container or a zipper gallon sized plastic bag. Empty out as much of the faux snow as possible and seal the bag or container. Lastly, wrap the container (keeping the trees inside of it) in bubble wrap. Store everything together for next year!

This post originally appeared here on December 11, 2020.

  • Author
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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Christmas Crafts, DIY Gift ideas Tagged With: christmas decor, christmas tree, snow, terrarium

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