Every year I make super simple holiday planters for our front step. They are so easy to make, even your dog can do it, provided they are not into digging, in which case they may empty the dirt out of the planters.
Getting started is the hardest part. You don’t need an elf hat, but it does help bring out the festive mood. What you do need to get the project started is:
- Planter pots filled with dirt.
- Spruce tips from your local garden store. I use one bundle for two planters.
- Decorations from your favorite hobby store. I usually go to Hobby Lobby and Michaels.
It isn’t the best backdrop for photos, but I always make my planters in the garage to keep the mess out of the house, and to stay away from the cold and snow while I’m working. When I’m done, Mom can simply sweep the mess out into the driveway and yard.
I start by dividing up the Spruce tips into two piles, then I space them evenly into each planter. Make sure and push them in deep enough to hold them into position.
Next I like to divide up my decorations evenly so each pot has the same ones and amount.
If your pots are across from each other like mine will be, it is nice to place the decorations into the pots in mirror image form so they look nice when you place them outside. If you are working hard your elf hat may start slipping down over your eyes. Take a break and pull it back into place so you can see what you are doing.
Just like that, in a short amount of time, you have some really nice looking planters for much less than you would pay for them at the store! I save my decorations from one year to the next, add in some new sometimes, but it helps keep the cost down. If you buy them on sale after Christmas, you can save even more and it is fun to find what you bought next Christmas when you are ready to make holiday planters again!
those sure do look pretty and you did some excellent work π
Thank you. I love making them every year.
That is really most impressive and they are beautious!
They smell good too.
Wow! You are a designer too! They are lovely. XOXO Sparkle the PBGV
It is my Martha Stewart side to go along with my Julia Childs side.
my mom made one planter this year (but sadly not such a cool one like yours) …. it’s the pee-mail post office now for all dogs who walk on the streets (including me) :o)
That is not good. Ours are on the porch, and no one is allowed to pee on ours.
What a lovely idea. And grabbing the decorations after Christmas is brilliant too. Sometimes when I walk out of the store, I feel like I stole something. LOL
LOL! I hope you aren’t stealing! Good deals are awesome. More money to spend on dog treats later.
Emma yo are such a creative elf!! Thanks for sharing these tips!
Thanks. I love to decorate and make things fancy.
You have such a flair for decorating! β₯ Those are really pretty.
I have to have a festive house this time of year!
Crafty! I have trouble just making an egg in the morning.
Maybe Penny could help out? Bailie helped out a bit last year, but she still prefers to rip the tree tops apart instead of making a nice planter.
Did you dig in the dirt yet? It taste good too
Love & Peas,
Lily & Edward
I did a bit of digging in my planters, but I don’t like to eat dirt. I sniff it and get it in my beard sometimes.
Wow and super easy too! I will definitely be doing a couple of these this year! I have always wanted to purchase planters like these for the holidays, but they are always so expensive. I had never thought of a DIY one before! Thanks!
α¦ husky hugz α¦ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
The only expense is the tree tops and I split a bundle so each planter is about $20. If you have decorations, then no additional costs, but if you buy some this year, you can easily reuse them every year! Have fun!
Very festive…We can’t wait for Christmas now
We are excited too, but we want some colder weather and snow first.
Wow Emma! They look great. So festive. Happy Thursday! your doodle friend Dash
Thank you. I like to help out when I can.
WE really Like those… WELL DONE!!!
Thanks. I like to get my paws into the dirt now and then.
Those are so pretty! I always go shopping after the holidays looking for bargains for next Christmas. I’ll have to look for things like that this time, I’d love to make some of those next year.
They are so easy and so much less expensive than buying them every year!
Those are awfully pretty. And Emma, those are some excellent tips about working methods.
Maybe next year I could use your example to make some with floats on the bottom. Then we could tow them behind the boat. π
Do you tow the tree behind the boat too? Probably not a lot of decorating on the boat.
You are such a handy DIY’er Emma. Your planters look great. My mom is a klutz when it comes to stuff like that.
Maybe Maggie and Jack should do it for your house? I bet Jack would love to help with the dirt part!
Those look so good and easy. I happen to have some extra tips off my Christmas tree and some other decorative pieces and planters. Yay I’ll get on it this weekend. XS
They are easy to make and so much less expensive than buying finished ones.
What a great idea!! I’m going to have Mama Pin this for next year!! Thanks Emma!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Thanks! We’ve been making our own for several years now. It is so easy and saves a lot of money.
They do look really easy to make! What a great idea & nice job with this project, Emma!
Thank you. I’ve been making them for a couple years now, so I have it down pretty well.
Very nice Emma! Mom wants to use little trees too but right now its fake garland, balls and stuff. Then the strong winds blew the pot without the dirt in it all over the yard. What a mess. Love Dolly
We have to have dirt in the pots for the weight and to stick the tree tops into. Usually it freezes which holds it really well, but so far it is too warm to freeze.
Those are really great and look like fun to make.
They are fun and so easy too.
Easy and beautiful, nice job!