DIY Succulent Gift Idea

This past weekend for Mother's Day, I wanted to make a little something to bring to all the Moms in my family. I had the idea to give them each a succulent planted in a cute little pot, but I didn't really get my act together in time. Then my Mom (of course) had the brilliant idea to just cover the plastic pots they come in with cute fabric and ribbon. That way, everyone could plant them however they pleased. This was the perfect solution, so off to the nursery I went.

I purchased enough plants for each mother in our family. I chose a variety of succulents and a little cactus I thought was cute. You should be able to find these small, individual succulents at a hardware store or nursery for anywhere between $1-$3 each. If you're really on your game and plan ahead, you can order them online for even cheaper.

Since we were already up at my parents house, I knew I could find fabric in my Mom's sewing room. But depending on the look you're going for, you could find a similar neutral fabric like I used at your local fabric store or order online from Amazon. In addition to the plants and fabric, you will also need raffia (or ribbon) and small elastic bands to secure the fabric around the plant. I've listed step by step instructions with pictures below so that you can easily make these yourself.

Supplies - 
2" succulents or cactus plants
neutral fabric
scissors/rotary fabric cutter
iron
raffia
small rubber bands

1) The succulents I purchased were 2" so I cut my fabric into 7" squares. This way the fabric would extend over the top of the planter and gather at the sides.

2) Once you cut your fabric, iron them.

3) Now that you've prepared all the supplies, gather everything and started assembling.

4) Start by placing the succulent in the center of one of the fabric squares. Gather the fabric around the planter and secure with a small rubber band (I used white elastic, but clear or a color that matches your fabric is best). Now that you have the fabric secured, you can adjust how it's gathered at the corners to your liking.

5) Next, cut a few pieces of raffia to tie around the planter and hide the elastic band. Once you tie the raffia bow, trim the access.

That's it! So simple & easy!

I was going to use a little vintage fruit box to transport them to our Mothers Day brunch, but they didn't quite fill it up so I ended up using a basket. Which was perfect because then my nephew was able to help hand them out for me.

They turned even better than I expected, so I knew I had to take pictures and share on the blog. I realize that Mother's Day is now behind us, but these would also be a fun hostess gift or favors at a wedding or party. They would even be a great for gift coworkers during the holidays. The best part is you can totally customize them for your own purposes. Use fabric with a fun pattern and colorful ribbon, or coordinate with the decor and color palette if you're making them as favors.

Be sure to pin this for one of those times you need a last minute gift idea! They were a big hit with the ladies in my family, and I know I'll be making them again in the future. I think next time I will make them to use as place cards for a dinner party or brunch with friends!