TWO Videos: Succulent Planting + Gift Tags

Hello! Today I have two videos for you… and they are a bit different. As some of you may know from my posts on Instagram, I’m a big fan of succulents… so I’m excited that there are now succulent stamps available! The first video shows how to create some fun succulent gift tags using some colored ink, pencils and gamsol. The second video shows how I (very simply) plant and care for succulent plants. They are addictive!

I so very much love filling my craft room with small and sweet succulents (and cactus). They are gorgeous, inexpensive and easy to care for. Since I am a crafty blog, let’s first chat about the succulent gift tags I created…


[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

These new Simon Says Stamp Succulent stamps make me so very happy! I stamped the images using SSS inks since these inks work well with Gamsol. I also added a heart to two of the images. I quickly colored the images using my colored pencils and used Gamsol to do all the blending. Gamsol makes coloring effortless with pencils!I really like the colored outline of the image instead of just black.

I also did some partial die-cutting with the matching dies to cut out my images. I made sure to cut out an extra image for the back side of my tag. I applied a strong adhesive to the back of both the die-cut pieces and sandwiched a stick in between. If you don’t have the kabob skewers that I used, you could always use a straw or a toothpick instead.

Now… time for info on the succulents themselves! Please know that I am NOT an expert on this. Not at all. I don’t really have the time to be an expert, but have found great luck by keeping it simple. And my guess is you are all limited on time… so simple would be best for you too. Yes, I have lost a few succulents along the way. But overall, my method of planting and caring for succulents (and cactus) has worked really well for me.


[All supplies are linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

Here is really all there is to it:

  • Pick a container. — Any container! It really is best to use one with a hole in the bottom. However, I tend to ignore this rule. (The small pots I used in this video are no longer available, but you can find similar things.)
  • Get some pebbles. — I like to use both medium sized pebbles (like these) and small pebbles (like these). They are good to have in bottom of the container fpr drainage and at the top for a nice, finished look.
  • Get some good soil. — I use an organic cactus soil. It works like a charm! However, in the past I have used a non-organic option that is very inexpensive. (Half the cost, twice the amount!) Both work well.
  • Get some succulents or cactus. — I get mine at local florist shops, Home Depot, Lowes or on Etsy. Get whatever appeals to you. Have fun with it!
  • Water with ice. — I find it best to water my plants with an ice cube once every two weeks. Ice slowly melts and prevents the plants from being “flooded.” These guys don’t need much water at all! I put a timer on my calendar to remind me to water them.
  • Sunlight! — Theses guys LOVE sunlight. Put them near windows!

Again – you can Google search to get more (and better) info. But if you want to keep it simple… there you have it.

Small planted succulents make a great gift for friends, teachers, etc. I hope this is helpful!

SUPPLIES

Below are the products featured above. Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), Etsy (ETSY), Dick Blick (DB), and Amazon (AZ).

 

 

 

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( SSS )

 

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( AZ )

 

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( ETSY )

 

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( AZ )

 

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( AZ )

 

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( ETSY )

 

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(SSS | AMZ | DB)

 

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(SSS | EH | AZ)

 

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( SSS )

 

CLICK A SHOP:
(SSS | EH | AZ)

 

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( SSS )

 

CLICK A SHOP:
( SSS )

 

CLICK A SHOP:
( SSS )

 

CLICK A SHOP:
( SSS )

 

 

CLICK A SHOP:
( SSS | EH )

 

 

 

 

 

CLICK A SHOP:
( AZ )

 

CLICK A SHOP:
( SSS )

 

 


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40 thoughts on “TWO Videos: Succulent Planting + Gift Tags”

  1. What a wonderful gift idea. I always forget about giving plants, since I have killed more than my fair share of them in the past. But some of my friends are much better gardeners and I’m sure they would love these. The little tags are gorgeous!

  2. LOVE IT… I must say I like your type of gardening… it cracked me up… you just put them in a wish for the best… that is awesome. Love the little tags that are made for the gifts. I think I will start doing that.So much nicer than the ugly store tags that come with plants.

  3. Oh my goodness Jennifer these are adorable as can be…love the plants and those tags are the perfect accent. Thanks so much for the great videos and helpful hints.Such great gift ideas

  4. That stamp set is so perfect when giving succulents as a gift. Loved your videos. As usual thanks for the great tips & inspiration.

  5. Your videos today just made me smile. I love my succulents too! I have one that is about 15 years old and have to figure out what to do with it. It is getting kind of straggly. I tend to either kill them immediately or they hang on forever. If they make it past the first two weeks, I’m golden! 🙂

  6. My husband teaches horticulture and has been growing rare succulents for 30 years. I was so excited to see the SSS succulent stamp set and added it to my wish list. I love your tags–I find pencils and gamsol easier than alcohol markers, but I also love my Japanese watercolor markers for coloring.

  7. What a timely video!! My succulent stamp sets arrived this week. The very same day, one of my dinner guests brought me an arrangement of succulents. I have been googling how to care for them. I am an expert at killing plants. I even killed a cactus 30 years ago when my husband was in seminary. Now I know how I want to color my stamps on the thank you card I will make!

  8. Jennifer – thanks for the great information on gamsol coloring. I’ve wondered for YEARS what that is! Looks pretty easy to use – I’ll have to give it a try.
    I’ve been following your blog since one of the Online Card Classes I took, and you always do such a nice job – thanks again!

  9. I LOVE Gamsol. I have been a fan since you first showed it long ago. I have recently taken an interest in succulents. Some are doing well, and a couple – not so well. I think I need to try the ice cube method of watering. Question – with cold weather coming, is an ice cube too cold for the plants? My Mom always told me to use room temp water for plants – so just wondering about ice cubes.

  10. Thank you for sharing your gardening tips. I have never tried succulents but I just may now that I have some information about them. And of course, I love the stamps and the beautiful job you did with them. Thanks again!

  11. I have a few succulents and I love them mainly cos mine seem to thrive on neglect! I only water them on the first of the month and have them on my window sills so they get plenty of light, it’s nice to see another aspect of your life apart from crafts (don’t get me wrong I love crafts!!!) tfs xxx

  12. I’ve long since given up on plants since I killed an air plant years ago but that ice cube trick gives me hope – thanks!

  13. Jennifer, you are the greatest. No really, of all the blogs I read yours is always the best! I learn so much from you. I’m going to give the gamsol a try & succulents as gifts is an awesome idea! Now I got to get those stamps. Thanks for all you do!

  14. Your ideas are really great and I never would have thought to use ice cubes to water my succulents. I tend to over water and this will probably save them. Thanks! The gift ideas are sweet, too!

  15. Thanks, Jenn, for the very helpful ideas about succulents. I’ve never had a lot of luck with them, but I always attributed that to living in Florida and our lovely (not!!!) humidity. I would love to have some of the new colors, lavender and snow white, in Christmas cacti that I’ve seen in magazines but I imagine they are just too precious. Have you seen those? Any ideas on these or any other flowering cacti?

    Cute stamping ideas. Thank you.

  16. Brilliant post Jennifer and just love your “dainty” horticulturing project! NOt only have you amazing crafting fingers, it appears they are green, too ;oP

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