DIY Network

Tabletop Still Life Try a garden under glass—without plants. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-204

It only takes a few items to create a striking installation under glass.

Michele Beschen takes her gardens-under-glass projects to their easy-care conclusion: tabletop "gardens" that need no care at all, because they’re not actually alive.

Like the B. Original host’s other gardens under glass, these still life projects gather interesting elements from nature to create a serene statement. They also offer a great opportunity to let your personality and interests show through in your décor.

Scroll down for Michele Beschen’s tips on these truly worry-free gardens, and B. Original with tabletop still life.

advertisement

Tabletop Still Life

• The only must-have for a still life under glass is the actual glass. The domed covers for cake display plates or cheese boards are excellent choices. Keep the size of your glass dome in mind when gathering items for your still life—everything needs to fit under the glass.

• The glass dome sets off your still life from the rest of the room; don’t undo this effect by cluttering up your piece with too many elements. It just takes a few items to create interest. Michele Beschen likes to use a lot of aquarium pieces, including coral and artificial aquarium plants, in her installations.

• You also will need some sand to serve as the floor of the still life. You an use play sand, silica sand or decorative sand; all of these are easy to color with dye inks. In one piece, Michele Beschen used different colors of sand (figure A), which she mixed together (figure B).
  

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

  Then, she added a large piece of coral (figure C) and, finally, a glass dome (figure D).
  

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• Michele Beschen’s tabletop still life designs have a definite seaside theme, but yours can be whatever you like. And, if you get tired of your installation, the items are easy to swap out. You could even set up a large still life in a central location and take turns filling it with your family.