Use Cardboard Scraps To DIY The Cutest Mini Planter Decoration

The weather is warming and the flowering plants in your garden are getting ready to bloom in full. If you're looking for a place to display a little greenery, whether faux or real, this craft from Instagrammer @srushti_craft_corner__ is well worth a try. All you need to complete this mini plant holder project is some scrap cardboard, a few paper cups, and some craft supplies you may already have on hand. When finished, you'll have some cute wall décor that doubles as a vase for cut flowers and foliage. It could be the perfect way to display the little bundle of wildflowers that your kids picked and that you later dried. Or you could fill it with some artificial flowers from Amazon that add a touch of spring to your home.

While there are many household items that you can turn into beautiful planters or vases, this idea makes good use of something you were probably going to toss away or recycle: preloved cardboard. Any cardboard with a thicker density — think Amazon shipping boxes — will be sturdy enough for this craft to work. If you really have to buy cardboard, it's affordable: a pack of 10 EcoSwift Chipboard Sheets costs about $5. You'll also need some Moumoulife Leakproof Disposable Paper Coffee Cups or a similar product. Finally, get some craft glue, string, and an Aen Art Acrylic Paint Set with assorted colors. Remember, you shouldn't really add anything heavy to the paper cups, like potting mix, and they won't hold any water to keep fresh flowers alive longer. That's why dried or artificial greenery works best.

To get started on this DIY, you need to cut out a piece of cardboard that's wide and tall enough to fit three paper cups in a row. In the video tutorial, Instagrammer @srushti_craft_corner__ created a faux brick background. To recreate the look, cut a sheet of cardboard into small rectangles and glue them to the cardboard that will hold the cups in an alternating brick wall pattern. Paint the bricks brown and paint lines of black between them to mimic mortar.

Next, cut two paper cups in half. Use craft glue to attach three of the four half cups to the brick background. Paint the cups vibrant colors. Finally, attach a loop of string to the back of the craft for easy hanging. Once your wall planter is complete, you can add your dried or artificial greenery. Note that if you don't have glue on hand, you can make strong nontoxic craft glue with these common kitchen ingredients: flour, sugar, water, and vinegar or lemon juice.

Customize this project by using a bigger piece of cardboard and larger cups, or make it even smaller by trimming the cups down. You don't have to stick with a brick-like background. Try your hand at color drenching and paint everything in variations of a single hue. Or cover the cardboard backdrop with a fun, whimsical Bokebeve Vintage Mushroom Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper. The possibilities are endless, and since the supplies are relatively inexpensive, it's a great project for a craft night with family or friends.