Fern Forest

We wanted to create a lamp that gave the feel of a fern forest near the ocean - maybe on the Oregon coast.

• First, put sand into the lamp. You can get sand from the beach or buy playground sand from your local Lowe's or Home Depot stores.
  
  
• Next, put driftwood, the more interesting shape the better, into the sand.
  
  
• Put some colored reindeer moss onto the sand - we purchase ours at a craft store. We like to use a couple of colors, some darker and some lighter to give a more natural look.
  
  
• Insert dried ferns into the sand. We used dried Leatherleaf fern and Plumosus fern. We purchase the ferns at a craft store because they are colored and retain the nice green color. If you dry your own ferns but don’t color them in some way they will be brown and drab.
  
  
• Place a variety of rocks or stones, either polished or unpolished, into the lamp along with a selection of shells.
  
  
• Finally, finish your lamp with some very small rocks or pebbles. We used acquarium gravel.
  
  
• You can put a jute ribbon around the neck if you'd like, just for a finishing touch. This lamp is really quite easy to make.
  
  
  
  

  Loon Lamp

  
  
  We took the fern lamp above and changed it up a bit.
  
  
  
  As you may be able to tell, it is largely the same, but we removed all the shells and a lot of the foliage in the front of the lamp as well as one of the pieces of driftwood. We then laid the driftwood on its side and placed the loon inside the lamp. We were then able to add back some of the dried ferns and rocks and reindeer moss. Voila - a lamp that would look nice anywhere, but we can imagine it in a cottage by a pond or a lake or in a log cabin. Below is a closeup of the lamp.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  More Forest-themed Lamps

  
  
  You can easily make these lamps using the directions below. You will find the directions are very similar to the "fern forest" lamp directions found above. (These pictures are found on the Idea Gallery page too - click to enlarge!)
  
  

  Closeup of bluebirds figurine in lamp w/dried greenery, moss, etc.	Lamp shown at left in closeup. Shown w/drum shade	Medium size lamp w/wolves figurine, dried caspia, and reindeer moss.
  Closeup of wolves figurine in lamp w/dried greenery, moss, etc.	Lamp shown at left but with different wolf figurine.

  
  
  
  • First, put sand into the lamp. You can get sand from the beach or buy playground sand from your local Lowe's or Home Depot stores.
    
    
  • Next, put small pieces of branches, the more interesting shape the better, into the sand. Of course, make sure you leave room for the figurine!
    
    
  • Place your figurine into the lamp.
    
    
  • Put some colored reindeer moss onto the sand - we purchase ours at a craft store. We like to use a couple of colors, some darker and some lighter to give a more natural look.
    
    
  • If the figurine is on a base, use the reindeer moss to disguise the edges of the base in order for your scene to look more natural. It sometimes works well to lay some small bits of branches into the bottom in order to "blur" the edges of the base. The wolf figurines in the pictures above come on a base and you will see the base is incorporated into the design.
    
    
  • Place a variety of small rocks or stones into the lamp. It looks more natural in this case to use unpolished rocks. If your figurine is on a base try to match the stones with the base to the extent possible.
    
    
  • Insert dried foliage into the sand. We used dried caspia - again, it looks more natural to combine a couple different colors of green.
    
    
  • Finally, finish your lamp with some very small rocks or pebbles. We used acquarium gravel.
    
    Above all, enjoy making something you will LOVE! You can’t get it wrong!