Welcome to the 1st Ever "Wild About Mother Nature" Party

I am so excited to be hosting this event.

I am absolutely crazy about mosses and 

lichens, twigs, shells, feathers, bird's nests...

well you get the idea.

I am Wild About Mother Nature!

So I thought it would be fun to share a project with 

you I have had in mind for a few weeks, and also 

give you the chance to share some of your

 favorite projects, as well.

I need to say that this craft project became more 

than  I expected.Yesterday afternoon, I readied the 

table with a sheet of brown paper, hot glue, scissors, 

burlap, and assorted spheres.

My son and daughter-in-law and my two Grandloves 

were over for early dinner and the Super Bowl.  

I asked Amanda if she wanted to help me make 

the moss balls.  She was very excited, and we 

jumped in together - along with some valuable 

assistance from Cole Man and Roo...

and what started out as an afternoon making moss 
balls for a Blog Party turned into some pretty 
amazing Mother-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law time. 

 About halfway through she said,

 "Mom, we should do this at least once a month. I love this."

So, its my promise to her that we will have a 

Craft Afternoon at least once a month. 

And I can't wait.

So - my love of all things Mother Nature soon 

became her love, too. We made lots extra and 

she took some home with her.

We decided we wanted to make some standard 

moss covered balls, and some not-so standard ones, too.

I love how they turned out.

Here are all the balls we created...

We called this one "Chia Ball."  :)

This is Amanda's creation, a grapevine orb with strips of 
sheet moss topped with strips of burlap.

A grapevine orb with pieces of reindeer moss tucked all around.

I love this one, with assorted colors and textures of different mosses.

So, once you make a bevy of moss balls, where does one place them?

In a new white tray from Pier 1, of course.

Isn't it darling?  I have realized I have a hidden passion for trays.

I placed it on my old metal and glass coffee table, 

which is located in my newly painted formal Living Room. 

(I love it here!)

I added these little darlings....

I started layering the moss balls in the tray, large ones first...

I added in some of these smaller ones I already had...

We even wrapped a few with leftover strands of burlap threads.

We even created a simple burlap covered ball.


I topped it with a bird's nest made of pine straw which
I discovered a few weeks ago while I was cleaning out a 
window box.  I wish you could see
 and feel how tightly compacted and "well-constructed" 
this nest is.  :)

I thought the tray was missing something...
So I hurried out to the yard to see what I could find.


I added some large pieces of tree bark all around the edge...

And found this -  what a score!

... a beautiful piece of twig with lichen growing on it.  
I heart this!

So that completes my Moss and Lichen Tray.

I love the juxtaposition of the china Staffordshire dogs, 

the glass and metal coffee table, the wood tray - and

 the earthy effect of the balls, bark and twig.

 In case you're wondering, I see the irony of hosting a
 "Wild About Mother Nature" Party while also 
showing a "silk" orchid.  :)
I will only say that I adore orchids, 
but simply cannot keep them alive. 
I gave up a long time ago.  So, I just try to choose 
silk orchids which are as genuine looking as possible.

On a final note, I wanted to share this cute planter 
which Amanda made from some leftover moss. 
She lined the inside of this small wire candleholder 
with sheet moss, then placed
 a foam ball inside and glued mounds of moss all over. 
 I added the burlap bow.  I love how the green 
highlights the green in the painting behind. 
(yet to be hung, btw)

So that is my offering inspired by Mother Nature.

I can't wait to see what projects you have to share. 
 I will be posting the winner of the $50 Visa gift card next week.  Everyone is eligible, whether you just 
comment or you have share a post.

So good luck to everyone!

Please link back to this Party so others can visit here 
and be able to see all the great projects that are posted here.  
You can even grab the Button above if you want.  

Look for my Top Ten Picks when I announce the winner.