About leaves and prickles
Welcome to leaves and prickles, the home of cacti-inspired decorative candles and DIY terrarium kits!
I’m Monika, the founder and creator behind this small business based in Cheshire, UK. In 2023, I quit my job as an office manager to follow my passion and dedicate myself to leaves and prickles. My business is best known for its cactus candles, which are a popular gift choice among many of my wonderful customers.
I have always been a nature lover, and I wanted to create a life where I can be more connected to the natural world and express my creativity. Thanks to leaves and prickles, I get to make beautiful terrarium candles, sell terrarium kits, and share my passion on social media. My goal is to inspire others to appreciate the beauty of nature and encourage everyone to slow down and notice the world around us.
Whether you're new to leaves and prickles, a returning customer, a social media follower, or have supported me in any way, I'm grateful. Your support means the world to me!
With love, Monika x
About Cactus Candles
Decorative cactus candles with a botanical touch
My terrarium cactus candles were born from my love for being creative and my passion for all things green, coming together. As a nature lover and someone who’s happiest when making beautiful things, creating cacti-inspired terrarium candles is bringing me so much joy, and the best part is knowing that most of my amazing customers choose my botanical candles as special gifts.
How are your cactus candles made?
Each candle is carefully handmade using natural soy wax and cruelty-free fragrance oils, so they’re as kind to the planet as they are beautiful to look at. They are packed in recyclable paper gift boxes, making them perfect for gifting.
Perfect candle gifts for plant lovers or those who appreciate a natural green aesthetic.
These decorative candles aren’t just candles, they’re thoughtful, eco-conscious gifts that bring a little bit of the natural world into anyone’s home. I hope you love them as much as I love making them.
With love,
Monika x
About DIY Terrarium Kits
What is a terrarium
Low-maintenance and beautiful to look at, a terrarium is a self-contained ecosystem designed for growing humidity-loving plants. Typically made in sealed glass containers, terrariums include a drainage layer, specialised soil, and tropical plant species. As the plants photosynthesise and transpire, moisture evaporates and condenses on the glass walls. This condensation then drips back into the soil, creating a self-sustaining water cycle that keeps the plants nourished.
Benefits of making a terrarium
Whether you're a total plant newbie or a fellow houseplant addict, building a terrarium is a calming, satisfying way to slow down, getting your hands in soil and connect to the beauty of the natural world. Here are some of the benefits of building a terrarium:
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Enhances Creativity
The creative decision-making process lets you express your style and create a miniature world that reflects your personality.
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Stress Relief
The process of crafting a terrarium is often relaxing and meditative. This calm state can free your mind, allowing ideas to flow more freely and inspiring new creative thoughts in other areas of life. -
Improving mood
Working with plants and natural materials like soil, stones, and moss can inspire a greater appreciation for nature, which has been proven to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
As a plant lover, I’m always looking for ways to bring more greenery into everyday life, and I truly believe that building a little world inside a glass jar is one of the most magical ways to do that.
Through our DIY terrarium kits, I hope to inspire more people to get creative and connect with nature, even if it’s just in a small corner of their home.
With love,
Monika x