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Succulents are the unsung heroes of houseplants — super-cute and virtually indescructible (you only need to water them once a week!). They add a welcome pop of greenery to any book collection when planted in clear vases filled with pretty river stones. Here's how to create your own.

1. Go shopping.

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Snag a few succulents at a nursery or hardware store. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, so play around with the assortment you choose until you find a mix that makes the maximum visual impact. You'll need three to four plants per bookend.

2. De-pot your plants.

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Grab an old wooden tray or lay out newsprint to cover your table before you remove the succulents from their pots. Leave the dirt surrounding the plants' roots (you'll need it to re-pot them in the bookends), and put the rest to the side.

3. Assemble the bookends.

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To complete the project, you'll need two glass cylinder vases. Note: One needs to be small enough to fit inside the other, with a few inches of free space left around the edges.

After you place the smaller vase inside the larger one, fill the gap between them with smooth river rocks (available at craft stores). You can also place some stones on the bottom of the larger vase to raise the smaller vase up a bit, if necessary.

Plant your succulents into the smaller vase, adding some of the dirt you've set aside to fill the container. Finally, top the arrangement with more river rocks to hide any glass that's still peeking out.

TELL US: What plants do you have on your shelf?

Photos: Ben Goldstein

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From: Good Housekeeping US