Need a fun family project? If your family is crafty, creative and loves nature then this is a project that you will love to do together! Ours took many hours over a few days to complete, but working on it was the whole fun. We had lots of time to come together for a purpose. We had lots of fun planning, finding supplies and working together in a lighthearted way.
Here are my tips to making a living fairy garden. . .
Find the perfect location where you can all work together in weather appropriate conditions. If outside, look for a spot where the natural landscape looks like a place that fairies might inhabit. A tree trunk, stone wall or flower bed, for example. You can bring it indoors like we did using a shallow container or box. Plastic storage tubs work well and give you the opportunity to work on it rain or shine. . . or even snow!
Go on a nature hike to find fun and unique natural elements to use. You will need flat pieces of bark for fairy homes, stones for pavements, lots of sticks for fairy doors and bridges. . . vines are perfect for making trellises and arches. . . small flowers for the gardens and large flowers for decor. TIP: Moss is a main component in the fairy garden because it is an essential ground cover. It can also be used for the sides and tops of fairy homes for a really cool look!
Go to a second hand store to find little details for your fairy garden. We found a miniature birdhouse, wishing well, fake flowers and even a “book of spells” made if resin.
Get the rest at a craft store. This goes without explanation because there are miniatures, imitation plants and flowers, and even clay for sculpting the little details that come about. You can buy inexpensive bags of moss as well.
Plan out some basic ideas of what you all think a fairy garden should look like. Make some sketches and maybe a map type drawing that depicts the supplies that you have in a completed form. Remember to be flexible because you may be inspired to make creative changes along the way!
Then divide up the jobs or decide to work on them together. We did the houses together and split up for the smaller parts like paths and gardens.
You will need a glue gun and some twine to secure the things that you make.
You can pick up some cheap fish tank rocks in every magical color imaginable at Walmart and pet stores.
If you need inspiration, there are many great resources online and in books.
Would you ever consider making a Fairy Garden?
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
How cool! I have seen pictures of them, but never had any idea how to actually go about making one.
Petro Neagu
That is such a cute setting! My girls would probably move there with all their dolls and ponies 🙂
Platter Talk
Fun and imaginative – our kids will love this!
Caitlin
Now this is something I would have loved growing up. I remember there was a book about fairies and how they lived in your grass – but only the areas that grew in circles or something. But this would have been something I would have loved to have played with for sure!
Debra
We have a fairy garden in our back yard! We love it!
Rosey
This looks so fun to collect for and put together. I bet I’d spend way too much time in a fairy garden, adding things and moving them around. 🙂
Krystal's Kitsch
These are so cute. I’ve been seeing fairy DIY a lot lately. Such a fun idea.
Kristin
What an adorable idea! I’m sure my little lady bean would love it if we made one!
Liz Mays
That’s a great idea to scour second-hand stores first and then hit up the craft stores. This could be SUCH a fun family project.
Ashley Morton
I adore these fairy gardens. A close friend of mine makes them but they aren’t as intricate as this 🙂
Payal Bansal (@TrendsnHealth)
OMG this is so pretty. My niece’s bday is coming, It would be amazing if I ask my nephews to come and join hands to gift my niece this beautiful fairy garden
27 FAIRY GARDEN IDEAS FOR INSPIRATION – GoCraft
[…] This project is fun and uses many living elements, a great project to do with your kids from Jenny at Dapper Home. […]