Written by Kimberly, staff member, Cole Harbour Public Library
You’ve probably seen some interesting birdhouses while you've been out walking, and maybe you even have a Little Library in your neighbourhood. But have you ever seen something a little more magical and closer to the ground…say something just the right size for a fairy or gnome?
Gnomes and Fairies are small magical creatures that help care for the plants and animals in our gardens and parks. And their homes are just as tiny and unique as they are.
Make your own fairy house
Making a fairy home is a great way to explore and connect with nature, and to notice things outside you may have missed before. Using your imagination and just the things you can find outside and around the house, you too can create a enchanting little world for magical fairies and gnomes.
Building supplies
Gather the building materials you’ll need to make your fairy garden. Bringing a bowl, bag, or basket along helps make sure you can collect enough materials. Don’t worry about getting everything listed below, part of the fun is seeing what you can create out of whatever you do find in your own yard.
Outdoor materials
- Twigs and branches
- Leaves and flowers of all shapes and sizes
- Small rocks and pebbles
- Bark and moss
- Seeds, nuts
- Shells
Indoor materials
- Small pieces of fabric
- Yarn and ribbon
- Popsicle sticks
- Scrap pieces of wood
- Buttons, lids and caps
- Cotton balls
- Pipe cleaners, sequins, and craft foam pieces
- Glue
Tools
- Glue—white glue is okay to use but it you want your fairy house to last outside, ask a grown up to help with wood glue or a hot glue gun
- crayons and markers
- Paint (any paint will work, but watercolour and tempera will be lighter and fade faster than acrylic craft paint)
- Scissors
- Sewing thread or string for tying together pieces that are tricky to glue. Pipe cleaners work, too
Construct your house
Once you have everything together, it’s time to get building! Make your walls by experimenting with different ways of attaching and connecting the material you’ve found. Keep building and adding details until it’s just right, there are no rules for making a fairy house or houses. The only limit is your imagination!
Find the perfect spot
Most fairies like to live close to the ground and like their house partly hidden by plants and trees, but still visible if you’re looking for them. One of the best places is nestled against the trunk at the bottom of a big tree, but the builder who can find the best spot for their fairy house. If you make more than one house, you can have your very own fairy garden like the one above.
Keep the fun going
- Learn more about Fairy Houses, opens a new window
- Take a look at this PBS Kids video, opens a new window about making a fairy house, inspired by the book "Pinkalicious Fairy House" by Victoria Kann
- Listen to the audiobook on Hoopla, available with no waiting
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