Quick & Easy Fairy House Craft For Kids

When I asked my daughter what she wanted to do on her 3rd birthday she said “Eat candy” and “Make a fairy house.” We didn’t have any candy in the house but we did have these great little birdhouses that with a few supplies we had on hand transformed into a quick and easy fairy house craft for kids. I based this craft on the elf houses we made at Christmas.

1. Gather your materials. You will need a small wooden birdhouse, some acrylic paint, glue, jewels, beads, sequins, a dish for paint , paint brushes, scissors, and painter’s tape.
2. Start by deciding what sort of windows and doors you want your house to have. With older kids you could have them paint the windows on on but with younger ones I love using painter’s tape as a resist to make them. Use scissors to make your shapes. My daughter wanted circular windows and a rounded door. Remember you are making the back of the birdhouse into the front of the fairy house. I did the cutting.
3. Time to paint! Pour the colors they choose onto a paper plate. When I use acrylic I like using paper plates to make clean up easier. Sometimes I need to pop paint up and away from little hands  quickly and this paint dries fast so if life gets nuts half way through a craft having it on a disposable plate makes clean up easier.  My daughter went with a pink theme… which pretty much matches her theme in real life lately.
4. Let the paint dry completely. Acrylic paint dries fast so we counted some beads, had a quick snack and it was dry. If you have globs of paint it will take longer but in a pinch a hairdryer can help .
5. Grab the glue and add on the extra bits. If you are making this house for outside make sure you use glue that will withstand all weather.  I love that my daughter is past the stage where she put everything in her mouth because little bits and bobs like these beads and jewels really turn this into a fairy house. If your child is not ready for them yet try glitter glue for a safer option.
6. Let dry. Our fairy house is staying inside but if you want yours to live outside spray it with an all weather protector like Mod Podge Outdoor to protect it from the elements.

j

Books About Fairies

n

The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton is a cute book about a little girl who loves all things princess related. What I like about this book is that its message isn’t heavy handed and  it celebrates princesses while sneaking in some very positive messages too. In a world where many parents ( me included) have issues with this whole princess thing and struggle to find that balance this book has it. It tells you it’s OK to want to be a princess and to “let your sparkle out!” and talks about confidence in the process. I must admit though I am a total Julie Andrews fan and I am not sure I’d ever dislike anything Maria , I mean Mary Poppins I mean Julie Andrews wrote.

Alice The Fairy is such a sweet book about a fairy who is still learning the ropes. I love the spells she casts and kids relate to her type of magic, I promise! I love that this book is about a fairy but not the Disney idea that we are so often bombarded with. It’s fresh, fun and my daughter absolutely loves it. I have been in love with this book for many years and to see my daughter connect with Alice so well just tickles me to pieces.

Princess in the Forest by Sibylle Von Olfers  is more than 100 years old yet my toddler absolutely loved this book.  The story is amazingly simple and the illustrations are what a fairytale should look like.  The princess is met at different times of the day by various magical fairy children and forest creatures who care for and play with her. My daughter loves babies and the Dew Children who come to help the princess get dressed , the Moss Children who bring her food and the Star Children who illuminate her night enchanted her. She would immediately turn to each page with these angelic creatures and touch each one with her little fingers. This book doesn’t have a strong moral message but its simplicity is so peaceful and calming that it makes a wonderful bedtime book for young kids.