It was a good friend of mines' birthday and she is a gardener, her home has a variety of plants and flowers so I thought it would be a perfect gift to create a li'l fairy garden for her. Would you like to know how to create a fairy garden they are really simple to make.
First you need to gather your supplies. You'll need a vessel to hold the selected plants and other . "fairyish items" I was originally going to use this terracotta saucer but ended up using my black and white enamelnware basin that I picked up at yard-sale many moons ago but you can use about anything that can hold dirt as your container. I'll post some creative containers at the end of this post to give you some ideas.
Layer the bottom of your chosen container with some rocks for drainage. I used some white rocks we got at the garden store for my daughter's succulent globe project, but you could use rocks from an aquarium supply store or marbles from the toy store. I have quite a few containers in my home that don't have adequate drainage holes so I use the pebbles to keep the plants from getting root rot.
You can use the little miniature terrarium-type plants for your garden or you could choose succulents too, It is all personal preference. I was going for a white and green color theme here so they drove my color selection. Everything looks adorbs in miniature, doesn't it?
I also picked up a metal mini garden set in white to compliment the variegated mini plant. You can also find some more miniature items at Michaels to add to your fairy garden such as terracotta pots, flat rocks, toadstools, anything that strikes your fancy. I didn't actually add a fairy but you could.
Then you add potting soil, arrange your plants and garden décor inside and top with moss. I added a cute and colorful banner made out of washi tape and tied it with jute to some tree twigs that I collected from my yard, you could also use patterned straws or barbeque skewers. I like the twigs for a rustic look.
I wrapped the fairy garden up in a basket bag and created a banner tag that I created with a few more washi tape flags. I penned in a string on the tag and I was done ran a polka dotted ribbon through the tag and wrote a note on the back to my BFF.
You can find many different colors and patterns of washi tape at Michaels, I've been using my coupons and getting them for 40% off and have amassed quite a collection, this is just a few selections.
I gathered all my supplies for the banner, you'll need a sharp pair of scissors to cut the flags.
I cut a rectangle shape and folded it over and then cut a triangle to make the little flags you can choose to use the flag shape or more of a pennant shape.
I used five of them for this one. I pulled of the backing, folded it over the jute and stuck the twigs in the dirt.
Here is a smaller washi tape banner I made for my wicker, teacup succulent planter, I chose more subdued colors in browns and tans.
It sits on top of an old milk jug I've had for years, my Mama had one in our house forever.
Here is another version of a fairy garden using a broken terracotta pot and I love how this one is using mini evergreen trees.
Look at this ingenious one inside a twiggy orb. As you can see any kind of container can work.
Awww I love the treehouse feature on this fairy garden with the colorful banners and the ladder up the tree with the tire swing.
The fairies must party at night in the garden because it has mini twinkle lights...how darling is that?! Party on fairies!
The granddaddy fairy garden of them all, this garden in a wood wagon. I love it! As you can see, you can be as elaborate or simple like I did or not. I'd like to make another for my own home so I'm on the look out for the perfect container. I've seen them in old red flyer wagons and I have a few empty terracotta pots I might use. I'll share on the blog here when I get it all done. I like collecting things over time as I see them, that's the fun part about creating is checking yard-sales or thrift stores for your items they just need to be to scale.
If you are looking for something fun to do with your kids this weekend this is a perfect project for you. Hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Gardening.
Joan,
You can poke holes, I have my metal bin where I pokes holes through it and others I put some gravel on the bottom for drainage. I think with your flyer I'd use a drill and poke the holes.
Posted by: Gabrielle Mader | August 23, 2020 at 10:27 AM
I have an old metal flyer wagon that I wold like to set up a fairy garden like you have in the wooden wagon. My question is how do I make drainage for it. Poke holes in the bottom?
Posted by: Joan Bale | August 16, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Hi Juanita,
I have no idea, I found that picture on pinterest, I used it for inspiration for my own. The one I created was the first few pictures and the last picture, a birthday gift I put together for my friend. I did another one recently which I have not posted, in a bigger enamel pan. Sorry I wasn't much help. Have a great day.
Posted by: GABRIELLE | May 01, 2020 at 05:42 PM
Where was the fairy house purchased in the wooden wagon totally love it
Posted by: Juanita | April 30, 2020 at 07:27 PM
I have 2 natural ones
Posted by: Ellen Clark | June 19, 2016 at 05:16 PM
I have 2 natural ones
Posted by: Ellen Clark | June 19, 2016 at 05:16 PM
Hi Karen! yes, there are some great ideas all over the internet, I made this one last year for my good friend. I'm gearing up in the next couple of weeks to make one for myself, I've started to collect a few items here and there. Good luck!
Posted by: Gabrielle Mader | March 25, 2016 at 09:20 AM
I LOVE ALL YOUR IDEAS. I'M AN AVID FAIR COLLECTOR AND AM LOOKING FOR IDEAS FOR A FAIRY GARDEN IN A MEDAL ORB. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED.
THANKS FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL IDEAS.
A FAIRY SISTER
KAREN
Posted by: KAREN JOHNSON | March 23, 2016 at 02:23 PM