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Do you believe in fairies? I did when I was a little girl, and I love that my granddaughter does, too! To celebrate this fact – and to gift myself with a little dose of childhood nostalgia – I invited her to craft magic gourd fairy houses with me.
These little dwellings are precisely as they sound and are so easy and fun to make! Here is all you need to make one (or 5) with your grandbabies:
Supplies
- Dried gourds
- Acrylic paints and brushes
- Craft knife
- Pencil
- Mod Podge (or another clear sealant)
- Decorative items (glitter, moss, tiny pebbles, twigs, dried flowers, etc.)
- Hot glue gun
1. Prep the gourd
Before you begin, ensure your gourd is clean and free of dirt. If there are any rough spots, you can lightly sand them. (Please note that if the gourd is freshly harvested, it needs to be dried, which can take several weeks!)
2. Designing
Using a pencil, lightly sketch where you’d like the fairy door and windows to go. Encourage creativity, as this is everyone’s time to shine with things like round doors, heart-shaped windows, or anything else that you can dream up.
3. Carving
With the craft knife, carefully (grown-ups might want to take on this part) carve out the door and windows. They don’t have to open – they can even be just indents or cut-outs.
4. Painting
Once your carving is done, it’s painting time! Paint the gourd’s exterior with the desired colors, be it a sun-kissed yellow, magical purple, or the color of the autumn leaves. Allow each coat of paint to dry before applying another or adding details.
5. Decorating
Now for the extra fun part: Use the hot glue gun to attach moss as a roof or around the base. Tiny pebbles can make a winding fairy path. Twigs? They’re perfect for making a rustic fairy ladder or fence. And a sprinkle of glitter? That’s fairy magic right there!
6. Sealing
Once you and your grandchild are satisfied with your fairy house, apply a coat or two of Mod Podge or a clear sealant to protect your creation from the elements (especially if you decide to place it outside).
7. Final touches
To truly set the scene, place your gourd fairy house in the garden, on a windowsill, or anywhere you think the fairies might visit. Surround it with tiny LED lights or tea candles (placed safely) to give a magical glow during the evenings.
Conclusion
Pure magic, right? You’ve crafted a unique, enchanting space for fairy folk, spun from your combined imaginations. Every time your grandchild looks at it, they’ll be reminded of the magic they created with their beloved grandma. What can be better than that?
