Surprisingly easy and utterly adorable, the Pebble Fairy House turned out even better than I expected! It took 20 minutes to construct and it now takes pride place at the base of our backyard tree.
Materials
Pebbles or stones (collected or you can find them at places like a nursery, Bunnings, discount stores or garden centres).
Hot glue gun (I used 4 glue sticks)
Bark
Ice-cream container lid
Instructions
1. Place a layer of pebbles down on the ice-cream lid in the size/shape desired. Once happy with the position, glue each stone down.
2. Create a second layer of pebbles by gluing each stone in position on top of/in between another pebble. It doesn’t really matter if the size/shape of the pebbles differ because it’s rustic looking.
3. I started it off, and then my almost-12-year-old daughter took over. I trust her with the hot glue gun, but I wouldn’t give it to a younger child. Continue layering the pebbles until the fairy house is the desired height. (Place glue on the bottom AND each side of the stones for extra strength).
4. Look for a few pieces of bark for the roof. My daughter found the bark pictured on a nearby tree.
5. The roof is probably the trickiest part. My daughter had the idea of building the stones up at the back of the house in a triangle shape to support the bark. This worked a treat. We arranged and glued a few pieces of bark on and attached a plastic flower we had in the craft box.
6. Cut the plastic ice-cream lid around the edge of the house (using a craft knife on a board). This makes it easy to blend the fairy house into grass or dirt so it looks more realistic.
7. Use another piece of bark and lean over the hole for the door.
Done!
The Pebble Fairy House isn’t designed to last forever but oooo-eeee, it looks cute! And it’s surprisingly sturdy. We decided to put it at the base of our backyard tree, next to the twig rope ladder. It would be a fun craft for older kids to make and use as decoration on a dresser in their room too.
My three younger children made peg dolls to go with the new fairy home. Love that: when all the family is involved in a little project in different ways. Miss 12 made the house with me. Then Miss 9 helped the younger kids (7 and 5) make peg dolls, and they played. Gold.
28 Comments
Emma @ Family Life Central
April 22, 2013 at 1:31 amOh wow, this is absolutely adorable – my nieces would love it, will have to tell my mum about it to do one for her house.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:46 amWhat a fun thing for a grandparent to do!
katie
April 22, 2013 at 8:53 amtoo cute! you could be brave (in a manner of speaking!) like teacher tom and let everyone use the glue gun… http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/here-they-are-doing-all-of-that.html
i was thinking of buying one (a hot glue gun) to build some stuff with my 4 year old – but maybe i’m just as crazy as teacher tom is! teehee!! 🙂
thanks for the gorgeous idea 🙂
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 22, 2013 at 9:19 amHa! Teacher Tom is cool! I let my 12-year-old go for it and I didn’t necessarily need to supervise her. I would let me 9 year-old too…
I’m sure my son (5) would love (LOVE) to use it…I would have to heavily supervise…but I think it’s a great idea with wood and stuff. It’s such a great tool really for craft because it dries so quickly!
Kate - An Everyday Story
April 22, 2013 at 1:42 pmSo cute indeed and your little oh so adorable twig ladder is still there 🙂 A friend of mine’s little boy, he’s 5, is completely obsessed with his new fairy garden and busily tinkers away at it everyday. My friend always finds little trinkets from inside have made their way down to the fairy garden. It’s so sweet. My two aren’t too interested…yet! But oh the fun we will have when they are. Such a sweet little house.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:46 amOur little rope string IS still going strong! 🙂
Debs
April 22, 2013 at 1:47 pmOh wow, this is so beautiful! I have a hot glue gun but haven’t used it with my 4 y/o yet, although having a lot of experience with glueing etc, I imagine that with careful adult supervision she would be able to have a go. Although, really, I just want to make it myself hehe… I *suppose* I could let her help me a wee bit. haha 🙂
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:45 amLOL. I know what you mean…I had to force myself to step back an allow my 12-year-old to take over. haha…
Jackie@My Little Bookcase
April 22, 2013 at 1:55 pmAbsolutely divine. I just love your fairy garden series at the moment.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:44 amThanks Jackie. It’s fun to do things bit by bit like this…isnt’ it?
Katie @ The Imperfect Housewife
April 22, 2013 at 2:03 pmKelly this is AMAZING. We have just started creating a fairy garden and can’t wait to give this a go!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:44 amIt really was surprisingly easy Katie. And fun!
bodysoluble
April 22, 2013 at 7:43 pmoh i’ve been looking everywhere for a proper little fairy house for our mossy fairy garden! I kept looking for a wire one, or pre-built thing of wood… never occurred to me to make one myself from stones. SO doing this. <3
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:43 amI hope you enjoy putting it together as much as we did.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:44 amOh, and I woul say too, that if you want it as a permanent garden fixture (I don’t expect ours to last for more than a month or so) I would investigate some different types of glue designed especially for stone on stone.
Nae @ adventuresathomewithmum
April 22, 2013 at 10:12 pmAww so gorgeous. We did a gnome garden, this little style fairy house would fit right in 🙂
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:42 amI’m sure it would Nae. Got to love a bit of magic in the garden.
Penny
April 23, 2013 at 5:11 amOh my goodness, a glue stick. I sooo need to get one because I’ll be making one of these. Actually, do you think it would be okay to litter the nature reserve behind us with a couple of them? I’m sure a little girl would be stoked to find one! he he he
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:41 amI’m sure!
Frau_Mahlzahn
April 24, 2013 at 5:38 pmNow I feel really bad, because _once again_ I have to copy this brilliant idea. It’s great! And it’s just the right thing to do with Minka — she will love it!
Where do you always come up with these ideas?
So long,
Corinna
P.S.: I won’t be able to donate to your project b/c with all the fees it will be to expensive from Austria. But I keep my fingers crossed that it will be a huge success and will be curious to learn more about your experiences!
Frau_Mahlzahn
April 24, 2013 at 11:57 pmSee… just showed it to Minka… and off we are to collect stones and stuff to make one ourselves, ;-).
I think Minka would really love to live in your family — and btw. your daughter is absolutely adorable.
So long,
Corinna
Frau_Mahlzahn
April 25, 2013 at 4:39 amSee, we didn’t waste any time, ;-)…
http://fraumahlzahnsgrazerlei.blogspot.co.at/2013/04/copycat.html
The good part was, that this was the perfect occasion to introduce Minka to the word “copycat”. Which she thinks has a funny sound to it. She also likes the word “pebbles.”
So really, it was a very educational afternoon, ;-).
I really hope, you don’t mind that I keep copying your ideas…
So long,
Corinna
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 26, 2013 at 11:40 amHi Corinna! I’m so glad you were inspired to make your own. It is so easy, isn’t it!? And it looks GREAT!
Kelly
Kate Lloyd
April 28, 2013 at 9:35 pmWhat an adorable little fairy house. I love that it is so simple to make and can be admired forever. I will look forward to making one of these when my little girl starts understanding fairies. Thanks for posting.
Cath
June 2, 2013 at 8:35 pmThis didn’t work for me. The stones were so smooth, the glue couldn’t stick them together – the glue would harden then slide off. Did anyone else have this problem? went to bunnings and bought some Selleys stuff in a tube that is meant to stick anything to anything and had another go – I’m going to let it dry overnight and fingers crossed it will stick properly this time.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
June 7, 2013 at 11:08 amWhat a shame! Do let me know how you went with the other glue Cath.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
May 26, 2014 at 8:56 amCath, how did you go with the other glue?
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