The Building of a Fairy Garden

While on the road, I enjoy painting during free time. Because all that is needed is a rock, paint and a brush it is an excellent activity to pass the hours as we relax at our campsite. The process is simple, and anyone can accomplish this simple craft project. Numerous examples are available on Pinterest to get started and over time with practice, small personal touches will evolved. What I enjoy most is that since rocks are used as the base, there is limited expense and if a mistake occurs it is corrected with a little scrubbing.

Two reasons I love this hobby are that I create memories of our travels and get to share them with my granddaughters. When we are exploring new terrain, I keep my eyes out for rocks to make fairy houses. Anything will work and the more unique the better to inspire creativity. The varying sizes, textures and shapes offer inspiration.

For the last six years, each spring the fairies return to our yard after the cold winter months. I have explained to the youngest grandchildren that the fairies migrate like the birds and return to enjoy the warm weather. Of course in reality, the homes and decor are packed away and hidden from small eyes and then repositioned each year. As some of the girls have grown, they have learned the truth about fairies, Santa, and the Easter Bunny. Now as teens they help me assemble the village and have even painted a few homes to add to the community.

On one trip, as my husband and I walked along the ocean beach, small rocks, driftwood, seashells and sand were added to our pockets. With all the items spread before me later in the afternoon, the idea to create a beach house sprang to mind. I used the wood as the house and decorated it with the other collected items. The sand was saved until we arrived home. When the kids visited, we spread the sand out in a corner of the fairy garden and waited to see what happened.

By sharing a tale of how fairies sometimes stowaway with travelers, we fantasized that maybe one had hidden in the sand and would build a house. We waited and sure enough on the next visit to grandma's house a new fairy house had appeared on the sand decorated with seashells and rocks from the ocean.

The following year some red, sandstone rocks were gathered from the Grand Canyon. It wasn't long before they formed a row of adobe homes inhabited by more fairies. The year both daughters purchased travel trailers of their own, some fairies started camping just outside the town.

Over the years the older fairy houses began to wear but just like any home with a little cleaning and touchup they were repaired and restored. At first, I stressed when some paint started to peel but realized the elements of nature wear on everything and pushed me to be more diligent to preserve the rock buildings. It is important to clean and spray the rocks with a clear, sealant. I use Krylon spray-on acrylic.

Follow these tips for best results.

1. Hold the can several inches away from the surface.
2. Spay a light coat to keep from causing runs.
3. After it dries thoroughly, spay a second coat.
4. Allow the rocks lay in the sun until they are completely dry to the touch. Do not rush the process.
5. After the top and sides are dry, spray the bottom.
6. Seal on warm, dry days when there is no wind.

In most cases, we have kept the fairy garden natural by using different colors of rocks, bark, pine cones, moss and items found in nature. However, sometimes a few tiles leftover from a home improvement project have created walkways, a marble atop a wooden dowel made a cute gazing ball, and blue decorative glass created the impression of a stream. Some friends have presented the children with small features to add but usually there is little to not financial expense except for the plastic fairies that were purchased in a tube at the art store.

These brought the whole village to life. The girls play with them like Barbies giving them voices and building backstories. When asked why the never move, my answer is simple. "Everyone knows fairies freeze when human are around, however, they love the interaction when you kids play with them."

This hobby takes no prior art training. Anyone who can paint a line has all the skills necessary to be successful. I have learned to start with lighter colors so when applying darker colors mistakes can be covered. The paint can be purchased at any craft store and range from .99 cents to $1.50. I buy the small containers so they are easy to transport in our RV.

If you want to explore Pinterest, search rock fairy houses. A multitude of images will appear and from there your imagination can soar with creative ideas.

With a little more searching, tutorials are available for not only house but for cute decorations to give life to your creation.

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Read our travel adventures on my blog, I AM My Best!

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