Foraged materials like mushrooms, pinecones, and branches make little woodland houses so realistic looking that you would think they were made by fairies. Using natural elements, the Fairy House Ladies of Disney—sisters Rhonda Maseman and Vikki Yarborough—have been designing whimsical foraged fairy houses for the past ten years. Their designs are not just fanciful; they are also weatherproof and can stay outside all year.
The increase in the popularity of fairy gardening has brought many mass-produced fairy houses that have the look of a whimsical woodsy cottage. These plastic structures look like they are covered in moss, bark, and acorns, mimicking the found materials that we can imagine fairies would have used to build their abodes. But why use plastic when nature makes the best materials?
Once you see the artistry of the foraged fairy houses in Tinkerbell’s garden at Epcot, you will want to send the plastic versions off to Neverland.
There were many designs and creative ideas.
Of course, each is a one-of-a-kind creation.
And made to last through sun and rain.
Or one for the birds!
The artists shared a few tips with me on how they make these fairy houses so they last against the elements, but how you decorate for the fairies is completely up to you!
How to Make Foraged Fairy Houses
Materials
- Craft birdhouse made from wood
- Outdoor craft paint
- Foraged plant materials
- Pruners
- Polyurethane premium construction adhesive for outdoor use in a caulking gun
- Wood glue
- Extra strength hot glue using a high-temperature hot glue gun
- Outdoor spray sealer like Minwax Spar Urethane
Make It!
You can use a small wood birdhouse as the base structure of the fairy house and use the foraged elements to decorate it. It has the right structure and dimensions already, so your time can be spent creating the facade. Most of the supplies are found outdoors and include seed pods, leaves, shells, pebbles, twigs, and mushrooms.
Paint the wood with an outdoor craft paint to seal it. This also helps to hide the base when the shingles and roof are added.
You can also use other found elements, from a metal kettle to a roller skate.
Attach the found and foraged elements to the base using:
- extra strength hot glue using a high-temperature hot glue gun,
- polyurethane premium construction adhesive, and/or
- wood glue.
When you have attached all of the elements, seal the entire house with an outdoor spray polyurethane. The Fairy House Ladies swear by Spar Urethane sealer as it doesn’t yellow with age.
Other Whimsical Projects to Make
- Hanging Solar Lights: Create Solar Fairly Lights with a DIY Chandelier
- Whimsical Clay Planter Ornaments
- Garden Tour: A Full-Size Yard Filled with Magical Miniature Gardens
- Hopscotch Stepping Stones for the Garden
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
So adorable! I visited Epcot a few years ago for the Flower and Garden Festival, and at that time they also had a fairy garden house display. I was inspired to make my own, and I ended up with two different birdhouses-turned-fairyhouses. I love them both! Thanks for sharing these great ideas, of course, the Imagineers’ versions are much more inventive and detailed than mine turned out to be. Nonetheless, a fun project that I still enjoy.
Jenny, I would love to see a picture of yours! IO can’t wait to give one a try.
Every year for the past 3 years I have had a day of fairy garden making with my two granddaughters. This year was our best ever because I actually bought little miniature plants at our local nursery. I have a bunch of succulent starts we will be using this year too. Unfortunately with the California shut down, I may not be able to do this project with the girls, but I will definitely pin this so I will be ready next year! Thank you so much!