WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
A heavy-duty paper bowl (uncoated)
Two pieces of cardboard
An empty toilet paper cardboard tube
Paint
Paintbrushes
Glitter
Dried Spanish moss
White craft glue
Scissors
A pencil
Assorted fairy furniture (see below)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Take the paper bowl and place it on one piece of cardboard upside-down. Trace around the edge with the pencil. Use the scissors to cut the circle out of the cardboard. Do the same with the other piece of cardboard.
Let the child paint the bowl, one cardboard circle, and toilet paper roll as they desire. Both sides should be painted of the cardboard, and the bowl and tube should be painted inside and outside. This is so it will look attractive to viewers from the outside, and beautiful to the fairies who will be living in it.
It is well known that fairies love sparkly things. That’s where the glitter comes in. Your child may like to put spots of glitter, or sprinkle it all over the wet paint.
Take the painted paper circle. Cut out a hole directly in the center that is slightly smaller in diameter than the toilet paper tube.
Take the toilet paper tube. On each end, cut 1/4 inch vertical slits, approximately ½ inches apart, to create tabs. Bend the tabs back slightly. On one end, which will be the bottom end, cut a rectangular doorway slightly above the tabs. It should measure approximately 1 inch wide and 2 inches tall.
Take the craft glue and put a dab of glue on of each of the bottom tabs. The glue should be on the side facing inward toward the center of the tube. Stand the tube in the center of the unpainted cardboard circle, spreading the tabs out and pressing them down on the cardboard. This will be the base.
Put a dab of glue on the inner side of the tabs on the top of the tube. Place the painted cardboard circle over it, centering the circle in the cardboard over the center of the tube. This will be the entrance that will allow the fairy to fly up after entering through the door. Allow the glue to dry before proceeding.
Put some small fairy furniture on the painted cardboard circle. It must be light to prevent the mushroom from tipping. This can be a tiny matchbox bed that was painted, with cotton inside and a tissue blanket to make it comfortable, or a little bean-bag chair for the fairy to sit on. Place any other trinkets inside that the child would like the fairies to have, as long as they fit.
Take the paper bowl and place it upside-down over the top cardboard circle, making sure it sits evenly on the platform. Make sure the furniture is not too big, or too close to the edge. You want the bowl to completely cover it. When you are satisfied with the furniture placement, glue it in place.
Put a ring of glue around the edge of the cardboard circle. Put the bowl over it, covering the fairy’s small home.
Spread glue over the bottom base around the tube, or the "stem." Cover it with Spanish moss by pressing it gently into the glue. Allow it to dry.
If you like, make a welcome sign to put in front of the house, inviting a fairy to take up residence. Any lucky fairy who stumbles upon this cute house will be happy to call it her home.
