Who knew milk cartons had so much potential??? They are perfect for making fairy houses and gnome homes! First off, a milk carton is just the right size for fairies…all it needs is a door and a few windows to make it feel like home. Milk cartons are also water-proof, providing adequate housing for both indoor and outdoor use. WB and L like to play with their fairy houses during the day and, at night, we tuck a little tea light inside to turn them into night lights! So sweet!
Materials needed:
- milk cartons
- white primer spray paint
- exacto knife
- acrylic paints
- hot glue gun
- sticks, bark, moss, acorns, etc.
- battery-operated tea lights
First, spray your milk cartons with some primer. The surface of milk cartons is usually waxy and paint will have a hard time sticking. A coat or two of primer should do the trick!
Next, using an exacto knife, carefully cut a door and windows into the house. And do not worry…the windows don’t need to be perfect! Fairy houses’ never are!
Now the fun part for the kids, have your little ones paint and decorate the houses. Start with a solid color or two underneath.
Then add details like polka-dot doors and Fall pumpkins. For our pumpkins, the kids used a wine cork as a stamp!
While the paint dries, send the kids outside to collect nature materials to use for a roof.
Before assembling the roof, you can easily flip the screw-top opening inwards. Just push it in with your fingers…it’s easier than you think!
Glue twigs or bark over the opening, and then add all sorts of nature findings. Each house will be unique!
To light your fairy houses up at night, place battery-operated tea lights inside. You could also use a string of lights in and around the houses for a magical display!
“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” -Roald Dahl
