There is nothing more charming than a garden is there? Well, possibly one thing…a Leprechaun or Fairy garden! A fairy or leprechaun garden is a miniature garden that can be outside or inside, that uses very small scale plants, cottages and furnishings giving the illusion that wee small creatures live there!
Fairy gardens can be any size or shape and can be built outside nestled by a tree trunk, or in a larger garden almost as a secret until someone really looks! Or as a tabletop display similar to the one I chose to create inside our house!
Because St. Patrick’s Day was just around the corner while I was making this- I went with a leprechaun theme! A leprechaun is a type of fairy in Cletic folklore, usually taking the form of an man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief! Sometimes in Irish mythology leprechauns have a pot of gold they are protecting! That might be a fun addition to a garden!
Some Things to Consider for your Leprechaun Garden:
- Is it meant to withstand the elements outside or can it be more delicate and an indoor display?
- Do you have children or pets that will want to play with it?
- Do you want to hand make everything in your garden, or find treasures to use?
- Is your cottage for a fairy, or a leprechaun, an elf, borrower, or some other mythical creature? A boy or a girl?
- Do you want your setting to light up or glow at night?
- Just how small scale do you want? Want everything super tiny? What about sculpting your own mini furniture or miniature food?
- Is there a cultural or literary history you’d like to make a nod to?
What I did:
- I used this project as a fun way of talking about St. Patrick’s Day with my preschooler, and decided because of that to make the cottage for a leprechaun!
- I used sculpey clay needed into balls and then pressed out in the shape of walkway path stones. I baked them in the oven and then arranged them. I used glow in the dark sculpey, so they would illuminate at night! I’m glad I did, in a happy accident the glowing color is actually green!
- I found a chair, ceramic house and mini lantern at my local garden store, Calloways. (The lantern’s light is made of a marble!)
- I had leftover plants from this succulent wreath project I made, so I used the small ones as set dressing. And the moss as the leprechaun’s “lawn.”
The ceramic leprechaun house was hollow inside, so I put a battery operated votive in it so it would glow at night. That combined with the glow in the dark path stones, makes for a really fun little fairy/leprechaun vignette!
Looking for other ways to celebrate all things Irish? What about St. Patrick’s Day Play dough? Or a great corned beef and cabbage recipe?
Have you ever made a garden for wee folk? Tell me about it!
Cara Daymude says
My friend sells crafts she makes a similar craft to this one but she uses cut up tree stumps for the base with felt glued to bottom and figurines and other misc items for top then she adds Christmas tree lights it looks awesome lighted up at night. I love Fairytale stuff this is an awesome craft idea to add to my to try list.
Angel Heaven Lee says
that is amazing!!!
Kristina & Millie says
love this and love you added the light. Would love to see in person but since I can’t will have to try making my own 🙂 Hope you will come visit us in March for our all things Green themed Snickerdoodle Sunday!
Maria Kitching says
What a wonderful idea. Kinda wish I was small enough to live in it, it’s so adorable.
http://www.crafty-chic.blogspot.com
Sara says
I LOVE this idea. Such a great idea when explaining the upcoming Holiday to my oldest little!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for linking up with us at Tell Me About It Tuesday! I hope you hop over again next week.
Jill says
This is too cute Shannon!
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Mareeyah says
I love this! So cute and that’s so clever that you could turn a fairy garden idea into something perfectly suited for this month’s occasion. 🙂
Jacqui Odell says
This is so cute!! I love it. Thank you for sharing and linking up at Tell Me About It Tuesday.
Kristan Price says
This is absolutely adorable! My kids would love a leprechaun garden!
Lindsay says
That is so cute! I love the glow in the dark touch.
Jill says
I hopped back over to pin this! This is such a cute idea!
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Denise Adorian says
Good job with Your fairy garden.I love making them and change them every year.I have a tea party going on over at My place.Your more than welcome to join Us. Grammie Denise
amina says
where to buy that house