INSIDE: How to use a (clean) tin can for DIY Fairy Garden House. Use patio paints and floral wire to bring the fairies to your garden today.
On her 6th birthday, my daughter had a Fairy Garden party theme. I hosted a flurry of little girls in fairy wings and flower wreaths, where they created their own fairy gardens with wooden fairy houses to take home. Super sweet and the girls had a “fairy” good time!
But after our summer sun, the wooden fairy house started to show its wear. The fairy garden needed a pint-sized renovation and something able to withstand the elements.
So, I grabbed some tin soup cans, bottles of patio paint and made some weather-friendly fairy garden houses to welcome the fairies into our garden…
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How To Make a Fairy Garden House from Tin Can
While I don’t know too much about fairy gardens, I do know that they are very sweet, special to little girls and the accessories can be a little on the pricey side.
For the cost of a can of soup and a few bottles of craft patio paint, you can quickly and easily create a DIY fairy house for your garden today.
Fairy-Building Tools
– Tin cans, labels removed
– Metal cutter
– Wire pliers
– Craft patio (outdoor use) acrylic paint + brush
– Wire or floral wire
– Screwdriver (and some arm muscle)
How to make a tin can fairy garden house
Making a fairy house (and subsequent fairy garden) is truly a creative process. You can create it in any way you wish with whatever accessories you like. So get creative and fairy on, my friends!
Step No. 1: Use your metal cutters to cut a door. Or, easier yet, paint on a door.
Step No. 2: Cut up a second tin can to create a roof. I cut a tin can in half and cut slits around the edge. I then bent each slit upwards. (See photo below.)
Friendly Fairy Tip: I used the wire pliers to bend back any sharp, cut ends of the can. Not worth a trip to urgent care!
Step No. 3: Paint your tin can.
Step No. 4: Add whatever creative details on your “house”.
how to build a fairy garden for cheap
I had an extra tin can so I made a second tin can fairy house. I followed Steps No. 1-4 but tweaked the roof…
Remember we cut a tin can in half? To make this little roof, I used the second half of that can, cutting out a section.
I then relied (heavily) on my doing bicep curls a few times a week to punch two holes through this piece. I secured it to the can via floral wire and added a few curly ques for some fairy fun.
Friendly Fairy Tip: Take the piece of tin and your screwdriver outside. Lay it on the ground and push down (super) hard on the screwdriver until it punches through. Best to do this part outside on the ground so you don’t damage your floors or counter!
And here are our tin can fairy houses.
Hopefully our garden will be lucky enough to have a fairy or two stop by.
So friends, keep calm and believe in fairies. I know of a little girl who does!
Other DIY Garden Ideas:
- Use a thrift store candelabra to create a freestanding garden planter
- Upcycle an umbrella stand into practical patio table
- Turn black plastic flower pots into a colorful flower front door decor
- Grandma’s candlestick made into a plant stand
- DIY patio table planter around an umbrella hole
You May Also Like:
How To Make Flower Front Door Decor Using Plastic Nursery Pots
How to Use a Shower Caddy as a Vertical Planter
How to Make an Easy Vintage Candlestick Plant Stand
DIY Hanging Orb Planter For $10
DIY Candelabra Garden Planter In 3 Easy Steps
Make Your Own Solar Lights to Hang in a Tree- How to Use a Shower Caddy as a Vertical Planter
- How to Make Easy Vintage Candlestick Plant Stand
How to Make Easy DIY Umbrella Table Flower Planter
How to Make Patio Side Table from Old Umbrella Stand
Kristina & Millie says
so super cute! Love your tin can fairy houses! decorate as you like and they will survive all kinds of weather! Thanks for the tute!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Yes, I agree! Other than dealing with cut metal, it was super easy.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom says
These are SO cute!!!!! And, what a great idea to have a fairy garden birthday party theme! I have a fairy garden in our back yard in a bird bath, it has worked out well over the years.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thank you for stopping by! The fairy houses were fun (and easy) to make.
Teresa says
So cute! Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week! Pinned!
Julie says
I’m guessing that you could just paint them to look like little houses too, couldn’t you. If the cutting was too tricky or little children wanted to get in on the decorating. But then how would the fairies get in???…I’ve not thought this through!
Erlene says
Cute idea to recycle some cans into a fairy home. I try to make new fairy homes each year and this looks like a fun project. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday.
Heather says
Super cute! I’ve been wanting to make a fairy garden for our backyard 🙂
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thank you!
Jessica H. says
This is so adorable! Thanks so much for sharing this project for Maker’s Mix-Up this week!
Meg says
Adorable. I have always dreamed of having little fairy tea parties in my backyard with my daughters. I have two little boys right now, but even they would think these little houses are cool. Thanks!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks for stopping by. Maybe make it a superhero house instead?!
Marsha Blog says
Fantastic! I can’t believe that you’re so creative and meticulous. I have two children and they’re watching for ideas with me. You know, my daughter is really enjoy your garden house ^^
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks! My daughter is all about fairies so hopefully this little fairy house brings good vibes to my plants!
Diana Petrillo says
Your fairy houses are just darling! I love the colors you chose and the roofs are so imaginative 🙂 Thanks for linking them up at Vintage Charm–
Theresa @DearCreatives says
How adorable. We have a fairy garden in our back yard that needs sprucing up. Pinned & shared.Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party!
Carol says
Very cute! a great up-cycle.
Debra Needles says
I love this!!! I just bought my first couple of fairy garden pieces. Never thought of making one myself! Pinning this to my Garden Ideas board! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday 🙂
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse says
Adorable! I love the inventive ways you used plain old tin cans and paint. Thank you for sharing your fairy garden at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
I was wondering how to made it kiddo safe, thanks for sharing what tool you used. I made some tin can fairy houses a couple summers ago but refused to let my kids help after I had the doors cut out of fear they would slice their fingers. They will be tickled to get to make some this summer!
Theresa says
Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. shared.
LydiaF says
Fun project! Love the colorful whimsy and I’m sure the fairies are very comfortable 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty #ccbg
Debrashoppeno5 says
How precious this is. I bet the party was a blast.
debbie says
What a fun and cute idea! The party sounded wonderful as well. The colors are lovely and it looks so cute in the planting you placed it. Thank you for sharing at TADA! Thursdays.
Karren Haller says
Oh My Heart, I just had to come see your miniature can fairy house, soooooo dang cute!!!
Pinned on my huge board of fairy gardens!!!
Also following you now on Pinterest, FB and Twitter!!!
Thanks for sharing on #OHGWW this week!
Hope you make it next week!!!
Carol ("Mimi") says
This sounds like a great idea for a birthday party. The children had a chance to learn something and to use their imaginations. The fairy houses are so cute!
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks Mimi! Yes, it would be a fun birthday activity.
Leslie says
Those are so cute! My kids would definitely love to make one of them for their fairy garden. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Jen says
Oh my goodness this is the cutest! We have a fairy garden in the yard, that really needs one of these! #happynowlinkup
Sam - Raggedy Bits says
Such a sweet and clever idea! I bet your daughter was thrilled to bits!
Thank you for sharing your sweet project with us over at Waste Not Wednesday!
kathleen says
You are such a good mom! I know those fairy houses and accessories can be so expensive, you did a great job. Thanks fr sharing at Vintage Charm!
xo Kathleen
Tracy Albiero says
These are really cute. What a great idea. I have plastic ones…I wonder if that will do the same thing? My little one would love it!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Sure! Just use paints designed for plastic like acrylic “patio paints”.
Michelle Leslie says
Awwww Victoria, they are adorable. We love making fairy gardens too, there’s just something so special about making a miniature world and letting our imaginations run wild. I bet there are loads of happy fairies in your garden
Mother of 3 says
That is so cute! I have been collecting items for the past year with the intention of making a fairy garden but have yet to actually attempt one! I’m not sure why I find the thought of making one so daunting. They are always so adorable. Pinned.
Jenny says
Adorable idea & a great way to reuse a can. I will be featuring this at Merry Monday in my Get Crafty post. See you at the party.