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Cozy Cottages
Create a community for fairy families by building a picturesque compound of tiny cottages in your outdoor garden.
Maria is a contributing writer for HGTV.com and when she’s not writing about interior design, Maria is putting her design chops to use renovating the 1980’s colonial home she shares with her husband, son and two pups in Charlotte, North Carolina.
We're head-over-heels for these magical, mini landscapes.
Create a community for fairy families by building a picturesque compound of tiny cottages in your outdoor garden.
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You can create a fence for your garden by gluing together a variety of objects found around the house. We used colored pencils and skewers to create our fence, but you can use popsicle sticks, toothpicks, chopsticks, crayons, twigs, plastic forks or spoons, cotton swabs or any other items.
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This petite, printed tent is the perfect spot for a fairy camp-out. Glue cut skewer pieces together to create a tent frame and secure with twine binding. Trim scrap fabric to lay evenly over the frame and secure with hot glue as needed.
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First impressions are everything — yes, even in fairy gardens. This sweet, stone-lined front door is ready to greet guests in style. The best part, though? The pretty white posies, potted in acorn-cap planters.
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Even fairies get mail. A tiny vessel serves as a hub for all those important fairy notes and makes for a colorful decoration as well.
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These miniature clay succulents make perfect additions to a boho-chic fairy garden. Bonus? When you run out of space in the fairy garden, these little plants also add a fun pop of color on a shelf in your home, too! Click the link below to learn how to make your own.
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Fairy gardener Ronna Moore channeled her inner Jane Austen by modeling this picturesque garden after an English country estate.
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Once you have a home for your fairies, you may want to add a mailbox so they can get letters from all their friends! Recreate this at home by making a tube of out of bark, and attach it to a twig with hot glue. Make the mailbox flag out of felt and use our fairies' favorite colors to paint a greeting.
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The friendly gnomes-next-door are serving up some serious curb appeal from this red plaid lunch box. Just look at the lush landscaping, a funky camper and working string lights!
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Miniature succulents make for great full-size plants in a fairy garden display. Place them in tiny pots and group them together for a lively addition.
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At just 30 to 36 inches tall, dwarf hydrangeas like 'Bobo' are a great choice for fairy gardens. Grow them in a secluded nook, so visitors will feel as if they've discovered an enchanted spot. Add low-growing plants and ground covers, or let moss make a natural carpet in a wooded garden.
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This fun, whimsical project can be done by older kids without much supervision, but is also great for parents and little kids to enjoy together. Simply hollow out a gourd, then get creative with polymer clay.
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Add some beachy bliss to your home no matter where you live with this seaside-themed garden. Combine a shark's head (that's actually a painted rock), an Adirondack chair made of popsicle sticks and an ocean made of blue aquarium rocks in a galvanized bucket for a breezy display.
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According to Irish folklore, leprechauns enjoy living in seclusion and are attracted to areas where they can bury their many treasures away from prying eyes. To create the ideal leprechaun retreat, surround a miniature fairy cottage with lush green plants, different types of moss, river rocks and, of course, a pot of gold.
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Create a pathway from one fairy home to another with pieces of stone or rock. Here, tiny planters surround an adorable acorn abode to create a sweet resting place for magical creatures.
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A large terra cotta saucer filled will moss sets the grassy scene for a fairy picnic. Recreate this garden at home and use a hot glue gun to attach the bright red blanket and sleek stepping stones to your display.
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There are fairy gardens, and then there are fairy fiestas. This sweet, saturated display is fashioned from rainbow jelly beans and festive, fun accessories. Yes, the llama is a non-negotiable for those recreating this party at home. Click the link below to make your own.
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A tiny windmill and vibrant succulents make this fairy garden full of life for its magical occupant.
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Just imagine your fairy friends curled up beneath this twiggy pavilion, poring over their favorite fairy tales.
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Surrounded by greenery, this magical mushroom house is made extra cozy with the addition of freshly potted planters out front.
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Think vertical! An easy-to-make stick ladder allows you to create multiple tiers of fun for your fairy friends. Make the ladder even more enticing to by installing a wishing well at the bottom. We made this one out of a bottle cap, river rocks and coffee stir sticks.
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An old hollow log makes a cozy home for outdoor fairies. Attach sun-loving succulents to the top to create a roof and a pathway of stones to let the fairy folk know their new hotel is open for business.
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Fairies get tired, too. This cool hangout spot features all the must-haves for total relaxation — two lawn chairs, a shade tree and even a white picket fence.
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This fall, forget the boring old jack-o-lanterns and create a fairy pumpkin village instead! Recruit the kiddos for endless hours of creative fun.
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A village of whimsical houses, stone pathways and an abundance of magical accessories live at the bottom of a large tree for a fairy-tastic display.
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Make use of your prized potted orchid or bonsai branch and create a sweet swing set for your fairy friends. Pro tip: be sure to keep the swing out of reach of curious kittens and select a stem that’s sturdy enough for a set of wings!
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The best place to unwind after a long, magical day? This cool, cross-printed hammock in the succulent fairy forest, of course. All you need to start this project is a classic terra cotta pot.
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Get creative this Halloween with a spooky graveyard diorama made from twigs, moss and a faux pumpkin.
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Fairies aren't good at building homes, says Betty Earl, author of Fairy Gardens: A Guide to Growing an Enchanted Miniature World, so give them a whimsical cottage, beach house, or castle to live in. Here, a path lined with thyme "bushes" leads to a two-story dwelling. A fragrant dwarf conifer stands guard at the edge of the house.
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Dwarf boxwoods like 'Wee Willie' are excellent for fairy gardens says Nicholas Staddon, Director of New Plant Introductions for Monrovia Growers. At some point, he says, most plants will outgrow these miniature settings, but you can often maintain the size you want with careful, selective pruning.
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Fairies love picnics. This summery scene uses a spotted lungwort, or pulmonaria, and lady ferns behind the colorful flag banner. An ajuga with purplish-green leaves grows to the right of the tiny grill, while a sedum-type plant spills over the edge of the full-sized one.
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Like hard-working gardeners, fairies enjoy an occasional nap. The grass-like plant in this little garden is liriope; the variegated plant in the background is a creeping fig. A sedum grows behind the fairy blowing a kiss. Moss and ferns complete the scene.
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If you can't put your fairy garden in or near the woods, grow your own forest. Here, two large cypress plants add layers of interest to the scene. Grass-like tufts of foliage are ophiopogon. A variegated hosta grows behind the pine cone house while a boxwood sits near the brown rock on the right. Remember to use plants that have the same requirements for sun and water in your mini-forest.
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Some fairies prefer temporary housing. If other materials are lacking, try fashioning a retreat from flowering plants like these daffodils.