Elf Tree House

Inspired by the lovely comment of Enchanted Schoolroom I created this elf tree house. It is made of a tree branch, moss, 4 terracotta water platters in different sizes and half a flower pot (I used a broke one and chipped the sides of with a hammer). With a hot glue gun I attached the branch to the platters and decorated it later with moss, furniture and a stairs out of birch branches. On top of the elf house there is a roof terrace with a garden.

A lovely elf staircase is easy to make. Use birch slices and glue them together with a hot glue gun. Start gluing from the point where you want the stairs to end, work in reverse from top to bottom for a natural curved tree stairs.

For the tree house I cut the branch in two pieces, 

a larger piece (2/3) and a smaller one (1/3) for on top. The large piece I cut from the bottom right and I attached it to the largest platter using a hot glue gun. I made sure it was stabile before attaching the other 2 platters to the branch.

Then I attached the smaller piece of branch to one of the platters and glued the last platter on top. The half flower pot was glued on the other platter and finally I decorated the bottom of all the platters with moss.

For the residents of the house; you can find the patterns and tutorial for the dolls here.

This tree house can be placed indoors or outdoors but beware with younger children because the terracotta platters can break. Instead of an elf house it also makes a lovely plantstand, nature table or a special tablepiece with flowers and candles. Enjoy!

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Fairy Houses - Snail Shell Fairy House Tutorial

This week some neighborhood kids surprised me with a basket full of snail shells!

They asked me what I would make with all these shells and I told them that I would try to make another fairy house but this time a house for the Snail Fairy.

This fairy house is built exactly the same way as the cork fairy house but this time I used snail shells instead of cork slices. Finally I painted the shells with a non toxic coating to enhance the colours but you can also use olive oil. Don't oil them in advance otherwise the shells won't stick with the glue.

For the complete step by step photo-tutorial click here

The fairy houses are very light and easy to attach to any surface, this time I used dried bark. I'm in love with the soft tones and spiral forms of these snail shells, each one is unique... just perfect for a fairy house!

Have a magical day!

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Guest Blog Magic Onions!

Today I am a proud guest blogger again at the lovely blog The Magic Onions !

For this heartwarming blog I have created a zen fairy garden.

I hope you will join me today and check it out! 

with love xxx sas

Natural Play - Discovery Garden

In our garden there are no plastic toys and plastic playground equipment but instead I tried to create a discovery garden with simple (recycled) natural materials and plants. And I did my best to attract birds and insects. We enjoy the results every day now...

In our relatively small garden (8x7 meters) there are two trees, a large chestnut and an elm tree. Within a week time the chestnut has changed from buds to fresh green leaves. I am so grateful for her presence because she is cleaning our air (converting carbon dioxide into oxygen).  Lately I had been worrying about two air polluting companies next door. But since this green giant has returned 

from hibernation I am somewhat reassured. 

 Trees are almost instantly creating a magical playground for kids, because these green shelters are harboring and attracting all kinds of birds and insects. The biodiversity increases instantly the moment you plant a native tree! These days I see a lot of trees being cut down to make room for artificial playground for children. But isn't a tree the ultimate playground? My son plays in the shadow of the trees

while  listening to the rustling leaves. And my baby looks mesmerized at the branches dancing in the wind. No artificial toy could ever replace that.

Birds are the crown jewels in our garden. They brighten our day and every time a new species turns up I feel blessed. When you provide shelter, add water bowls and bird feeders and don't clean up your garden too well you probably will be treated to lots of birds.

I do my best to offer many different but simple 

natural playing materials in our garden;

Trunks, bark, gravel, bricks, lava stones, water, (straw) berries, moss, a mini pond, a vegetable container garden, branches and baskets filled with stones, pine cones and (snail) shells. 

I asked friends and family for left over materials and everyone added something small. They often add new found treasuries like stones, plants and trunks.

Ornamental grasses, Japanese maples, bamboo, moss and low evergreen shrubs add great diversity in form and color. My personal favorite is ivy, because of its fresh beautiful colored leaves and the ability to grow everywhere. On top of that, it is evergreen.

Mud turned out to be the best idea of all. My dahlia corner did not make it through the winter and a few days ago I noticed my son playing in the bare sand. I decided to leave it this way and surrounded the play area with trunks and stones.
He spends his days now barefoot, digging and making mud and I am such
a happy mamma!

As a child I had my most happy and magical moments discovering my parents garden. I hope my children will have the same experience. It is a breeding ground for the rest of their lives.

Natural Play - Mud Pie Kitchen

Our mud pie kitchen next to our sandpit is made of an old kitchen trolley and a zinc tub. I can really recommend creating one, it is such a wonderful addition to natural play!

These days our son loves to create his famous 'garden soup', 'leaf pancakes' and his all time favorite 'the cork stew'. My suggestion of making lots of mud in the large zinc tub was rejected; "No Mamma that is my dishpan!" (Must be his Virgo ascendant I guess!)

But simple materials like corks, pine cones, shells, stones and all kinds of leaves picked from the garden are warmly welcomed by him. From time to time I can surprise him with potato skins, avocado seeds, egg cartons and paper bags.
And occasionally there are gnome cork boats sailing around in his dishpan. He really enjoys this natural play and I just love to see how he strolls through the garden all day long looking for ingredients for his stews.

In his mud pie kitchen my stainless steel kitchen equipment is prefered above plastic toys because of his need for imitation and realistic sound play. The results are empty kitchen cupboards but a great well-stocked playspace! 

Now I'm off to try a bowl of homemade cork stew. 

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday with your loved ones too.

Fairy Houses - Cork Fairy House Tutorial

Our latest fairy house is made of a toiletpaper roll, sturdy paper and cork!

I'm very happy with the result because it is made of recycled materials, 

very light and easy to make even with children.

When you are working with children I recommend preparing the paper houses and corkslices in advance so the children can do the painting and decorating.

Here is my tutorial for you;

Required Materials;  
                                                
- Toiletpaper roll
- Sturdy paper
- Glue and optional a hot glue gun              
- Waterpaint (earth tones)
- Scissors and pen
- Small plate size app. 20 cm
- Corks
- Sharp knife or small handsaw
- Decoration like moss, birch bark,
   tiny branches and snailhouses
- Optional; materials for a fairy
   (felt, pipe cleaners, wooden beads)

1 - Cover the toiletpaper roll with the sturdy paper.
2 - Fold the paper at the ends inside the roll.
3 - Create a circle on a sheet of the paper using the plate as a template.
     Cut it out with scissors and make a cut in the circle all the way to the center.
4 - Create a cone by overlapping the ends of the cut and secure them with glue.
5 - Glue the cone into the top of the paper roll.

These cute little paper houses can also be used for all kinds of different crafts,

 like covering them with fabric or hanging them by threads.

6 - Use a knife or a small handsaw to cut off slices of cork. At this point I started glueing the slices of cork onto the roof of the house, but later I realized that it is better to paint the house first. Let it dry completely and then start adding the corks.
7 - Start at the top of the roof with half slices and work your way down using whole slices.
8 - Now you can fill the cracks between the cork slices with dried moss.

9 - Add some glue with a glue brush and press a bit of dried moss into the cracks using a small stick or the end of a teaspoon.

10 - For the window you can prick a hole in the paper roll and cut out a square with your scissors.

11 - Cover the window frames with bark and paint the inside of the rol in a warm fairy color.

Finally you can create a chimney from a branch, bark and a snail shell.

12 - Optional; create a tiny fairy using this pattern or use another figurine to look out of the window. (I have painted the felt of this fairy afterwards with watercolor paint and a brush)

And there it is a new sweet fairy house! You can hang it or place it on a fairy 'tree' like I did. I used a thick birch branch of app. 25 cm long and 5 slices of birch and 5 corks to create this 'tree'. Using a hot glue gun I attached the slices of birch around the branch using the corks as crutches. Then I glued the branch onto a terracotta plate and decorated it with moss and birch.

In the evening when a small beeswax candle is burning in front of the fairy house it is simply magical!

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The Magic Onions - Friday's Nature Table

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Made by Joey - Sharing Creative Ideas
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Nature Corner - In the Land of Merfolk

I love to create nature corners around the house with my son. He is the proud collector of the materials and I am the organizer. This corner is created after reading 'In the Land of Merfolk' by Daniela Drescher my favorite illustrator. It is so lovely to visualize a book together with your child simply using repurposed and natural materials and your imagination.

Required Materials;

- large bowl filled with water
- 2 (Mason) jars- terracotta flower bowl
  or a glass plate
- hot glue gun
- shell sand
- stones and shells 

- plants and flowers

- decoration like gemstones and baskets

- beeswax candle           

1 - Glue the terracotta or glass plate onto the bottom of the Mason jar and place it in the bowl.
2 - Surround it by stones. Decorate the top of the second Mason jar with shells, stones or wood using the hot glue gun.
3 - Fill the terracotta plate and the jar with shell sand and fill the bowl with water.
4 - Decorate with plants and flowers to create a magical scene.
5 - Finally light the candle and enjoy the scene reading a related story book.

A small scene like this one is a little world in itself, especially when you connect it to a story book or fairy tale. Make sure to engage your child in every step and you will be able to create something magical out of the most simple materials. Simply using gifts of nature, love and your imagination....

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DIY - Seasonal Nature Table made of Repurposed Cutting Boards

A seasonal nature table can be such a lovely element in any Waldorf or nature inspired home. For me it is a wonderful way to visualize the rhythm of the year and also to focus my toddler son during our daily walks. He loves to search items for our nature table and combined with picture books and cards it is food for the eyes and the soul. A great inspiration source and my personal favorite on the subject is the book The Nature Corner.

This seasonal nature table is very easy to make with old cutting boards. 

Mine is made of bamboo but any kind of board will do. 

                                                                                

Required Materials;

- (birch) branch of app. 40 cm and app. 7 cm thick 

- 3 cutting boards 1 large (I used app. 25x35 cm)

and 2 smaller (I used app. 15x20 cm)                

- hot glue gun

- sandpaper

- optional; plumb ruler

1 - Saw 3 equally sized parts of your branch of approx 7 cm each and make sure the top has an even surface. 

2 - Sand the boards a bit so the glue will adhere better, then place the 3 parts in a triangle form  and attach the large cutting board using the hot glue gun.

3 - Cut the remaining branch in two parts (one a bit longer than the other) and attach the first in the right corner. Make sure it makes a straight line with the part below the cutting board. 

4 - Attach the last part and cutting board. 

Now you can wax or oil (I use vegetable oil) the boards
and your new seasonal table is ready!

Now the fun part begins...to dress up the table. Everything that is somehow connected to nature and the current season will do. Make sure the child is fully involved in dressing the table, and change the table regularly together in a simple way. Sometimes simply adding a new flower, card or figurine will be enough to create a new atmosphere.

    

This simple Spring table reflects our current reading
"Lily the little princess" and "Peter William Butterblow".  

Have fun and please feel free to contact me with questions or to share your own nature/seasonal table!

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