Fairy Garden

I didn't get inspired until, like, yesterday to do this, and fundage is low because of all the birthday goings-on...but still, I think my fairy garden to welcome in spring turned out awfully cute.

The whole thing.  Right out of our patio was a little space that, I assume because of the giant rocks forming a barrier around it, the former tenants used to garden flowers.  So I pulled out almost all the weeds (I liked the little white flowers on the one in front, though, so I let it stay), tilled up the soil (LOTS of worms in there!), and put my pots down...the leftover flowers went on either side.

Check out this adorable park bench and the picket fence!  (Though it looks like I may have to glue them together.)

This cute little bookshelf (only $2.47) came with lots of little books, complete with titles--I stole a few for the bench and tucked the rest on the shelf in another pot...fairies can fly, after all.  ;) 

Just another view.  For reference, those viola flowers are not even the size of my thumb.

I just want to curl up on this bench.

Aerial view.

I went to Dollar Tree for all the pots and dirt and such, and Hobby Lobby for the miniature things (oooooh, I wanted to buy EVERYTHING on that wall!  Next year my fairy will have a tea set in an outdoor dining area.  And she'll do a little gardening herself.  And this park bench will get a streetlamp behind it...), and got a few cheap, small flowers from Walmart.  Next year I'll save up for better stuff, but for this year, I think I welcomed Spring in today just fine.  :)

This is going to be my new Spring tradition! Or you could do this for Earth Day.  Next year I'll have Caida help me.  :)

10 Things Tuesday: Cardboard Boxes!

Big or small, whether from packing and shipping or from merchandise you buy at the store, there are more than a few ways to reuse those cardboard boxes if you don't want to recycle them.  Take a look!

10.  Cars, rockets, fire trucks, etc!  Didn't we ALL do this at least once when we were younger?  It is so fun, yes, and even better, the kids can do all their own decorating!

 9. Make a TV set that your kids can play news anchor in (or is my family the only one that ever did that?).

 8. Make a pretty play kitchen!  Instructions on how to do this HERE!

 7.  What about a nice castle?  I would totally spray paint these to look sandy and have an indoors winter beach party!

 6. Make a cute chair or two!  FamilyFun tells you how.  They are supposedly quite durable, and definitely easy for even the non-crafters among us!  :)

 5.  How about making a locker?  Could be a fun storage space for a tween's room!

 4. Make a dollhouse!  But beware...small pets might like it even better than your dolls!

 3.  I think I've shown this before, but how fun is this fake chimney for your kiddos' playroom?

 2.  For larger boxes, make a playhouse!

1. How about a lampshade?  Use thin white paper or a pre-existing lampshade inside, and cut out your own shapes!

BONUS IDEAS:
* How awesome is this room divider?  I think it's beautiful...and definitely more affordable than the real thing!

* Shape sorting game!  Directions HERE.

 * You can use cardboard to make your own furniture--these shelves are awesome!

Well, what are you waiting for?  :)  Happy crafting!

10 Things Tuesday: Christmas recycled crafts!

I'm going to take a break from searching this week, and instead review some of the crafts we've found that work great for the Holidays!  Maybe in the middle of all your crazy parties and family get-togethers you and your kiddos can sit down and make a few!

10. Fake chimney, from old cardboard boxes!

 9. Snowglobes, from old glass jars!

 8. Ornaments, from just about EVERYTHING--lightbulbs, sticks, and more.

 7. Magazine trees!

 6. Pinecone trees!

OR stick trees!

 5. I know this is a little late, but a cute advent calendar from a cookie sheet and magnetized bottle caps!

 4. For your holiday dinners, how about a fork placeholder?

 3.  Check out this wreath, made from a hanger-circle and strips of plastic shopping bags!

 2.  This isn't *necessarily* a holiday craft, but if you make this soda can lantern with holiday patterns, it could be!

 1.  Seashell angel ornaments!

BONUS IDEAS!
*Again, not exactly a holiday craft, but if you filled this plastic bottle with water and holiday trinkets (tinsel, mini ornaments, or old Christmas earrings), it could be!

 * Christmas candles, made from old tin cans!

 * Christmas gifts for others--use safety can openers to open the BOTTOMS, then fill the cleaned-out cans with goodies and decorate for your friends!

 * Cardboard tube candles!

 * What about this Christmas choir?  Some craft paper, TP tubes, old baby socks, and twine make this little choir the cutest carolers around!

Happy {holiday} {green} crafting!  And Merry Christmas!

10 Things Tuesday: Random Things, Part 2!

I have found so many fun things that didn't quite fit anywhere that I thought I'd go ahead and make another miscellaneous post!  Take a look at the fun things you can do to reuse items around the house!

10.  I know I already posted a fun plastic bottle bowling set, but these little pins are made from the milk containers at fast food restaurants--how cute!

 9. Bread tag monsters!  You can use these guys to label wires or whatever!

 8.  Advent calendars!  You can use a cookie cutter and pop tops, or muffin tins!

 7.  What about putting those game pieces to use as jewelry, magnets, keychains, and more?

 6.  Turn your old pillowcases into new, no-sew skirts!  Just cut the top (NOT the hem) down to the right length, and put a bit of elastic in the top...awesome!

 5.  How about turning your old, worn-out shoes into planters?

 4.  Scrabble is a favorite game around here--but you could make a fun play keyboard for your kiddos, or a nice notepad for YOU!

 3.  Zipper flowers!  There are a million tutorials out there, but why not?  These are very pretty!

 2.  When your markers dry out and you just want to throw them away, why not make them a top instead?  I think this would be fun even if they WEREN'T dry--put some paper beneath it and see what patterns the swirly top makes!

1. How about turning your extra ribbon into a pretty topiary?  In THIS TUTORIAL, she actually made everything coordinate, but it could be fun for all your scraps, too!

Happy {green} crafting!