Instructions
I like to work on about 10 at a time....I first draw the faces on the wooden beads. (do this first that way if you mess up on one side of the bead you can turn that into the back of the head)
*Use wood glue to attach the wooden bead to the clothes pin. Let dry overnight or for however many hours your glue suggests.
*I like to pick the color of my chenille stems and flowers next.
*Wrap the chenille stem around the neck of the fairy until the arms are about 2-3 cm longer than you want them. (this is so you can bend the end to form hands later) Add some hot glue when you first start wrapping and then after your done wrapping
(this is where I have begun wrapping the chenille in embroidery floss. I haven't perfected this method so I will omit it for now, but will update when I have it down ;^)
*Now I like to work on the hair. (I do this step next so that the details of the body are not in my way)
If the chenille stem wrapping went well & you do not have to hide it, your fairy can have a short pixie cut. You can create this with fibers, cloth, parts of the silk flowers...anything that inspires you
If the wrapping looks messy or if you just want long hair, you can use all of the above, However, my favorite is embroidery floss. For this I like to use tacky glue.
*You spread some glue on a small portion of the head where you would like hair to fall. Now lay the floss (about 3-5 strands at a time) down. Do this until head is covered.
Don't worry if it does not turn out perfect you can give the fairy a hair cut later.
If you chose this method let the fairy dry for about an hour. (if your making more than one, now is the time to work on another one)
Now you can make a dress or skirt.
*Chose the largest set of petals from your silk flower.
Slip it up over the legs (the feet or bottom of the clothes pin) if it rips don't worry, hot glue is your friend.
*If you're making a skirt stop at the waist. If you're making a dress stop under the fairies arms. Hot glue into place.
*Now depending on how fluffy you want your skirt or dress add more layers of the sets of flower petals, getting smaller as you add more and more.
*glue them into place
You can also make clothes by hot gluing fabric scraps into place, wrapping yarn, birch bark, or any combination
*Now you can hot hot glue the wings on. Wings can be made from silk leaves, paper, flowers, fabric, or the wire nylon wrapped wings from butterfly decorations
I usually find these at the dollar store or Micheal's craft store
*The next step is to just bend the ends if the Chenille stems to make hands. you can get crafty & make thumbs (it's pretty easy)
*cut the fairies hair now if necessary. I also take this time to pull away all the little spiderweb-like threads that the hot glue leaves behind.
*Now you can make wands, jewelry, crowns, belts, what ever you can dream up, just by using your scraps, findings and some tacky glue.
*Let these dry overnight before giving to any lucky child over three. As small parts could pose a choking hazard.
You could attach a string to the head or back to turn your fairy into an ornament. Enjoy!!
I like to work on about 10 at a time....I first draw the faces on the wooden beads. (do this first that way if you mess up on one side of the bead you can turn that into the back of the head)
*Use wood glue to attach the wooden bead to the clothes pin. Let dry overnight or for however many hours your glue suggests.
*I like to pick the color of my chenille stems and flowers next.
Read full instructions »
Difficulty:
Category: Other
Type of item: Toy
For: Children
Style: Whimsical, Funky, Outdoorsy, Cute
Materials
Clothes pins, wooden beads, silk flowers(that you take apart), Chenille stems, embroidery floss, beads, cloth scraps, colored pencil, wood glue, hot glue(the hottest temp possible) PLEASE BE CAREFUL AS THESE CAN CAUSE SEVERE BURNS, tacky glue... some of the fairies not featured here (because they were gifted) have paper scraps, broken jewelry, items from nature, and other scraps or fibers....
p.s. keep all the parts of the silk flowers stems and greens and leaves can all be used!
P.s.s I make boy fairies! I will have to update you on the how to for those later.
What was your inspiration?
Flower fairy books, silk flowers, wooden clothes pins, and my little forest fairy princess, Aubrey
What are you most proud of?
How far they have come from the first few I made. How happy children are while playing with them.
I love the fact that my daughter enjoys these so much that once, when I tried to give one to an adult friend my daughter pitched a fit. She cried that SHE wanted the fairy. My friend wouldn't even take it,when she saw how sad my daughter was. At the time I couldn't let my daughter have it. Not they way she went about screaming for it. That was 2 years ago, it's going in her stocking this year ;^)
Finally I am proud of the fact that even my sons like them.
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
Be careful of the hot glue. If you are afraid to draw faces... my first 10 or so were faceless & they were still cute. Even so, if you are afraid, give it a try. Practice on paper & use color pencil. Have fun! Let your imagination guide you!
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