Pirates and Pixies Blog

Three Little Birds.....

2010-08-31T17:05:00.000-04:00

This little craft was inspired by a walk in the woods. It's simple but I think it turned out so cute!

We took a little twig hot glued on some sweet tiny birds and used fishing line to hang it. The whole thing is only about 4 inches long. Hang it in a window and maybe on a little tree.....

How Cute is This?

2010-08-23T07:20:00.000-04:00

No sushi eating fairy would be caught dead without these Twiggy Chopsticks from Anthropologie!

find them here:
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=973403&navAction=jump&search=true&parentid=SEARCH_RESULTS

Make Me! ~ Fairy Houses ~

2010-08-18T08:03:00.000-04:00

We found these little bird houses at Joann Fabric on sale for $1.00.

We couldn't resist the urge to turn them into little fairy houses. We gently used a hammer to tap in the little perch so that it was level with the rest of the "house". We painted them and then decorated them with things we found in the woods as well as a few silk leaves. This was a great project for kids and grown-ups!

How Cute is This??

2010-08-16T10:30:00.000-04:00

Back to School supplies for every Pirate....

from MudPuppy.com:

And finally, you'll need something to hold all of this stuff.....

find this at http://www.wraptingifts.com/

Festive Paper Garland

2010-08-13T11:05:00.000-04:00

I love paper! My craft room is filled with odds and ends of scrapbook papers, wall papers, old cards, rice paper, etc. So many textures and colors, I love them all! This paper garland is a fun way to display all of those cool paper products and it looks great!

I used a scalloped circle punch and punched out dozens of circles. Be sure to use something that looks pretty on both sides. I don't have a regular sewing machine so I dug out my mini machine and set to work.

Line up the circles and start sewing. Make sure each circle overlaps just a tiny bit to ensure your garland doesn't unravel. Wrap it around a tree, hang it from a chandelier, drape it across a garden fence.... there are so many places and ways to use a garland the possiblities are endless!

Summer Shadow Boxes

2010-08-11T23:36:00.000-04:00

Every summer I add to the ever growing collection of beach finds. I have jar after jar filled with beautiful shells and sea glass. Some of these small treasures are too special to place in a jar and are best displayed in a shadow box. Here are a few....

For years I have collected pieces of shell, stone or glass shaped like hearts, I love seeing them all laid out together!

Tiny coquina clams measuring about a half an inch look like colorful fairy wings in the sand. I absolutely adore them so I came up with this little poem to add to their shadow box.

Hopefully these shadow boxes will inpire you to create your own personalized art :)

How Cute is This?

2010-08-04T12:52:00.000-04:00

Every mermaid needs something from Mangiacotti's "Ocean" line. Not only do their products come in the cutest containers but they smell wonderful.They have lotion, body wash, dish soap, air fresheners and much more.

The Mangiacotti company "creates, designs and produces environmentally and socially responsible bath, body and homekeeping products". So you can't go wrong! There are so many wonderful things on their site, be sure to check it out:
www.mflorals.com

2010-08-03T09:32:00.001-04:00

Beach trips, family visits, pool time, reading in the hammock.....what a great time of year. No school work, sports, instrument lessons. etc. We've been taking it easy and enjoying the holiday. Our list of things we'd like to share has been growing so we are happy to be back at it! We hope everyone is having a great summer!

How Cute is This?

2010-07-08T08:15:00.000-04:00

Since we showed you the cutest fairy baking products from http://www.bakeitpretty.com/ we thought it only fair to give the pirate baking products some love.

These are almost too cute to use!

Are you tough enough to use skull doilies?

Tissue and Wire Butterflies

2010-07-02T14:22:00.000-04:00

These are a little messy to make but so much fun and the result is so pretty!

Here's what you need:

Wire - I used 20 gauge

Tissue Paper - cut into small strips

A small twig

Elmer's Glue

Glitter

Wire Cutters - you could also use a pair of old scissors

Wax Paper

Step 1:

Starting at the top op your twig wrap the wire down and then up again, leaving extra wire at both ends to make antennae. Use a pencil to curl the antennae.

Step 2:

Cut a piece of wire about 8 inches long. Start at one end of your wire and form your wing, twisting the ends together.

Step 3:

Make a glue mixture of two parts glue, one part water. Gently dip a piece of tissue into the mixture (smooth off excess glue with your finger) and wrap it around the wire wing form. Keep adding pieces until the front and back of the wing form are covered. The tissue paper is very forgiving and will pretty much go where you mold it to. Work on wax paper to avoid a mess!

Step 4:

Sprinkle the wings with glitter and let dry in a sunny spot on the wax paper. After about an hour of drying flip the wings over to dry the other side. Once dry, wrap the long piece of wire at the base of each wing securely around the twig and your finished!

How Cute is This??

2010-06-29T13:58:00.001-04:00

Some seriously cute baking products from http://www.bakeitpretty.com/ !

In the UK they actually call cupcake wrappers "Fairy Cake Cases" - how cute is that?

Who doesn't need mushroom doileys?!

The "Mini Gnome" cutter is the cutest.

This kit could make the most awesome cake ever or you could use the pieces in a terrarium!

Check us Out!

2010-06-28T19:11:00.001-04:00

If you are in the Annapolis area and are looking for an awesome place for a great breakfast or lunch, check out the B.B. Bistro. They are one of the first restaurants in Annapolis to receive the Environmental Stewardship Certification. Their food is made fresh every day (they don't even own a freezer)!
Each month a new artist is featured in their restaurant, for the month of July we will have our Little Magic Doors on display and for sale. We are very excited to show off our doors in such a fantastic place.
For their hours and location check out their website: http://www.bbbistroannapolis.com/

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

2010-06-24T14:15:00.002-04:00

Happy Thursday to All!

Most of the time on Tips and Tricks day we offer suggestions for you 'fairy' door owners, but there are mermaids, pixies, gnomes, trolls and pirates out there too.

So we thought we would give you some ideas of things you might want to leave at your pirate fairy door!

gold coins
gems
pirate flags
bandanas
old maps
scrolls of parchment
mini sword toothpicks
citrus fruits (noone wants scurvy!)
little toy pirate ships
treasure chests
a pirate dictionary

There are tons more, but that's some place to start!

Have a great day! Avast!!

How Cute Is This? Maybe not?

2010-06-23T14:42:00.004-04:00

Today's how cute is this is not really that cute in the rubber duckie and baby pj's kind of way. But more in a clever, funny and weird kind of way.

We know you know what pirates look like but what do they smell like? Well, seaweed and rum right? So if you want to smell like a pirate what do you do? Here is the answer:

Seaweed and Rum Soap

it can be found here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49079812/seaweed-n-rum-soap?ref=sr_gallery_16&ga_search_query=pirates&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=2&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Arrgh Maties! Scrub up me hearties, Yo Ho!!

2010-06-18T13:26:00.001-04:00

Avast! Create Ye Own Pirate Booty!

Here's what you need:

metallic gold and silver paint

black embossing powder

heat tool

pirate rubber stamps

slow drying ink pad, black or clear (I used Stampin Up Craft ink)

wooden discs

Here's what you do:

Step 1:
Paint the discs gold and let dry. Use the silver paint too paint around the edges of each coin.

Step 2:
Stamp the pirate image on to the coin. I used the following stamps: Pirate Skull by The Cat's Pajamas and pirate ship by A Muse Artstamps.

Step 3:

Sprinkle embossing powder over the wet image

Step 4:
Gently tap off the excess powder

Step 5:
Apply the heat to until the powder melts (do NOT use a hair dryer!) Repeat the process for the other side of the coin!

~~ Fairy Kabobs ~~

2010-06-17T12:37:00.001-04:00

These mini Fairy Kabobs are the perfect way to appreciate the last of the summer berry crop. We dipped blueberries, strawberries, mint leaves and lemon balm leaves into chocolate and chilled them in the fridge for 30 minutes. While they were chilling we took a few tooth picks and decorated the tops with mini Prima flowers and fancy paper strips. Once the chocolate on the fruit was firm we skewered them up and had the perfect fairy desert! Of course you don't have to dip the fruit in chocolate first but we can't comprehend why you wouldn't ;)

Craftyness without the mess!

2010-06-16T10:45:00.000-04:00

So generally speaking we are pretty crafty around here...we bet lots of you are too! So we wanted to show you a cool outlet for your craftiness that makes no mess to clean up after!!

Check out this website where you can be your own fabric designer! Its called Spoonflower. ( http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome ) There are some super cute designs already there or you can upload your own design and get the designer discount!! Can't you just see tons of ideas swimming around in your head right now? There is a lot of mushroomy and gnomey deliciousness to be had there!!!

I especially love this one:

It's called 'Gnome, Alaska" ( Hee hee!)

So go and check it out and start dreaming up your own fabric designs, I know we will be!!!

How Cute Is This??

2010-06-15T14:22:00.000-04:00

Family Fun has the Fairy Village cake on their website. This is one seriously cute cake. It even has little mushrooms! We LOVE this idea.
Find the instructions here:
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/fairy-village-cake-841589/

Make Your Own Pirate Map

2010-06-11T07:30:00.000-04:00

No true Swashbuckler would be caught with out their trusty treasure map. You can make your own authentic looking map in no time at all.

Here's what you need:

-White canvas (in whatever size you want your map to be)

-paint brushes

-5-6 tea bags

-acrylic paint

-black Sumi Ink or a good black journaling marker

Step 1:
Cut your canvas to the size you'd like your map to be. Also cut a smaller sample swatch to test your paints on.

Step 2:

Fill a large sauce pan with water and bring to a boil, then remove from heat and add tea bags. Once the tea has steeped add the canvas, let soak 15 minutes or longer (if needed). Remove the canvas from the tea and rinse in cold water.

Step 3:

Let the canvas dry completely - you can put it in the dryer if needed but it dries best in the sun. Don't iron it before painting, the wrinkles add to the old look and do not make it any harder to paint.

Step 4:

It's a good idea to draw a rough draft of your map on paper first. Start by using the black ink on the canvas first. The Sumi ink works great and does not run but you have to apply it with a paint brush. I found that my Stampin' Write Journaler maker works great and didn't run. If you have a black or dark brown marker to use try it on your test canvas first. Once all of your outline work is finished it's time to paint. Use a small dollop of acrylic paint with water added to it to give it a more watercolor look as well as make it easier to paint. I tried each color on the test canvas before I added it to my maps. FYI, metallic paint dilutes well and looks awesome.

AAAARG! Here be my map!

I couldn't resist the urge to make a map of Fairyland while I was working...

Your map doesn't need to be this detailed, this would be a great project for the kids too! You could draw a map of your own neighborhood - Pirate style!

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

2010-06-10T11:25:00.001-04:00

Getting little treasures from the fairy that lives behind your door is one of the best things about owning a door. Whether it be an end of the school year gift, a birthday treat or just something that lets the owner of the door feel special, there are so many things the Fairies can leave. A pretty shell, a pine cone or even a little fairy dust all make great gifts.

We stumbled across these adorable little jars of "Fairy Candy"and thought they would be a perfect fairy gift. The jar is 4 inches tall and filled with candied violet or rose flower bits. You can find them at http://www.petaliteas.com/.

We took off the manufacturers tag and added our own sparkly tag and are ready to go. Just imagine how happy your special someone will feel when they find this sweet treat!

Fairy Candy

2010-06-09T07:13:00.000-04:00

Now that our fairy garden is in full swing we harvested a few of our herbs and edible flowers and decided to make some tasty "fairy candy". These sweet little treats look great on top of ice cream, garnishing iced tea or lemonade or just in a pretty dish. The best part is - they taste great too!!

Here's what you need:

fresh herbs - mint, lemon balm scented geraniums, etc

edible flowers - rose petals, pansies, lavender flowers, etc

egg whites

fine sugar

**ALWAYS check to be sure your chosen flowers/herbs are actually edible, here's a great resource:

http://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.htm

Wash your flowers/herbs and let them dry well. Place 2 egg whites in a dish and lightly beat them. Dip each petal/leaf in one a time, using your fingers to make sure they are completely coated. Then dip into the sugar and place on wax paper to dry. Drying will take around 12 hours - you may need to flip your petal/leaf once during drying.

If you want to make a garnish for your favorite beverage lay dip the petal/leaf as described above but place around the rim of a glass to dry.

How Cute Is This?

2010-06-08T10:24:00.000-04:00

Have you been following our twitter...we have some guest twits tweeting for us....Pirates! So, in honor of their hard work, we are dedicating this week's how cute is this to them!!!

Really do I have to say it?

How cute is this?

Get it here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/46666293/large-pirate-cupcake-organic-cotton?ref=sr_gallery_28&ga_search_query=pirate+cupcake&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=3&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Local Show This Weekend!

2010-06-07T09:05:00.000-04:00

If you live in the Annapolis, MD area, we will be exhibiting at the Cape Saint Claire Strawberry Festival this Saturday from 10-7pm. It will be a fun, sunny day and we would love for you to stop by say Hi and check out all the cool new items.

The festival features food vendors, live music, crafters and a bay front activity area. We have done this festival many years and everyone seems to be having a great time! Our favorite part is the non-stop parade of dogs joining in the fun...

So bring your fuzzy friend and come down for a visit! See ya Saturday!

Mini Clay Mushrooms

2010-06-04T08:47:00.002-04:00

These little cuties can be made in any size/color/thickness you can dream up. They can be used for scrapbooks,tags, journals, little magnets, brads, Valentine's.... anything you can think of! We like to leave them as gifts to our fairies.

They're quick and easy to make. Start by grabbing your favorite clay - Fimo, Sculpey, etc.

Next make all of your mushroom "parts' - be sure to wash your hands after using the red or the red residue will turn your white into pink!

Assemble the mushroom carefully.

Cut your mushroom down the middle. I bought this clay cutter at the craft store. It was right next to all of the clay and it works beautifully. You can also use a very sharp knife.

You can add little holes to make buttons if you wish. Finally, bake according to the directions on your clay packaging.

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

2010-06-03T13:45:00.001-04:00

Hi All! A quick tips and tricks today, the evil trolls have been reeking havoc on us today so we wanted to sneak this one in really quick while everything is working!

Tonight...move your door to a completely different place and leave a note from your fairy, pirate, gnome or pixie saying that they want to play a game! Tell them if they want to play along just to leave them a note saying so. Then each night for a week or so (or until they tire of it) move the door to a different spot and leave an other note.

You could leave clues each day to a special prize or clues to where the door might go next!!

Just have some fun with it!!!

Fairies In the Garden

2010-06-02T08:06:00.000-04:00

These are a Fairy Garden favorite of ours so we had to share. These cute little fairy shadows are so subtle they have most everyone doing a double take. They stick right into the ground or a flower pot. They are called The Toadstool Fairies of Bluebell Woods. Their website is almost as cute as they are and worth checking out:

http://www.oldevictoriangardenshadows.com/toadstoolfairies.html

How Cute Is This??

2010-06-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

Did you know mermaids are considered fairies? How cute would this be to take tot the beach or pool?????

We LOVE it!! You can buy it here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/45458771/beach-and-boater-tote-bag-naturalnavy

Pixie Pebbles

2010-05-28T08:43:00.001-04:00

We're always trying to come up with new ways to use Pixies Dust. While beach combing one day the idea of the Pixie Pebble jumped into my head. They are so much fun to make and are a great little treasure to leave as a gift for your fairy or maybe, if you're lucky, your fairy will leave some for you!

Here's what you need:

Pixie Dust (aka glitter)

For a softer, mossier look, you can use flocking powder - see the light pink stone in the bottom of the picture.

Hot Glue Gun -I have tried many glues and hot glue gives the best results hands down.

Start by pouring a generous amount of
Pixie Dust into a small dish.

Next grab your hot glue gun and make
a little "puddle" of glue in the center of the
Pixie Dust. Be careful not to touch the
sides of the dish.

Wait about 10 seconds for the hot glue
to smooth out into a pebble shape. Don't worry
if you have some little strings sticking off,
they can be cut off later. Pour Pixie Dust on top of

the smooth glue and give the dish a tiny shake.

Wait about 5 minutes and then uncover your treasure!

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

2010-05-27T13:40:00.001-04:00

It's Thursday again! And here is an other quick tip:

Start a fairy door journal!

You can recored your fairy stories, thoughts and messages and maybe your fairy friends can leave you messages and stories of their own! They may even us is as a guest book and visiting fairies, gnomes and pixies can sign in whenever they coime for a visit!

Here are some really cute fairy door fan photos of their setup and cool journals!

(p.s. these fairy doors both belong to boys!! Not just for the little ladies, don't forget!!)

We love all the trinkets and

fun stuff used for decoration!

Have a fairy nice day!

Second Hand Gardening Continued

2010-05-26T09:58:00.000-04:00

There are so many things that you can find in a thrift store that can be made into treasure. I grabbed a few forks and a baby spoon and set to work.

I took two forks the same size, twisted their tines, wired them together then added some glass bead leaves with the wire to make this fairy tree.

To make the Fairy Throne, I bent the spoon, poured a little glue in the base and sprinkled it with purple flocking powder. I finished it off with twigs (for legs) and a star. Now the Fairy royalty has a place to sit in our garden!

How Cute Is This?

2010-05-25T11:26:00.000-04:00

Pirates and Pixies is not just about pixies and gnomes and such. We do love our pirates and they have not been getting the love they deserve!! So today the How Cute is This? has:

These cuties are available here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48045460/crochet-pattern-marco-the-pirate

and here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/41750428/mermaid-crochet-pattern

and because no matter how we try we cannot resist:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/36561208/happy-amigurumi-tree

and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/41780852/sammy-the-gnome-crochet-pattern

We all have our weakness, Right?

Nature Walk Mushrooms

2010-05-21T07:39:00.000-04:00

Mysterious and inviting the mushroom seems to be a symbolic link between our world and the fairy realm. I love making mushrooms out of various mediums and this idea came to me on a nature walk with the kids. They are very simple. Grab a few fat sticks - no need to cut a tree, there are always plenty on the ground already. I cut mine to size with a hand saw then rubbed the bottoms on sandpaper to make sure they stood up ok. Gather a pile of rocks, shells or whatever you can find and using a good gooey glue assemble your mushroom.

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

2010-05-20T09:18:00.001-04:00

Welcome back to Tips and Tricks Thursday!

So your door is up and the kids are having fun discovering it and maybe you are leaving little surprises for them. We hope so. So what else can you do?

How about using your fairy door to get your kids to clean their rooms?

If your kids are generally neat, (first off...congrats!!) then have the fairies leave them a note that says how much they appreciate them keeping the doorway clear and the floor clean. Positive reinforcement works wonders!

If your kids are like a little on the messy side, then make your first note about clearing the doorway and perhaps the fairies could suggest that they are weary of the obstacle course and would love some open room for a fairy ball, a gnome homecoming or a troll track meet...whatever you think they would like. All you need to do is encourage them along and watch the magic happen.

Don't forget to leave a follow up note from their little friends to thank them for all their hard work!

Try it!

Second Hand Garden

2010-05-19T14:13:00.002-04:00

A quick trip to the local thrift shop provided the makings of these fairy garden extras.

This polka dot creamer was too cute to pass up. I used a ceramic tile drill bit and put a small hole in the bottom and then screwed it into the tree (with a small screw to avoid hurting the tree). These birds have one of the cutest homes in the garden!

A small gold flower pot turned upside down and a cute little saucer make the perfect feeder for the birds and chipmunks.

This fairy/bird bath is made of another little saucer and an old cake stand base. I added a few glass pebbles and some pixie dust to attract the wee folk.

How Cute Is This?

2010-05-18T12:22:00.000-04:00

We know it's not really hat season but seriously...How cute is this?

It's the perfect gnome dome cover....Right?

Get it here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/47435061/cute-swirly-ice-cream-hat-any-kid-size?ref=sr_list_1&ga_search_query=gnome+hat&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Need we say more?

Mushrooms With A Secret

2010-05-17T10:43:00.002-04:00

NEW TO OUR SHOP
We've created this secret mushroom with the Tooth Fairy in mind but we quickly found out it has many uses! Set this little mushroom next to your fairy door and your have your own little mailbox to the fairy world.

The mushroom cap easily lifts off to reveal the hidden compartment in the mushrooms stem. It's the spot to place that lost tooth. The Tooth Fairy can roll up a dollar (or two!) and put them in the mushroom in exchange for the tooth. You can also use this secret compartment to leave little notes or gifts for your fairy. Watch out, your fairy may leave you little gifts too. A few m&m's, some fairy dust or maybe even a few little gems - you never know what you'll find! To make these adorable mushrooms attractive to the Wee Folk we add our own blend of herbs to the mushroom top so they smell wonderful. Our magical herb mix (aka Gnome-Nip) includes rosemary and lavender. We hope you have as much fun with these as we have.

We enlisted the help of some experts when making these cute little mushrooms.

Tiny Bird's Nest

2010-05-14T07:00:00.002-04:00

These tiny bird's nests are super cute and easy to make. Here's what you do:

Start with the dough - I made the same salt dough I made in Kindergarten

1 cup salt

1 cup flour

1/2 cup water

Mix all 3 ingredients, knead well, adding small amounts of water if needed.

To make the actualy nest, grab your garlic press and push the dough through. You made need to gently lift the handle to add more dough in there isn't enough squeezed out.

Loosely form the dough into a circle and roll out a few eggs and place in the nest. You can let the dough air dry or bake it in a 200 degree oven checking every 15 minutes or so.

Once the dough is completely dry and cool paint the eggs light blue and then finish off with a clear sealer. These cute little nests can be used as favors, decorations for the garden or if you place the eggs just right - place card/recipe holders! Have fun crafting!

~~ Fairies in the Garden ~~

2010-05-12T08:35:00.002-04:00

Inspiration for your garden can come from many places...

We are fortunate enough to live close to Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm. From Flower Fairy "Teas" to a winter fairy walk, this place is amazing all year long. Springtime is absolutely magical. They have amazing vintage flowers and every herb you can imagine.

It is a treasure trove for fairy fans - fairy gardens, villages and lore are all around. If you live in the Maryland/DC area you won't want to miss this gem. For more information visit their website : http://www.willowoakherbs.com/

How Cute Is This?

2010-05-11T08:15:00.003-04:00

Need some decoration for your new fairy terrarium? Or just for general cuteness? Then...

How cute is this?

I can totally picture the tiny little gnome ladies on laundry day!!

Get this one here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45024835/miniature-gnome-mushroom-clothes-line?ref=sr_list_1&ga_search_query=gnome+laundry&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Or make your own!!

Crafty Friday ~ Garden Stones

2010-05-07T07:54:00.001-04:00

Super cute and easy to make, these garden markers are sure to brighten up your garden. Here's what you'll need:

Smooth stones - seashells work great too

Permanent ink stamp pad, Stazon is our favorite (Did you know they make metallic colors now too?!?)

Mini alphabet stamps - these were purchased for $1.00 at A.C. Moore's

Make sure your rock is clean and dry and stamp away, it's that simple.

You can label your plants, create a meditation/inspiration garden or simply write your name. You don't just have to place these in your garden or terrarium. You can make place markers for a dinner party or make them into "wishing" rocks or good luck charms. Mother's Day is coming up, wouldn't it be cute to have the kids paint a little picture on a rock them stamp their name under it? Go ahead, get crafting!

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

2010-05-06T08:45:00.001-04:00

Here we are...around to Thursday again! So you've gotten your fairy door, picked out a spot and hung it up...now what?

Well, if you have kids then the fun has just begun!

Sometime during your first night, why not leave a note from your fairy friends and a little sprinkle of glitter by the door? Then you can let your child find it in the morning and we bet they will LOVE it!! (Ask a friend to write the note if your kids know your hand writing or print it out in a fancy script or calligraphy font from your computer. Roll it up with a little bit of twine and you are good to go!)

Now that you have started a conversation with your fairy friend, you can have your child right a note back to leave by the door that night, or a picture or a even a little treat!

Sneak in a little writing practice (it can't hurt) and get that imagination flowing!!

More next week! Have a great day!

Make Your Own Fairy Terrarium

2010-05-05T13:53:00.003-04:00

Want to make your own Fairy Terrarium? It's super easy. Start with selecting your container - there are so many possibilities here - an old fish bowl, a glass hurricane lantern (with a base of course), a tea cup.... pretty much anything that allows you a clear view of your miniature garden. Terrariums can be as big or small as you want.

Once you have selected your container here's what you will need:

small gravel

horticultural charcoal (found at most plant stores)

orchid or fir bark

soil

miniature plants - I used mini African Violets, Irish Moss, Club Moss, Angel's tears and Sedum

Gently place the gravel in first. Mix a bit of the charcoal with the bark then add a this mixture as your next layer. Finally add soil and plants. Give it a little spritz and your finished! Be sure to place your new garden in a sunny place but out of direct sunlight. Remember to make it a welcoming place to the fairies add a rock for them to sit on or a few pine cones, some little glass gems or even that cut clay mushroom from yesterday's post.

If you are feeling extra crafty check out Martha Stewart's adorable Fairy Terrarium (she has even added lights!!):

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/fairyland-terrarium

How Cute Is This?

2010-05-04T07:59:00.000-04:00

Fairy Gardens come in many shapes and sizes...

They don't all have to be big weekend projects, they can be sweet little terrariums...like this one! Nothing super fancy or exotic but a mossy oasis for your fairy friends to visit. A low maintenance plant like moss is perfect for the fairy garden enthusiast who doesn't have green thumbs! (Please keep in mind those are not real mushrooms...real ones are not such a great idea...take our word for it!)

But really, How cute is this?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45332186/fairy-garden-moss-terrarium?ref=sr_list_29&ga_search_query=fairy+garden&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title

2010-05-03T07:52:00.000-04:00

Anyone who orders a fairy door from us this week will get a fairy dust neckalce as an added bonus! A cute little ribbon ties around your neck so you can carry fairy magic with you everywhere you go!

Freebie Friday! Part 2!!

2010-05-01T13:13:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are the rest of the Fairy Gardening Templates:

Here is the Container Garden Planner:

And here is the Plant List sheet:

Good Luck with all your Fairy Gardening!

Freebie Friday!

2010-04-30T13:16:00.000-04:00

Beautiful spring days are finally here and it is time to get your ideas on paper and then get your fairy garden planted!! Here is a little template for a fairy garden to print and use:

We will also be posting a plant list sheet and a fairy container gardern planner template later on today or over the weekend!

If you prefer the super techy method..... try this:

http://download.cnet.com/Garden-Planner/3000-18499_4-10285889.html

for free downloadable garden planning software.

Have a great Friday!

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

2010-04-29T09:11:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Tips and Tricks Thursdays! We will be covering all the fun and inspirational things you can do with your PiratesandPixies fairy door once you get it home.

Today let's start with the basics, once I get it at home...now what?

Hangin'-There are a couple of different ways to hang up your door...you could use double stick tape (it might mess up your wall paint and makes it harder to move your door later), so our recommended method is to use a few gobs of museum putty on the back of the door. What is 'museum putty' you ask? Sounds fancy, right? Remember the posters you had as a kid, and you put them up on your walls with that gummy stuff...that is it!! You can find it in the stationary/office supplies section of all the big superstores. (it will be either yellow or light grey and cost about a buck!)

The doors are very light so it should hold your door firmly but still allow you to move it anytime you want. Remember the door opens in so once you hang it up only the fairies can open it!

Placement-Where should you put it? Well, the possibilities are endless...if it is a gift for a special little one, then most likely you would put it in their room...down by the baseboard, tucked in a row of books on the bookshelf or even on the wall even with the top of their dresser...anywhere with a little landing spot for the magical friends who will be dropping by!

{A hint on the timing of the placement of your door for a child...instead of wrapping it up to be unwrapped as a gift...try sneaking it into their room at night while they are asleep and then in the morning they can wake up to a special surprise...sprinkle a little glitter around the door and write them a little welcome note from their new fairy friends! They will love it!}

Don't limit yourself to just little ones bedrooms...fairy doors are for all ages and locales...!

See you next week for Tips and Tricks on messages from beyond the door..... ;)!

Fairy Gardens

2010-04-28T07:46:00.000-04:00

Ready to plant your garden? Not sure what plants to use? Here is a list of some of the Fairies best loved flowers and herbs…..

Pansy – said to be the favorite flower or Oberon – king of the fairies. Picking one with dew on it is considered to be very bad luck. In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oberon tells us that the juice of a pansy sprinkled on the eyes of someone who is sleeping will make them fall in love with the first person they see when they open their eyes.

Heather – associated with fairy Queens

Irises – attract noble helpful fairies, especially Kings and Queens

Lilacs – the scent brings flower fairies

Jasmine – used by fairies for love spells

Foxglove – also known as “Fairies Thimble” the flowers are worn as hats and gloves

Daisies – invite frequent fairy visits

Thistle – repels negative energy and harmful fairies

Carnations – draw healing and helpful fairies

Snap Dragons – best if kept a bit secluded, we wouldn’t want any of the Wee Folk getting bit!

Ferns – used as beds for baby fairies and adored by Pixies

Moss – any type for the Wee Folk to nap on

Chamomile – if you drink chamomile tea before bedtime you will dream of fairies

St. John’s Wort – provides protection from harm, When picking ask permission first and then only pick with your left hand.

Thyme – attracts garden fairies. Sprinkle around the house, on doorsteps and windowsills to invite the fairies in.

Marjoram – invites joyful, happy fairies

Moon Flower – these delicate blooms open only at night – you may be lucky enough to see the fairies dancing around them

Clover – for luck of course!

Other great plants that attract our magical friends are roses, marigolds, sunflowers, mint, bluebells and morning glories.

In the interest of keeping the Snap Dragons from snapping, my son made a "fence" to keep them in.

How Cute Is This?

2010-04-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

There is just no end to the amount of talented, cool, crafty folks out there. That's one of the things we like so much about Etsy...just so much cool stuff to look at...Like these:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45637386/custom-herbs-set-of-5-vintage-silver?ref=sr_list_14&ga_search_query=plant+markers&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title

Seriouly cute, and crafty right? I bet the fairies in your garden would love these!! I know we do!

Crafy Friday! And A Freebie!

2010-04-23T07:59:00.000-04:00

In honor of our series on Fairy Gardens, we thought you might like a little crafty project to go along with it. We have created a gnomey plant marker for you to print and add to your garden. He is a baseball card sized marker with a space for you to put the name of your newly planted seedlings or cool new plants. Print out two for each marker you want to make and staple them back to back, label and slide them down a twig and you are good to go! Hope you have a great day and enjoy our digi-freebie fun. (Click on photo and save picture as...) You know the drill!

Earth Day Give-Away

2010-04-22T14:33:00.000-04:00

In honor of Earth Day, our fairy friends requested we help you get started with your Fairy Garden. It’s perfect time of year to get out and get planting! We have gathered a sweet little package filled with seed packets (including some of the fairies favorite flowers), a resin mushroom (for shade) and a bottle of pixie dust to sprinkle over your new garden for luck.

To win, just become one of our followers. Once we have 25, we will use a random number generator to select the winner.

Happy Earth Day Everyone!!

Fairies in the Garden

2010-04-21T09:34:00.000-04:00

You've hung up your fairy door and invited in the wee folk. What next? Planting a fairy garden that both you and the fairies can enjoy would be perfect. Fairy gardens can be indoors or outdoors, big or small, extravagant or simple. There are just so many things you can do it is hard for me not to ramble on and make the worlds longest blog post! I'll try to contain myself, every Wednesday I'll have Fairy Garden tips, hints, ideas and more.

So first thing you'll want to do is decide what space you want to use for the garden. Fairies are shy and they hate loud noises. You do not need a large area. If you are thinking indoors is best for you choose as peaceful a spot as you can find, where you sit and read, a sun room or balcony or simply the quiet corner of a room.

If an outside fairy garden works best for you, then try somewhere off the beaten path. Somewhere away from the constant traffic of kids and pets (think Godzilla lumbering through your town). Fairies love old Oak trees. They have several uses for the acorns - hats, bowls, planters, etc. Oak trees are so magical that they may sometimes already have fairies living in them! If you are lucky enough to have an Oak tree in your yard

planting your garden nearby will most likely prove a success. Finally, consider the animals in your yard, fairies are fiercely protective of nature and love and care for the plants and animals.

Whether it be indoors or out try to choose somewhere that gets a bit of sunlight and moonlight.
Starting a fairy garden will create a truly magical and peaceful place for all!

Next week I'll talk about what plants attract the faeries!!!

How Cute Is This?

2010-04-20T08:33:00.000-04:00

Legos are a much loved toy among our pirates and the little pixie...so when we saw this we got pretty excited. (you are seeing the mushroom, right?) It is a fusion of Lego building creativity and paper that is long overdue. Unfortunately most will have to wait for these cool kits to be available in the US but we can see many, many hours of fun Lego creating on the horizon! Especially for the pixies, who are notoriously under represented in the Lego universe. Keep coming back to this blog for more pirate and pixie Lego fun...we are cooking up some fun for you!!

If you can't wait: http://www.etsy.com/listing/44549114/lego-and-paper-set-from-muji-bright-colo

Have a great day!!

~* This Week's Fairy Good Special *~

2010-04-19T10:38:00.000-04:00

We have oodles fairy babies in need of good homes so this week anyone who purchases a fairy door willl receive a little bag of babies. These are great to set by your door for your fairy to play with or simply place one somewhere you'll see it all of the time. They are sure to bring a smile to your face!

2010-04-18T15:34:00.000-04:00

I love when a good idea snowballs. We came up with a way to make these cute mini door decorations for our doors and the possibilites seem to be endless. Here is a peek at a few new designs.........

The house numbers are fun but I think the birds are my favorite! They will soon be available in the "Design Your Own" section of our shop.

Here We Go....

2010-03-13T15:46:00.001-05:00

Welcome to our little corner of the internet! We are in the process of creating/redesigning/reorganizing the Pirates and Pixies world. We hope to have everything in perfect order very soon!

Pirates and Pixies Blog

Three Little Birds.....

How Cute is This?

Make Me! ~ Fairy Houses ~

How Cute is This??

Festive Paper Garland

Summer Shadow Boxes

How Cute is This?

How Cute is This?

Tissue and Wire Butterflies

How Cute is This??

Check us Out!

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

How Cute Is This? Maybe not?

~*~ Fairy Kabobs ~*~

Craftyness without the mess!

How Cute Is This??

Make Your Own Pirate Map

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

Fairy Candy

How Cute Is This?

Local Show This Weekend!

Mini Clay Mushrooms

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

Fairies In the Garden

How Cute Is This??

Pixie Pebbles

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

Second Hand Gardening Continued

How Cute Is This?

Nature Walk Mushrooms

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

Second Hand Garden

How Cute Is This?

Mushrooms With A Secret

Tiny Bird's Nest

~*~ Fairies in the Garden ~*~

How Cute Is This?

Crafty Friday ~ Garden Stones

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

Make Your Own Fairy Terrarium

How Cute Is This?

Freebie Friday! Part 2!!

Freebie Friday!

Tips and Tricks Thursday!

Fairy Gardens

How Cute Is This?

Crafy Friday! And A Freebie!

Earth Day Give-Away

Fairies in the Garden

How Cute Is This?

~* This Week's Fairy Good Special *~

Here We Go....

~~ Fairy Kabobs ~~

~~ Fairies in the Garden ~~