Blog Archives
Badge: Fairy Play – Games
Games you play every day can easily be adjusted to fairy games. Below are fairy games for you to try. You may notice that the rules tend to be general so that you can create your own fun fairy games. Sometimes just the chance to be creative opens up a whole new world.
Steps
1. Find the fairy.
One of the hardest things to do is find fairies. They are small, fast and secretive. Find and play a game about searching and finding fairies.
You can also make and hide fairies. From marking a map to show locations to photographing the fairies, you can explore numerous was of documenting the fairies’ location without moving them.
2. Dancing fairies.
Fairies love music and dancing. Find and play a game that features music and or dancing. If it’s not designed specifically for fairies, adjust the rules so that it can be used at a fairy-themed event.
3. Fairy scavenger hunt.
Ask the fairies to collect items needed to create a fairy house. Each fairy gets a bag to place collected items. These items might include:
- Leaves
- Twigs
- Stones
- Bark
- Acorns
- Pinecones
- Flower petals
- Toadstools or mushrooms
- Shells
- Moss
- Nuts
- Berries
- Grasses
- Vines
You could end it when everyone has collected their items.
For a variation, let each fairy choose a colored stone from a bag and fairies with similar colors combine their items and build a fairy house. See the AEP’s Fairy House badge program for additional details on fairy houses. Let the fairies judge each others’ houses. Non-fairies can act as additional judges. Provide special prizes for the winners.
4. Pin the . . .
You can pin a star on a wand, wings on a fairy or flower head on a stem. All would fit your fairy theme. Create a board and items to pin your choice on so you can play.
5. Fairy tag.
One fairy has a “freeze” wand and another fairy a “fly free” wand. You could also have the fairies close their eyes when they are frozen and replace the “fly free” wand with glitter – the free fairy would sprinkle glitter over the frozen fairy’s head and whisper “fly free.”
See what other variations you and your fairies can think up!
6. Fairy treasure.
From simply explaining that the fairies left treasure to elaborate stories about the tooth fairy losing her money, you can come up with many fairy themes for treasure hunting. You can use chocolate coins, Hershey kisses or other items that are sparkly for treasure. The fairies keep what they find. Use one of these or create your own fairy treasure hunt.
7. Flower toss.
Place a single artificial flower in a pot with floral foam. Toss rings at the flower. Those that go over the flower and pot are winners. You can decorate the pot and rings to make it more “fairy” looking.
Alternately, you can place a bowl or basket to throw flower heads or buds into for your flower toss. What other ideas can you come up with that can be labeled “flower toss”? Play one or more to find which work the best.
8. FAIRY.
Instead of BINGO, try FAIRY. Find cards on the Web or create your own to play this game. You can use your standard BINGO supplies to save money.
9. Stepping stones.
Play musical chairs with stepping stones. To minimize injuries, do not remove the stones. Instead, place fairy items such as wands, flowers or other items on the stepping stones that cannot be sat upon. The fairies that do not have a valid stone to sit upon are free from the circle to dance amongst the flowers.
10. Find fairy games.
Surf the Web and find more fairy games others have created. Add a few to your list of fairy games. Share those you find particularly fun.
11. Make fairy games.
Using the other steps as examples, create your own unique fairy game. Ask others to play it and find out what they like / don’t like about it. Incorporate some of your fairies’ adjustments and try it again. When you feel it’s a great game, share it with other fairy enthusiasts.
12. Party or event.
Plan a party or afternoon event featuring fairy games.
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Sites to Explore
www.kids-party-paradise.com/fairy-party-game.html
www.kids-birthday-party-guide.com/fairy-birthday-party.html
www.itz4kidz.com.au/celebrations/kid-s-birthday-parties/themes/enchanted-garden-fairy-party.aspx
www.ehow.com/way_5412238_fairy-party-games.html
www.ehow.com/list_6854048_fairy-party-games-girls.html
www.easy-party-games.com/fairy-games.html
Badge: Fairy Play – Activities
There are many fairy activities that can be incorporated into play dates, events and parties.
Also check out more fairy badge programs for additional ideas to incorporate into your events.
- Fairy Crafts
- Fairy Food
- Fairy Houses
- Fairy Play: Games
Steps
1. Learn about fairies.
To learn about fairies, you can read a book or watch a movie. Before purchasing anything, check out what you already have. You may already have fairies hiding on your shelves. Find out about different types of fairy (faerie, fay, etc.) in different cultures. Search the Web for free offerings.
2. Disney fairies.
Disney fairies are the most recognized by kids. Review the offerings Disney has to offer from movies through games. Watch a movie featuring Disney fairies. If you find activities that go with a particular movie, see if they would be good additional activities to use with other fairy activities, not specifically Disney. Would you recommend these activities to parents and caregivers?
3. Cottingley fairies.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottingley_Fairies
The Cottingly fairies were photos supposedly taken with two girls from England. Read about these famous photos. Create your own faux images with fairies in them, exploring ways to make them more realistic.
4. Flower fairies.
www.flowerfairies.com/US_version/home.html
Flower fairies, created by Cicely Mary Barker between 1930 and 1950, are a very popular version of fairies. Check out the official site and explore the offerings there. Make your own flower fairies by observing flowers and designing your own dress from flower petals and leaves.
5. Make me a fairy.
With either purchased items or those created by the fairies themselves, let everyone be fairies. Include flower garlands, wings and wands at a minimum. You can also do face painting and make hair glitter. These items will go home with each fairy.
Make sure you take pictures of each fairy to include with a thank you note as a reminder of this special activity. Use a duplicate of these pictures to create a special fairy scrapbook for yourself. You can create a special “picture area” so the fairy is in its natural element for photos.
6. Fairy hunt.
Create fairies and hide them before your participants arrive. You can craft fairies, purchase fairies or if you’re doing a night event, use short strings of colored lights or battery-powered LEDs. During the fairy hunt, make sure everyone is quiet so they don’t scare the fairies. Ask one person to lead a group on the hunt and make sure they know where one fairy is so they can show their group. Then, let everyone else look.
Depending on your fairies and how you hide them, you can have your participants document their hunt with:
- Checklist
- Note where the fairy was found in a fairy journal
- Sketches
- Photographs
7. Name the fairy.
Create cards with pictures of various fairies on them. See how many your participants can guess correctly. Be sure to include some fairies that are more cultural.
8. Fairy tea party.
Fairies drink nectar and eat sweet foods. We can also add small finger foods with a fairy theme. You can also make leaf placemats and napkin rings as well as centerpieces and small gifts that all fit the fairy theme. Play light music (classical or instrumental) or place wind chimes about with a fan blowing on them.
Find recipes to create your own fairy-themed tea party. You can also see the AEP badge program “Fairy Food” for more ideas.
9. Coloring and paper puzzles.
Very young fairy fans might like coloring sheets of their favorite fairies. You can provide find-a-word puzzles, from easy to complex, as well as any other paper game. Search the Web or your own stash of activities to find fairy-related coloring sheets and paper puzzles.
10. Hidden treasures.
For a smaller gathering, assign colors to each fairy participant. Create trails of fairy dust to starting clues for a treasure hunt that ends up with a special gift for each fairy. You can have one gift or continue with clues for multiple gifts, such as an entire fairy outfit to collect before attending the Fairy Tea Party (see Step 8). If you’re planning on doing multiple gifts, color code clues with ribbons of the same color as your fairy dust.
11. Fairy flowers.
Provide pots, soil and seeds for bright colored flowers or replace the seeds with potable flowers. Explain that you’re sharing your fairy garden with them.
12. Fairy stories.
Create a circle with your fairies. Ask each fairy to tell a story. Pass around a special wand or faux flower to identify the storyteller. Keep your stories to fairies or other fantasy creatures.
13. Create a unique event for a group.
Use this and the other four fairy badge programs to create a unique event for a group.
- Crafts
- Houses
- Games
- Food
- Activities
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Sites to Explore
www.fairyhouses.com
www.fairygardens.com/colorbook/colorbook.html
faerie.monstrous.com/index.htm
hubpages.com/hub/Plan-a-Fairy-Party-for-Less-Than-Fifty-Dollars
www.iofm.net/community/kidscorner/creatures/fairies.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy
Badge: Fairy Houses
Fairies like homes made of natural items from acorns to flowers. However, the flight of imagination can go beyond these items in creating fairy houses. Let’s explore the fun craft of fairy houses.
Steps
1. Explore other fairy houses.
Search online for images of fairy houses. Keep notes of items used in their construction that you would like to have in your own fairy house. Save a bookmark of the sites you are especially interested in, create a PDF of the page or save your ideas for reference as you work through the steps.
2. Home inclusions.
Fairy houses include furnishings, just like any other home. You’ll mainly see natural items such as pine cones, stones and twigs used for furnishings. Note any you’d like to include in your own fairy house as you look through images on the Web. You may also be interested in decorative items for your fairy house, so keep track of those as well.
3. Other design ideas.
If you’re not inspired by looking at other fairy houses, look at real houses. Use the basic structure for your own creations. Sketch out your ideas so you can start acquiring materials.
4. Outdoors or indoors.
Before you begin building, you need to ask yourself if you want your fairy house indoors or outdoors. Outdoors houses tend to be completely of natural materials. Indoors versions are more lax and may include some non-natural items.
5. Plan a field trip.
You’ll need to start collecting materials. With your ideas and decision on where you want to place your fairy house, collect items that fit your imagination.
If you’re taking kids with you, plan extra time. Remember younger kids will have a shorter attention span while older kids may wish to collect items and build their house NOW! Make this decision together before you start.
6. Just for boys.
Some boys will not like the idea of building houses for fairies. Instead, build your houses for gnomes or elves. A simple change of phrase will take away the “girly” element. This project incorporates imagination, building skills and creativity which benefits both girls and boys.
7. Plan for safety.
Wood glue, hot glue and nails can all be used for assembling – make sure you take all safety precautions with these materials. If you plan on allowing kids to help, make sure you explain safety of using assembly materials and tools.
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Build outdoor houses
8. Off the beaten path.
Fairy houses need to be off the main paths in forested, flowering or grassy areas. This protects them from being destroyed by people and animals travelling the path as well as helping to make the house less visible by people. After all, fairies don’t like to be where people can see them. Look for a place to build your house against a tree truck, on a small stone platform or even in an open area.
9. Up in a tree.
Sometimes branches make a great area to put a flat stone to build your house upon. Look at trees off the path that might be able to hold a fairy house. You can also take a birdhouse or bird feeder and decorate it for fairies. Brainstorm various ways you might put a fairy house in a tree.
10. Small areas.
You can create fairy houses even in small areas. A planter can be utilized as a place to put your house. Seeds can be planted so that they frame the house. Diminutive plants and mosses are good choices to add green without a lot of bulk. Planters can be used outdoors or indoors.
11. More pots and other starts.
You can dig outside and put a pot on its side, filling it up partially with dirt, to create a fairy house. Pots are more likely to withstand the elements. Perhaps a stepping stone would be a better base if you plan to incorporate non-natural items that need a flat surface to sit upon. What other items could you use to start a fairy house?
12. Fairy gardens.
If a house is not enough, try a fairy garden. Design your own garden or choose to do this as a community project. Choose bright, colorful flowers. Place a “feature item” as a focal point in your garden with a fairy circle around it. Use your imagination to bring your own fantasy to life. If you live in a part of the country where winter weather will damage any of your items, be sure to have a plan for putting them away during those months.
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Build indoor houses
13. Under glass.
Purchasing a special case for your fairy house is a good idea if you don’t want it damaged. You can also use glass enclosures you already own – from glass cake holders to entire glass cabinets. Explore glass items that could hold a fairy house. Choose one that will fit and create your masterpiece.
14. Table centerpiece.
Table centerpieces start with a flat board or tray. You can build a house . . . or even outdoor livable area . . . to place on your table. Find a suitable flat item to build your house on. Make sure to put something soft on it so it doesn’t scratch your table.
15. Transformed doll houses.
To make building your fairy house even easier, transform a doll house with altered art / mixed media techniques. Of course, you can transform other materials as well such as wooden boxes or buckets. Find something you can alter and create a design that will be fun to build. Make sure to include natural materials.
16. Fairy building blocks.
You may choose to make your house playable. Placing all the materials into a box allows the kids to build and rework the house as they see fit. Since you’re using mainly natural materials, it’s easy to take a walk and find more should the pieces wander off. Choose a container to place your materials into and create a box for building a fairy house.
17. Edible house.
Have you built a gingerbread house? Decorated really cool cakes? Look through your cookbooks and find items that can be used as materials to build a fairy house, as well as furniture. Create a fairy scene with food!
18. Recycled house.
If all you need is a structure to build upon, look at items you recycle. Old detergent bottles, milk jugs, crates or even cereal boxes can be used as the main structure to build upon it. Look around your house for items you can recycle into a fairy house.
19. My fairy house.
childparenting.about.com/od/artscraftsprojects/a/fairyhouse.htm
Create a fairy house indoors for your own little fairy. Start with a hula hoop. String ribbons, strips of fabric, etc. from the hula hoop. Add flowers and attach it to the ceiling for your fairy to play in. Feel free to adjust these items to make it more unique to your own fairy.
You can also use this as a prop for a larger event as girls are changed into fairies as they pass through this magical area.
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Furniture
20. Brainstorm.
Imagine yourself as a fairy. Picturing the materials used above for making fairy houses, think of items that fairies would find useful every day. Some may be similar to what we use like beds or hammocks for sleeping, tables, chairs, bowls, etc. Sketch out ways you could use your natural materials to create these items. Answer these questions.
- What will the fairy use it for?
- What materials will I need to build it?
- Can I find the materials I need outside?
- Do I need to buy materials?
- What tools will I need to build it?
21. Images of other’s ideas.
With your favorite search engine, look through images of fairy furniture. If any are similar to those you sketched in your brainstorming session, adjust your ideas if the photo shows is an improvement on your design.
22. Build.
Build at least one of the ideas you sketched out in the previous step. If you use glue, make sure it works with your natural materials. The scale should fit into your fairy house.
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Fairy house events
23. Party.
A party is one way to have a small group make fairy houses. Plan a small party with your choice of fairy activities including building a fairy house.
24. Group.
If you plan to have a large group participate, make sure you have extra materials on hand. A limited size area often means people will be trying to obtain the same items. If you have participants who have never built a fairy house, you may need to have instructors to help educate them or photos available for them to view. Brainstorm other things you may need for a large group versus a smaller group.
25. Money earning efforts.
Building fairy houses can be a money earning event. It also can be a supplement to selling fairy crafts, showing fairy movies, reading fairy books, etc. How might you make money from building fairy houses?
26. Extended event.
To increase attendance at a garden or park, start an extended event. Ask participants to build and photograph their fairy houses. Create a location online where everyone can share their photos and the locations so they can visit each other’s fairy houses. Let people vote on their favorites and offer a fairy prize.
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Sites to Explore
www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Faerie-Garden
www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fairy-House
www.wikihow.com/Transform-Your-Dollhouse-Into-a-Faerie-House
ezinearticles.com/?Make-a-Fairy-Garden-For-Your-Kids-Party&id=15227
www.ehow.com/how_2272415_make-fairy-house-food.html
www.ehow.com/how_2123869_make-fairy-home-tree.html
users3.ev1.net/~mygarden/GFHAT.htm
www.fairyhouses.com/eventspage/hold-your-own-event/
Badge: Fairy Crafts
Fairies are popular with kids of all ages. From fantasy to Disney, fairies are usually depicted as small creatures with wings and magical abilities. Let’s have fun with fairies.
Steps
Human-sized crafts
1. Wings.
You can purchase wings, but making them is a unique craft. Search the Web for wing patterns. Find one you feel you can accomplish and build yourself or someone you know a pair of wings. Wear your wings for a while and decide what adjustments would make them more comfortable, easier to wear, etc.
2. Make-up.
Fairy make-up includes lots of glitter, color and rhinestones. Explore fairy make-up online. Create a unique fairy look for yourself or someone else. Take photos to document your design so you can recreate it later.
If you really enjoy doing the make-up, start a small photo journal to document your developing make-up skills. This will also help you when you’re stuck for ideas. Feel free to include images you find online that you’d like to duplicate.
3. Clothing.
Fairy clothing can be simple or extravagant. You can accessorize clothing you already have or make something new. Sketch out a fairy outfit for yourself or someone else. Here are some things you might want to incorporate into your outfit.
- Embellished sleeveless tops
- Tutus
- Leggings
- Satin slippers
4. Wands.
Wands are another simple craft item. Don’t feel stuck with a standard star on your wand. Try snowflakes or faux flowers to give it a unique look. Perhaps bubble wands are your thing. Search the Web for a multitude of wand ideas and make one or more to coordinate with your wings, make-up and clothing.
5. Flower garland.
Also known as a flower hair wreath, these utilize wire, ribbon and small flowers to make a cute hair piece. Find instructions online or design your own.
6. Fairy dust.
Fairy dust is as easy as glitter or a combination of glitter and colored sand. Also experiment making fairy dust with seed beads, no-hole beads and other mediums you can find. Place the fairy dust into necklace vials, bottles, pouches or a container you make yourself.
7. Treasure box.
Choose any box you like and decorate it. Use paint, rhinestones, flowers and other items that fit your fairy theme. Make sure your box is large enough to hold your fairy treasures. Of course, you may choose to make a treasure box that fits in your fairy house instead.
8. Fairy collage.
When most people think collage, they think of flat paper with pieces glued to it. While this is an option, try decorating and putting items in a shoebox or shrine. Add three-dimensional elements and create a special keepsake.
9. Tooth fairy pouch.
Make a simple drawstring bag from fabric. You can also stamp, add glitter paint, seed beads and other items to decorate the pouch. The pouch can be used to hold teeth for the tooth fairy or magical fairy dust.
10. Fairy journal.
Keep track of all your fairy activities. From sketches of fairies and favorite flowers to your own poetry, you can use your fairy journal any way you like. Create a simple journal with paper, string and an awl (for punch binding). Decorate the cover with your good fairy taste and have fun with this project.
11. Flowers for all.
Flowers are big with fairies. Find sites with instructions to make flowers out of paper, clay, felt or just about any material you can think of. Create flowers that are coordinated with your fairy look.
12. Fairy jewelry.
Incorporate your fairy style into headbands, necklaces, bracelets and more. Materials should include ribbons, flowers, charms and sparkling beads.
13. Fairy masks.
Using pre-cut masks or templates, use a variety of bright colored markers or paints as well as glitter. If doing this activity with a group, have a sample or two available to spark creativity.
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Fairy-sized crafts
14. Fairies.
Fairies can be made out of almost anything. Find free instructions on the Web. Create one or more fairies and determine for what age each type is an appropriate craft.
- Clothespin fairy
- Flower fairy from faux flowers and floral wire
- Clay fairy
- Ribbon fairy
- Recycled Barbie or other doll
Use one of these ideas or gather materials and create your own unique fairies.
15. Paper dolls.
Find paper doll fairies or adjust a paper doll and make a fairy out of it.
16. Photo fairies.
Take photos of family and friends. Either digitally or by hand, outline the photos and add wings and other items to make fairies. Create a collage with your fairy friends.
17. Outfits for dolls.
Take some of the items you created for human-sized fairies and size them down for your favorite doll or find patterns and make an item or two for your doll.
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Fairy crafts galore
18. Many more crafting ideas.
The number of fairy crafting ideas seems infinite. Look online or at your local library for even more fun fairy craft ideas.
19. Teach others.
Show others how to make the fairy crafts you’ve enjoyed. You can do this at a meeting, special day event or even do an entire fantasy day camp featuring the projects you enjoyed creating.
20. Craft fair.
For money earning, try holding or participating in a craft fair. Feature your fairy creations.
21. Fairy event.
Host a fairy event, utilizing one or more of the craft projects above as activities.
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