How to Make a Fairy House out of Shoe Boxes

Fairy homes are a great way to give your fairies a place to live, whether they are real, make believe, or figurines. While you can always buy a fairy home from the store, a homemade fairy house is much more special and unique. All you need to get started is a shoe box, some scissors, glue, and a spark of creativity!

EditSteps

EditBuilding the Base and Roof

1. Find a shoe box that you can use. The size, shape, and color of the shoe box do not matter. It would be best if the shoe box comes with a lid, but if it doesn't, that's okay. You will just need to use extra cardboard to make the roof and floors.
   
   • Some shoe boxes have lids that are attached along 1 edge, like a flap. If this is the case for your box, cut the lid off first.
   • Some craft and fabric stores sell "photo boxes" that are shaped like shoe boxes. These work great for fairy houses!
2. Measure the length, width, and depth of your box. You will need these measurements to create the roof, floor, and walls. Use a ruler to measure in the following areas, then write those measurements down:
   
   • Length: the longest edge of the box.
   • Width: the shortest edge of the box.
   • Depth: the height of the box; it goes from the opening to the base.
3. Cut the lid lengthwise to make a strip that matches the box's depth. Take the lid off, then cut it in half lengthwise according to your box's depth measurement. You can cut the lid with scissors, but a craft blade will also work.^[1]
   
   • For example, if your box is deep, cut the lid so that it is wide.
4. Cut the lid's long wall off, but leave the side walls on. A shoe box lid is three-dimensional, just like the box itself; it has 2 short walls and 2 long walls. The strip that you cut should have 1 long wall and 2 short walls. Cut off the wall along the longest edge, but leave the 2 short walls on the sides.
   
   • The 2 short walls will make little tabs that you can use to secure your roof to the top of the box.
5. Fold the strip in half widthwise to make a V-shape. It does not matter which side of the lid (inside or outside) is facing out. Make sure that you are folding the roof so that the narrow edges match up. Once you have folded and creased the strip, unfold it so that it forms a V-shape.
   
   • This is now your roof.
6. Tape the roof to 1 of the narrow ends of the box. Stand the shoebox on 1 of its narrow ends. Stand the roof up on top of the box, then tape the side tabs to the sides of the box.^[2]
   
   • You can glue the roof on if you prefer. Hot glue will work the best because it sets up fast. You can use tacky glue, but you'll have to tape the tabs down until the glue dries.
7. Use extra cardboard to create a back wall for the roof, if desired. Set the house down on a sheet of cardboard so that the opening of the shoe box is facing up. Trace around the roof, then cut the triangle shape out of the cardboard. Tape or glue the triangle to the back of the roof.^[3]
   
   • The back of the roof is on the same side as the base of the shoe box. The front of the roof is on the same side as the opening.

EditAdding Rooms, Windows, and Doors

1. Cut the rest of the lid apart to make the second floor. Stand the house up on what's left of the lid. Trace around the bottom of the house with a pen, pencil, or marker, then lift the house away. Cut the resulting rectangle out with scissors or a craft blade.^[4]
   
   • Try to include at least 2 of the walls from the lid. These will create tabs that will make it easier to install the floor.
   • If the leftover lid is not big enough, use another sheet of cardboard. Cereal boxes work great for this.
2. Tape or glue the dividing floor into the middle of the shoe box. Insert the rectangle floor into the shoe box. Make sure that the top and bottom floors are about the same height, then tape or glue the 2 tabs from the dividing floor to the box.^[5]
   
   • Use a strip of tape to secure the other end of the floor to the box.
   • If you did not leave any tabs, place strips of tape along 2 of the narrow edges and 1 of the long edges, then slide the floor into the box. Press the tape strips against the walls.
3. Use extra cardboard to make extra walls, if desired. Draw a rectangle on a sheet of cardboard based on the height and depth of the room. Cut the rectangle out, then add a strip of tape to the top, bottom, and side edges. Slide the room divider into the room, then press the tape strips against the floor, ceiling, and back wall.^[6]
   
   • The height of the rectangle should match the height of the room. The width of the rectangle should match the depth of the box.
   • Don't do more than 1 room divider per floor, otherwise the rooms will be too narrow.
4. Draw window and door shapes, as desired. It would be best to draw these on the inside of the box, because then you can be sure that the floor and room dividers won't get in the way. If this is too hard for you, just flip the box over, and draw your windows and doors on the back.^[7]
   
   • Use something that is easily visible, like a pen or marker.
   • For a fancier house, give the windows a + shaped grid!
5. Cut the doors and windows out with a craft blade. You can work right on top of a cutting mat. Alternatively, you can poke holes in each of the corners of the windows and doors, flip the box over, then connect the holes.^[8]
   
   • If you are a child, get an adult to help you with this.
   • Don't cut the doors along 1 of the long, vertical edges. This way, you can still open and close the doors!
   • Don't worry if you accidentally cut through the grid on the window frame. You can fix it later with sticks.

EditDecorating the House

1. Cover the outside of the house with paper, if desired. Scrapbooking paper works great here, but you can also use wrapping paper, tissue paper, or even construction paper. Cut the paper to fit the sides of the box, then glue it on with a glue stick.
   
   • If you bought a photo box from the craft or fabric store, it may already have a pattern on the outside. If you like the pattern, then you don't have to do this step.
   • If you don't have a glue stick, use a paintbrush to apply a thin layer of liquid glue to the box.
2. Paint the outside of your fairy house if you don't want to use paper. Acrylic craft paint will work the best, but you can use tempera or poster paint too. You can paint the entire house a solid color, or you can just paint designs on it.^[9]
   
   • If you bought a photo box from the craft or fabric store, it may already be colored on the outside. If you like the color, then you don't have to paint it.
   • Sprinkle some glitter into the paint before it dries for a sparkly effect!^[10]
3. Paint the inside of the house or cover it with paper for a fancier touch. Painting would be the easiest way to do this, but you can use scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper too. If you want to use paper, measure the walls first, then cut the paper down to your measurements. Glue the paper down with a glue stick.^[11]
   
   • You can use white school glue as well. Apply it to the walls with a paintbrush, then press the paper down.
4. Cover the floors with wooden craft sticks for a realistic effect. Cut your craft sticks so that they match the depth of your house, then glue them to the floors with hot glue, white school glue, or tacky glue.^[12]
   
   • Craft sticks are rounded on both ends. Be sure to trim both of these off!
   • You can also use wooden coffee stirrers. Another option is to use scrapbooking paper that looks like wood.
5. Add some shingles or sticks to the roof for a realistic effect. Gather enough sticks, moss, or pinecone petals to cover your roof, then glue them down with hot glue. Tacky glue or white school glue is not recommended because it takes too long to dry, and the items will slide off.
   
   • For a rustic look, glue wooden sticks widthwise or lengthwise across both sides of the roof.
   • For a natural look, glue down tufts of moss. You can buy bags of moss from the floral section of a craft store.
   • For a traditional root, glue down pinecone petals in overlapping rows, like scales on a fish. Start from the bottom edge and work your way to the top.
6. Decorate the windows with curtains, trim, or magazine pictures. Start by filling the window in with paper or cellophane, then finish off by creating the frame. Here are some more creative ideas to get you started:^[13]
   
   • Cut squares out of blue or clear cellophane, then glue it behind the windows to make the glass.
   • Glue a magazine picture behind the window if you want to give your fairy a nice view.
   • Glue sticks or craft sticks around the windows to make the window panes. You can also make a + for the grid.
   • If you don't have sticks, you can use craft form instead. Alternatively, you can use paint or patterned washi tape.
   • Cut small rectangles out of scrap fabric, then glue them to each side of the window for curtains.
7. Finish the doors off with paint and doorknobs. If you added doors, then you should decorate them too! Give them a quick coat of paint, or cover them with scrapbooking paper. Once the paint or glue dries, hot glue a bead to 1 side to make the door knob.
   

EditFurnishing the House

1. Create ladders with craft sticks or twigs. Cut 2 sticks that are a little taller than your first floor, and a bunch of smaller sticks that are about long. Set the 2 long sticks down side by side, then glue the smaller sticks across them to make a ladder.^[14]
   
   • Hot glue will work the best for this, but you can use tacky glue or liquid school glue.
2. Use shells or stones to make foot paths. Set your fairy house in the garden or in a larger lid. Use small shells or stones to create a little path leading up to the fairy house. You can also use other items, such as buttons or flat-backed marbles/vase filler.^[15]
   
   • If you are using a larger tray, consider filling it with soil first.
3. Use thread spools or wine corks to make tables and chairs. You can reuse old ones, or you can buy them from the craft store. You can make the tables and chairs more comfortable by doing any of the following:^[16]
   
   • Use scraps of fabric or paper to make tablecloths.
   • Use buttons or acorn lids to make dishes. Thimbles work great for cups.
   • Paint mushroom-top corks to look like toadstools!
   • Use tufts of moss to make chair cushions.
4. Use match boxes or soap boxes to make other pieces of furniture. Gather some small cardboard boxes, such as soap boxes and match boxes. Paint them or cover them with paper, then decorate them to make them look like dressers, ovens, or other appliances.^[17]
   
   • Use markers to draw on details, like drawers or oven doors.
   • Glue beads on to make knobs and handles. You can also use thumb tacks.
   • Buttons work great for stove top burners.
   • Glue beads to the bottom of a match box to create a mini bed.
5. Use items from around the house to make bedding and blankets. Here is where you need to put yourself into a fairy's shoes and think small. Imagine yourself a few inches/centimeters tall, and look at the work around you. What sort of item could you use as a sink or bedding? For example:^[18]
   
   • Use tufts of moss to make things like pillows and cushions.
   • Cut rectangles out of scrap fabric or old T-shirts to make blankets and bedding.
   • Use bottle caps or larger shells to make sinks and basins.
6. Finished.
   

EditTips

• Use twigs and sticks to make other types of fairy furniture.
• Leave candy in the house as treats for the fairies.
• Don't leave the fairy house outside if it is damp or rainy.
• Don't be disappointed if you don't see fairies. Fairies are very shy and good at hiding!

EditThings You'll Need

• Shoe box
• Extra cardboard
• Scissors
• Craft blade
• Pen, pencil, or marker
• Hot glue, tacky glue, or white school glue
• Acrylic craft paint, tempera paint, or poster paint
• Paintbrushes
• Fabric
• Pinecone petals, acorn lids, moss, twigs, etc.
• Beads, buttons, shells, small stones, etc.

EditSources and Citations

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