Colors of Fall in the Miniature Fairy Garden

While working at my desk a few days ago, I glanced up and there in full view of the skylight was our majestic maple tree in all its beauty. Deep burgundy leaves were partnered with the summertime green foliage. Seasons are beginning to change and fall is arriving in Wisconsin. During the past few days, I have been busy at my computer searching for fall decorating ideas, which means I need to put on my creative thinking cap to convert “real size” decorations into miniature fairy garden designs.

My first thought was “What are some ideas for using the mini putka pumpkins?” As soon as I saw an image of a fall wreath I knew what decoration I was going to make… a wreath of pumpkins. Start with a two-inch steel flat washer that can be purchased at a hardware store. Considering the 1:12 scale, this size wreath is suitable for a three-inch wide fairy door or in real size three-feet. Adhere, using glue, fairy moss onto the washer as a covering. Next, cut five strands of raffia into one-inch pieces, place them in a bundle, and bind them together by tying embroidery floss in the middle. Make approximately 5 of these raffia bundles, which will be used as fillers in the wreath. It is now time to adhere the putka pumpkins to the moss covered washer. Randomly glue the pumpkins to the wreath, stem side out, until the wreath is covered. Then glue the raffia bundles to areas that need to be filled in. Another idea is to insert dried mini flowers or red Dogwood stems to add a little flair to this miniature putka pumpkin wreath. Hang the wreath on your mini cottage door by using non-permanent adhesive dots or suspend by a shepherd’s hook near the doorway. Let’s decorate the fairy cottage with more pumpkins!

For a quick fall decoration, start with the fruit or vegetable crate and turn it on its side. Lean the crate against a bale of hay, a white picket fence, or your favorite fairy cottage. Place some fairy moss in the bottom of the crate and begin to layer pumpkins and other gourds inside. For the final accessory to the crate display, place a spooky black cat or crow on top. Are you ready for more mini ideas to display with the fall wreath and the pumpkin filled crate?

Consider decorating the fairy’s mini ladder with a BOO banner. Shop for a burlap textured ribbon with a width that is slightly smaller than the rungs on your ladder. To cut the length of the ribbon, you will need to measure the spaces between the rungs. On a mossy twig ladder the rungs are one-inch apart and since I will be doubling the ribbon for three, straight-edged banners, the total amount of ribbon that will be needed is six-inches. After the three banners are cut, two-inches in length, fold one banner in half and using a black permanent marker write the letter "B" on the front. Continue with the other two banners by writing an "O" on each banner. Time to place the banners on the ladder. Starting with the letter B, drape the banner over a rung, so the letter is showing. Use a mini adhesive dot to join the back and front bottom edges of the banner. Place the banner on the second rung or you may decide to use every other rung. Finally, secure the last "O" banner on the ladder rung to spell the word, "BOO." A quick and easy fall decoration has been created!

Along with the pumpkin wreath and the harvest crate, place the Boo ladder near your miniature cottage. Watch the fairies smile with delight when they see the fall decorations in the miniature garden.

Miniature Gardening offers a variety of accessories, fairies, plants, garden tools & dollhouse furniture to create enchanting miniature landscapes for containers or your yard. Miniature Gardening's fairy houses are an exclusive collection of handcrafted stone fairy houses designed for outdoor fairy gardens. Visit our website: http://miniature-gardening.com.