HOME FOR THE GNOME

April showers dampening your gardening plans? Brighten up a dreary day indoors with an upcycled flowerpot project. This gnome abode may be small in size, but it’s big on enchantment—and the kids will love it, too!

Looking for a simple rainy-day project this spring? Transform a standard terra-cotta planter pot into an enchanting garden decoration.

For avid gardeners everywhere, early spring is the ideal time to pave the way for beautiful blooms. But if the weather outside simply isn’t ideal for gardening—and you happen to have an extra terra-cotta flowerpot lying around—Katie Femia from The Homespun Hydrangea has the perfect project for keeping green thumbs (and the kids) busy on a rainy day.

In recent years, fairy gardens have been all the rage, and even public parks are getting in the swing of things with secret pop-up fairy gardens. “I don’t see the popularity of fairy gardens going away anytime soon,” Katie predicts. “These whimsical little beauties turn up every spring and enchant kids and adults alike with all of their miniature accents and precious plants.” Now, you can make your own magical garden with a twist.

1 Create a cozy home for a gnome—plus, the kids will love knowing he’s safe tucked away from the rain in his own sweet garden abode. You might be tempted to pick up expensive pieces from your local big-box stores, but Katie advises homemade and thrifty thinking are best. “All you need to make this DIY gnome home is a flowerpot and some supplies from your local crafts or dollar store.” For this project, you’ll need a medium-size terra-cotta pot and saucer, clear adhesive, a mini gnome or fairy door, a bag of small rocks or pebbles, a bag of decorative moss, mini ceramic garden mushrooms and a hot glue gun.