Have Fun with Kids!

Your little girl will love using a tiny bit of crafty magic to transform clothespins into a world of wonder!

What you’ll need for each fairy 2 1/2" peg-style wooden clothespin Acrylic paint in skin color, pink and dress color Felt scraps in 2 pastel colors and skin color Craft glue Yarn scrap in hair color Assorted small gems, beads or sparkly stickers Fine tip permanent markers, black, pink 7/8" green flat-back button What you’ll need for the cottage Single-serve cereal or oatmeal container White acrylic paint 4" Styrofoam™ ball, cut in half 9"x12" sheet of red felt; green and white scraps Craft glue 24" (3/8") red grosgrain ribbon 12" narrow white trim

1Fairy: Your child paints the clothespin skin color, the “slippers” dress color. Then enlarge the patterns (below, left) at 200%. Your child cuts 2 of each dress, wings and tiny skin-colored hands. She glues the wings together, glues the hands to sleeves, and glues the dress around the clothespin.

2Your child cuts 1 1/2" yarn lengths, glues on for the hair, adds “jewelry,” glues the wings to back, draws cheeks and face with marker, adds the button stand.

3Cottage: Your child paints the container with three coats of white paint, as shown, letting it dry between coats. She glues on a 1 1/4"x 2 1/2" round-topped red felt door with a small white knob. She measures around base, cuts a 1 1/2" green felt strip with irregular V’s along one side, glues on.

4Your child cuts a red felt circle 8" across. Help her pull taut and glue to foam ball’s rounded side. She trims edges 3/8" beyond foam, glues ribbon inside and outside edge, adds white trim. She adds assorted white felt circles.

Design: Rebecca Spohn (Sunnybrookfarmstudio.com). Photos: Cathy Olivucci/hbb; Jana Guothova/age fotostock. Styrofoam™ Brand foam is sold in craft stores and craft departments nationwide, fabricated by Floracraft.