Back to School Craft - Create Magical Fairy Wands with Westcott Hot Glue Guns

My family is always looking for a way to bring a little magic into our lives. One of our favorite ways to accomplish this is by making our own fairy wands. This simple craft is easy, affordable, and fun for kids of all ages. Even some adults will enjoy creating their own wand. Just follow the simple steps below and see how easy it is to create something magical.

What You Need

Westcott Glue Gum
Glue Sticks
Sticks/Twigs
Acrylic Paint
Paint Brushes
Glitter (Optional)
Anything Else You Want-Rocks, Seashells, Crystals, Stickers,Etc

Step 1 - Gather Sticks 

Gathering your sticks and twigs is completely free and will give you some time out in nature. Go for a walk in the park, nature trail, or anywhere else where trees are plentiful. When choosing your sticks for your wands, be selective. You don't want anything too thick because it will be hard to grip. If they are too thin, they will break easily. Also avoid a lot of bark as this will chip off after you decorate them. Finally, make sure to check for insects.

Step 2 - Paint

The next step to creating your wands is to paint them. Be sure to lay down newsletter or old towels over your work area as this can get messy. Acrylic paint works best, but anything you have on hand should be fine. Just avoid oil paint, because I learned the hard way that it never dries on wood!   Depending on the color you select and the color of your stick, you may need to apply two or three coats. Lighter colors typically need three. Allow the wand to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next coat. With acrylic paint, it only takes about ten to fifteen minutes for each coat to dry.

Step 3 - Glitter

If you decide to use glitter, you will need to do this before the final coat of paint drys. This is very important because it's the only way to get the glitter to stick. I use glitter that comes in a little shaker. You can usually find these in the dollar store. There are three or four colors in a pack. Simply sprinkle the glitter along the wand, but be sure to do it over some type of container so you can dispose of the excess glitter easily. This part is optional and will depend on the design you are working on.

Step 4 - Decorate

This is the really fun part. There are unlimited ways you can decorate your fairy wand. You can use polished stones, pieces from broken jewelry, buttons, or just about anything else you find in your craft box.  The only limit is your imagination. The most important part of this step is finding a good glue gun.  You want your decorations to stay in place when kids are playing with them. The Westcott Hot Glue Gun is my favorite. They heat up quickly, and turn red when they are ready  to use.   Best of all, their glue holds everything firmly in place. Their hot glue pen is perfect for any tiny additions you want to add to your wand. They won't get covered in glue, and you won't get your fingers burned. Here are just a few examples of the types of wands you can create.

Crystal Wand

Fairy Wand

Good Luck wand

Chakra Wand

Drift Wood Wand (Unpainted)

Well, there you go. Beautiful fairy wands that only take about half an hour to make. They are a great craft for birthday parties or rainy summer days.  Best of all, this is a craft that your children will actually play with long after they are completed.  My kids have a whole collection and even my teen daughter still enjoys making them.

To see more fun craft ideas like this one, be sure to visit Westcott Creativators. Look for Westcott Glue Guns & Pens at Michael's.

Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection

If you have a child who loves fairies, here’s a great idea for a birthday cake: decorate it with fairy figurines and accessories from the Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection, a collectible set of child-friendly miniature gardening decorations based on the Flower Fairies books written and illustrated by Cicely Mary Barker nearly a century ago.

One example is the cake below – created by award-winning Chicago cake decorator and special effects artist Dina Cimarusti to celebrate what would have been Barker’s 121^st birthday on June 28.

The cake incorporates tiny fairies dressed in the leaves and flowers of his or her special plant – replicating Barker’s charming illustrations – along with flowers, butterflies, steppingstones and other accessories like a fairy door from the Secret Garden collection, creating a magical world of make-believe that any young or old fairy fan will love.

My Thoughts

I have always taught my children to believe in the magic of fairies, and the delightful Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection truly brings that magic to life. While I would never be able to create a cake as beautiful as the one pictured above, these figurines could definitely add a magical touch to cupcakes or birthday cakes. They are also beautiful garden decor. My daughter loved setting up all the pieces that we received. There are many different sets to choose from. We received a beautiful wooden bridge, a slide complete with a lovely winged fairy, and a mail box set.  You can even get imitation grass if you want to set up your fairy house inside.

What makes these so much fun is that you can use them anywhere. If you want them in your garden, they are well made and will hold up well under various weather conditions. Inside, they make great imaginative toys for little girls.  Each piece is incredibly detailed. The fairy's features are so life-like, you'll swear you are holding a real fairy in your hand and just waiting for it to come to life. Even the accessories are stunning. The bridge is trimmed with the flowers and the mailbox was a slot that you can actually slide little messages into. 

Of course, these are only a few of the accessories they offer. Here are a few other examples of the fairies you can choose from.

If you'd like to learn more about Flower Fairies Secret Garden Collection, be sure to visit their website or follow them on social media. Check out their store locator to find a location near you that sells these beautiful fairies.

Fairy World - A Beautifully Illustrated Journey into the World of Fairies

"It is true that children are most likely to glimpse a fairy—for it is they who have the gift to look and listen with believing eyes and ears. But, the world of fairies is open to anyone who truly wants to explore it, and I hope this book—the result of many years of research in far-flung locations, as well as in the woods and skies around my home—will show you that in the fairy world, not all is as it seems."


S. A. Caldwell

Royal Institute for Fairy Research (RIFR)
Discover their legends and lore
This beautiful book, illustrated with sophisticated and stunning computer-generated art, delves into the legends of fairies often portrayed in ancient mythology, folktales, classical paintings, and timeless literature from around the world. Riveting chapters explore a wide range of fairies, including the nature-loving sylphs, flower fairies, and nymphs, as well as the evil trickster banshees, shapeshifters, and more. 

From enchanted forests to moonlit meadows . . .
Follow the author as she tracks these elusive and ethereal creatures to the secret places where they sing and dance. Children will love poring over the gallery spreads filled with fantastic images of fairy wings, locks of hair, and enchanted flowers. Extracts of letters, diaries, and notes let you piece clues together as you follow them into their magical world.

About the Author:
Stella A. Caldwell is the author of this highly successful series which includes Dragonworld, Dinoworld, andBeastworld. Stella spent her childhood years in Scotland and South Africa. She studied English Literature at Edinburgh University and taught English in Prague before moving into book publishing as an editor. As a children's editor, she has project-managed titles such as the number one New York Times best seller Pirates, Fairies, and Mythological Creatures. She has two young children and lives in Oxford.
About the Illustrator:
Ryan Forshaw discovered that he had a flair for art and computers during his rehabilitation for a spinal cord injury that left him a paraplegic. With the help of a specially outfitted computer that Ryan uses with his head and mouth, he became an illustrator and CGI artist. He works in the fields of publishing, music, and on the web, and has won numerous awards from digital imaging magazines and online contests. 

My Thoughts

Fairies are so magical and this book arrives just in time for spring, which is their favorite time of year. This delightful hardcover book gives you an intimate look into the world of fairies.  You will meet the different types of fairies including leprechauns, selkies, and brownies, view their kingdoms, and  learn all about their enchantments, blessings, and curses.  You'll see the trees that the fairies live in, the magical gifts they leave behind, and the various colors of their wings. There are even instructions on how to summon certain fairy folk. Towards the back of the book, there are some case studies including clips from actual newspapers.

I really loved this book. It's a quick read as far as the written content goes. I was able to read the whole thing in just a few hours. The illustrations are simply stunning. They are so detailed, the creatures described take on a life all their own. I could page through this book over and over again. My children really enjoyed it too, and love looking at the pictures. At the end of this book, you may start to question whether fairies are really a myth or very real beings hiding in the shadows, waiting to show themselves to those who are worthy.

Easter Gift Guide - Treehouse Fairies: Coming to Forests Near You - #Giveaway

What is Treehouse Fairies?

Treehouse Fairies is a new product for children or the young at heart that combines imagination and outdoor fun with a delightful fairy tale.

The set includes a 64-page, full-color hardcover book entitled "Treehouse Fairies of Merrywood" and a sturdy wooden "fairy house" for decorating.

How is it played?

*  Read the tale about a tiny fairy named Tessa who loses her home. As the book draws to a close, the reader is encouraged to create a new home for Tessa using items from Nature and the wooden house provided.

*  Take a walk in the great outdoors to collect items such as acorns, moss, pebbles, etc. for decorating.

* Help the child decorate the fairy house and place it in a spot where a fairy could find it.

* Over a series of nights, place notes, small trinkets, fairy dust, etc. at the house as signs that the fairy has visited. Continue the magic as long as you wish!

*If desired, order the Tessa fairy doll from our website to come live at the home, or continue the game with make-believe fairies.

Where is it available?

Treehouse Fairies, the boxed set, will be sold in retail outlets across the U.S. It is an ideal product for gift shops, book stores, specialty toy stores, and garden shops. It is available at our website: www.treehousefairies.com.

My Thoughts

I have always taught my children to believe in the magic of fairies, and this delightful gift set truly brings that magic to life. It comes with a beautifully illustrated book entitled: Treehouse Fairies of Merrywood by Carol Hoops & Kathy Thaggard. Inside is more than one simple story. There are actually fourteen different chapters to discover featuring princesses, both good and mischievous fairies, adorable animals, and so much more. Every night you can read your children another section weaved with fairy dust. My children loved all the stories and the bright and colorful illustration by Shannon M. Valentine. 

In addition to the book, you also receive an actual fairy house. This wooden house has a little door that really opens and lots of room for creativity. The back panel is open so you can decorate it inside and out. When it's completed, you can keep it inside or place it outdoors for your resident fairies to move in. My daughter started decorating with some heart-shaped glitter and we also plan to leave a few crystals inside since fairies love things that sparkle.

Treehouse Fairies are tons of fun and a wonderful way to help children develop their imagination. To get a Treehouse Fairies set of your own or to find more ideas on how to decorate your fairy house, be sure to visit their website. 

The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a Treehouse Fairies Gift set of their own!To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end on 3/3/16. Open to the US only.  The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this fantastic prize.

Entry-Form

Young Adult Faeries & Fantasy Hop - Win a Morrigan Prize Pack

I Am A Reader Not A Writer is hosting a fun blog hop all about fairies in young adult novels. If you read Morrigan, you'll know there are a few scenes that involve the whimsical Fae. Of course, I gave them my own unique twist, because not all fairies have wings. If you haven't read Morrigan yet, here is a little more about the book:

Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can't get any stranger, she discovers her true identity. Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.

 Available at:
Amazon | Books A Million | B&N | Smashwords

As part of the blog hop, I am giving away a Morrigan prize pack that includes a Fairy Garden Statue, a fairy bottle, incense gift set and two crystal points. To enter just fill in the rafflecopter form below. Open to US ONLY. Ends 1/15 at 12:00 EST.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



For more great giveaways, be sure to follow the blog hop!