DIY Fairy Garden from a Salvaged Bird Bath
A DIY Fairy Garden made from a salvaged bird bath is adorable and whimsical, and adds so much charm and character to the garden! Kids will love the figurines, and I love the texture and variation in my garden!
All morning and afternoon and in the evening, I had been searching for a concrete bird bath. On Craigslist, Facebook, LetGo, OfferUp, yard sales, salvage shops, and trash heaps. For months upon months. My kids grew weary of my random drives through the countryside. Andrew grew tired of my complaining about over priced things. Do y’all know how expensive old bird baths run!? I saw some that were $50-$85. I’m not about that (overpriced) life.
But a $20 bird bath for a DIY fairy garden? Sold.
I found it on a local Facebook yard sale group, and as soon as I saw it, I knew in my heart I would be victorious in the end, because it was local, adorable, and $20. Victory would be mine! After I stopped screaming with excitement, my brain was flooded with all the cute diy fairy garden ideas and trinkets we could get or make.
As soon as I laid hands on it, I could see the potential of this adorable thing, and I knew it’d be perfect to repurpose for our Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge!
The Rules:
- Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
- There’s no monthly theme.
- There’s no budget to stick to.
Meet the Hosts
Amanda | The Kolb Corner Erlene | My Pinterventures Kim | Made in a Day
Dru | Polka Dot Poplars Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles Pili | Sweet Things
Debra | Shoppe No. 5 Marie | DIY Adulation Havalah | Sisters, What
Chelsea | Making Manzanita Ann | Duct Tape and Denim Molly | Just a Little Creativity
Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods Kimm | Reinvented Kim | Farmhouse Made
Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled Sara | Twelve on Main Chelc | Inside the Fox Den
Michelle | Our Crafty Mom Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay
Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod Lora | Craftivity Designs
Ali | Home Crafts By Ali Denise | My Thrifty House Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home
Toni | Small Home Soul Jeanie | Create & Babble Michelle | Michelle James Designs
Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!
So let’s get to the DIY Fairy Garden, shall we?
I loved the inside of this one, in case we actually ever decided to use it as a bird bath. The stem is also adorable, so for now, we filled it with dirt and flowers and magic. We opted to grab some phlox (a bushy ground cover plant that will also hang over the edges a bit), some thyme and leafy plants, along with some vines to give it a little enchantment. That Creeping Jenny is everything, isn’t it?
I also need to mention, this post contains affiliate links below, and my full disclosure policy is here.
The whole backyard garden is a total work in progress. I just painted the door a few weeks ago, but still need to get the trim done, and the girls have wildflower seeds to sow that attract bees and other pollinators. Save the bees! And I need to get rid of more weeds.
Sidebar, does anyone know how to get rid of those spikey tall thistle looking things? I don’t know if they’re thistle or what, but they are the spawn of Satan himself. Let me know, because I’ve declared war.
Anyway, we had an extra terra-cotta pot (my obsession), and decided to make this a fairy village, instead of 1 contained garden area. There’s a little sweet gnome and watering can, nestled in the phlox, and the house and surf wagon are on the other side by a pot Lilly planted at Girl Scouts.
Lilly made tiny bird baths from overturned terra-cotta saucers on pots out there nestled in the weeds, lavender, and pansies, and I want to expand the fairies to the entire zip code out there. With those cute little doors! Swoon.
The fairy, gnome, surf wagon and castle from last year’s fairy garden survived the winter, so we just hit Hobby Lobby for a ladder, the girl gnome, the garden bistro set, little house, water can and hedgehog. The house, water can, and hedgehog are awesome, they came in a 3 pack and they’re on little sticks. If you can get to your local shop, do so because their online selection is basically empty. I’ve just linked you to similar goodies on Amazon, to save your sanity.
This project wouldn’t be done without being able to snag this bird bath for $20.
I’m all about that life.
Let me know about those weeds, yes?
I am so in love with this thrifty thing, it’s probably the thriftiest find I’ve had in a really long time! Are you ready for even more thrift inspiration? Get some from my co-hosts:
Cute fairy garden! My 7 year old would be out there constantly playing house and interior decorator! Visiting from Thrift Store Challenge.
LOL My kids rearrange daily!
Oh my goodness, this is the cutest fairy village ever!! I admit to being a slight bit jealous of your gorgeous backyard.?? Fantastic job, Love!!
You can come by any time!! I’ll brew the coffee while I wait!!!??
You are so right – that bird bath is perfect for your fairy garden. It looks adorable!
Thank you so much Jeanie!!
OMG – your fairy garden is adorable! We totally agree that concrete bird baths are ridiculously priced right now – so glad you found one and put it to great use!
Thanks girls!!! Aren’t they just crazy expensive!? I was in shock. Hahahah
The little gnome man is just beyond cute! That bird bath is a work of art. You really hit the jackpot with that find.
He is pretty cute, isn’t he?! Finding that bird bath was a cartwheel-in-the-kitchen moment!
LOVE! What a perfect spot for a fairy garden. The plants you chose are so perfect together. I’m sure the whole family is loving it!!
Oh they do, the kids are always moving the houses and trinkets to all parts of the garden lol
Wow! What an adorable reuse of a bird bath. It’s adorable. Great job!
Thanks Chelsea!!
So adorable. My grandkids would love this.
Thanks Dru!!!
Great Idea! Now I wish I had a birdbath! I have always wanted to make a fairy garden!
Jeannee
Thank you!! Give it a try, it’s so cute to look at in our yard! The kids have expanded their collection to the main part of the garden too now. Always a gnome in a flower over here!
Girl…..I happen to have a birdbath and my daughters would love a fairy garden in our yard. Love it.
My kids play in it every day. There are always gnomes moving and fairies in different places. It’s so cute, give it a try!!
These little fairy gardens are so popular right now and yours is so cute. I have seen all of the little miniature fairy stuff at Hobby Lobby and last week I think I spent a good half hour just looking at it all. Nice project!
Lol, we are going to start hoarding random fairy garden stuff each time we go to the craft store or garden center. It’s all so cute!
The birdbath is a great find, a crown jewel for an adorable fairy garden. I would be playing house with it, it is so cute.
I just love birdbaths and this well, I love it more! I have to make one and soon!
Oh my, this is the cutest fairy garden!! My daughters and I made a little fairy home and it would look amazing there. I have to look for a birdbath soon!
Cute project for the spring season.
You do not know how many times I’ve wanted to buy a bird bath… but didn’t, because I’m thinking do I really want standing water in my yard all the time (mosquitos LOVE me). You have now given me a reason to buy one 🙂 and that’s awesome. Love this project.
Oh this is adorable! I’ve got the perfect spot for a fairy garden like this right beside our front porch.
Thanks so much for the inspiration!
{BIG hugs}
~Ashley