Fairy Gardens

This weekend my children made fairy gardens.  Admittedly, my motivation was to buy a little quiet time during general conference, and it worked.  But what began as a desperate bid for silence became something magical.  To see my three oldest children working at the table, sharing, laughing and creating filled my soul. There were no lines to stay within.  No pattern to follow.  No pre-planned outcome.  Unbridled creativity reigned and they stayed captivated for a solid hour.  

Supplies came from yard sales and thrift stores.  They included: trays for each child to build on, colorful stones, river rocks, plastic jewels, silk flowers and leaves, flower pots, rose petals, acorns, plastic ferns, little bird houses etc.  

Using those supplies and some homemade salt dough (best salt dough ever, I'll post the recipe) they created homes, beds, gardens, pathways, fountains and forests on their trays.  They built and re-built and re-built some more.  

We will be making fairy gardens again.

Play-Dough
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)
a few drops lemon juice
1 packet Kool-Aid (we used orange) for color and scent.

Cook all ingredients together over medium-low heat.  Stir lots.  When the dough starts to pull away from the sides and form a ball stir continuously till you can touch it without it glopping onto your finger.  Then wait for it to cool a bit and KNEAD.  Kneading is the secret to great dough and it is fun to let the kids help.  Knead it till it is smooth, elastic, and not sticky.  Store in a ziploc-bag while not in use.