Do You Believe In Fairies?

Experience the magic and wonder of a Secret Fairy Garden Birthday Party with these top ten ideas from Julie Gallagher, our Children’s Party Expert and owner of “In Good Company” www.ingoodcompany.co.za .

To purchases the recommended accessories to help complete your look visit In Good Company www.ingoodcompany.co.za .

SHHH! FAIRIES AT PLAY

Host your party outdoors, ideally in a park or a garden where there are big trees – this way your party area is already partially decorated! To personalise the area, set up a wooden framed sign welcoming guests to your “secret garden”.

• FLOWER FAIRIES

In the invitation, encourage guests to come dressed up, or as part of the party activities craft little flower crowns using either real or fake satin flowers, floral wire and tape. Similarly, leftover flowers and petals can also be sewn onto simple white t-shirts for a complete outfit.

• CLOCHE CENTRES

For table decorations, combine fresh flowers with more woody type plants, ferns and mosses. Add decorative touches of fake mushrooms, birds or butterflies – and for the all important “wow” factor, why not display these underneath glass bell jars?

• THE GRASS IS GREENER

Decorate place settings with fairy themed paper cups, plates, napkins and toppers. The perfect tablescape can be created with the addition of a fake grass tablecloth or placemat – we used a roll of grass “paper” that is typically found in toy stores for train sets.

• MINI MORSELS

Combine healthy snacks like cucumber tea sandwiches, baby cheese rounds and slices of watermelon with treats of ladybird chocolates, mushroom sweets and “toadstool” macaroons. Let them discover the delight of drinking “dew drops” as opposed to good old-fashioned water!

• FOREST LOG CAKE

A woodland cake is easily done by decorating a Swiss Roll with chocolate shavings, fresh berries and cherries.

• FAIRY DUST

Fill small glass tubes (TIP: we used mushroom lidded jars that used to hold erasers – these can be found at In Good Company) with edible glitter. Give each child an iced cupcake and let them decorate it with magical fairy dust.

• SECRET HIDEOUT

For free play, set up a play tent – little children will love playing in this A-Frame Hideaway & Climber by KidKraft https://www.nestdesigns.co.za/product/brands/kidkraft/a-frame-hideaway-climber-by-kidkraft/. It is beautifully appliquéd and hand embroidered with delicate fairies, flowers and butterflies – and best of all it will last long after the party!

• MUNCHY MEMORY GAME

For a fun and yummy game hide 10 to 20 chocolates or sweets, individually under a paper cup – making sure that you have matching pairs so at least 4 to 8 different colours/kinds. Kids then play the traditional Memory Game by overturning one cup and then a second, hoping to match and make up a pair. If the chocolates are the same the child gets to keep the chocolates as their prize. If not, the cups are turned back over the chocolates and then the next child has their turn. Play the game as many times as you like or a least until the sweets run out!

• THE GREAT FAIRY HUNT

Get your little guests hunting for fairies! Make up little hunting kits by filling a party bag with a magnifying glass, small net (TIP: buy ones normally used for fish tanks from your local pet shop) a glass catching jar and glitter in tubes so as to attract the fairies. Each child gets their kit and then sets off to find as many fairies as they can – these can be cut-out paper fairies or plastic figurines that can do double-duty as party favours.

Shopping Directory:

IN GOOD COMPANY:

THE WOODLAND FAIRY PRINTABLE PARTY, MERI MERI FAIRY INVITATIONS, PAPER CUPS, PLATES, NAPKINS, CUPCAKE KIT, CUPCAKE TIERED STAND, FAVOUR BAGS, RETRO PAPER STRAWS, RIBBON, MUSHROOM ERASER JARS, MAGNIFYING GLASSES, OBSERVATION JARS

IN GOOD COMPANY HIRE:  

WOODEN CRATE, GLASS BELL JAR, CERAMIC CAKE STANDS, GLASS SWEET JARS

NEST DESIGNS:

FAIRY COTTAGE PLAY TENT

FLOWERSPOT:

FRESH AND FAKE FLOWERS, FLORIST WIRE AND TAPE, BASKET

CNA:

GLITTER PENS

PET STORE:

SMALL FISH NETS

TOY STORE:

GRASS PAPER ROLL, FOREST ANIMAL AND FAIRY FIGURINES