My daughter Zoe's birthday arrives with the warm weather season, so I am always looking for creative ways to bring the fun outside in the sun. Since Joanna Gaines farmhouse style is so popular now, garden accents are easily found as home decor accessories and many craft stores are even carrying Fairy Garden collections that are perfect for an easy weekend hands-on garden project.

I chose to create a patio garden that is easy to reach, and fun to maintain, filling it with fun, pink treasures, boxes of glitter, a waterfall and pond, animal statuaries and fairies that would interest Zoe. Flowers will be the finishing touch in this garden, to be added around the border, but we will do that together next week. For now, check out her fun fairy garden!

How-To DIY like Joanna, Family Fairy Fun

Repurpose a container you already have. Take a look at your castoff toddler toys, sand boxes, water tables, large patio planters etc. The first priority is that the fairy garden is placed somewhere accessible both for fun play and watering and maintenance.

I gathered a lot of goodies from Zoe's treasure box of cast-off mini toys, my best glitter stash, marbles, paints and also made dedicated treks to local thrift shops where I found oodles of garden statuaries, and a complete family fairy. Pick up a small jar of chalkboard paint to add some interactive or custom chalk signage. For inspiration, check out Joanna's Magnolia Market blog post on fairy gardens, or check out one of the many books written about fairy gardens for more inspiration.

Anchor your small plants , select miniature plants that will grow well both in a container and in your geographic area.. Choose plants with the same tolerance for watering and based on the sun location of your fairy garden. Collect small watering cans or pitchers to allow your kids to help in the process of caring for the garden.

Some garden elements to include based on your children's interest may include a small sand plot for building nearby a pond that can be filled with water, a small track/path for miniature cars or bikes, a tower with doors and windows for hiding treasures, a chalkboard surface for writing and drawing, a paint easel for watercolor fun. Gather large stones, old jewelry boxes etc and fill with hidden treasures.

Take your time- determine the interest of your children and design a garden to their delight, most importantly, relax and rediscover your own inner child in the process.