Repurposed Fairy Bay Window With Lights
I really enjoy finding new ways to repurpose all our tin ceiling tile off-cuts. Whether it’s using them to create this gorgeous planter or these fairy apartments for a kokedama village, those scrap bits always seem to add just the right amount of rustic goodness to our projects. And this fairy bay window is no exception.
I’m over the moon with how it turned out. Isn’t it so pretty? I don’t know what I love more, the flaky, painted ceiling scrap front with mossy bits or the rusty pitch roof.
Either way, the it looks amazing at night when the wee folk switch the lights on 😉
Okay, before we get to the tutorial to make a fairy bay window using repurposed bits, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What you Need
- Battery operated candle
- Rusty nails
- Jigsaw with a metal blade
- Scrap wood
- Glue
- Moss
- Tin ceiling scraps.
If you’re not lucky enough to have a stash of them lying around, you can use a large tin can too.
How to make a fairy bay window with lights
Get rid of any loose flaky paint using one of these methods. I went for the bang and smack approach to get rid of most of the paint on this scrap piece 😀
Using the diagram below as a guide draw a window and pitched roof on the ceiling tile with a permanent marker.
Drill a pilot hole that’s wide enough so the metal jigsaw blade will fit comfortably inside.
Place the blade inside the pilot hole and then carefully cut the window shape out. If you’ve never used a jigsaw before, here’s a handy guide to get you started. I promise, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be slicing your way through reindeer blobs and magical unicorns in no time at all 😉
Neaten up the edges of the window with some flat-nosed pliers and the cut the roof pitch and sides of the fairy bay window.
Using the bay window shape as a guide cut a scrap piece of wood to form the base.
Bend the sides of the bay window form up as shown below.
It helps if you use another piece of wood to keep the edges straight. We learned that trick when we made my son’s license plate lamp.
Bend the other side of the bay window form in the same way.
Trim the side edges of the little fairy bay window so the base you cut earlier fits neatly inside.
Your fairy window should look something like this.
Glue a few rusty nails across the window opening to create some window panes.
Adding the Roof on the fairy bay window
To make the roof that sits on top of the fairy bay window, we first need to add some support on the inside for the roof to rest on. Simply cut some scrap wood and glue and screw it to the roof pitch.
Cut a longer rectangular shape from the ceiling tile for the roof and glue and screw it onto the roof supports. To finish off glue mossy bits to cover any gaps and hide the nail heads.
To hang the fairy bay window, make a small hole in the roof and insert some wire.
Tie the bay window to a fence or hang her in a tree.
Sit back and enjoy all that rusty repurposed goodness 😉
And when the sun starts setting, place a battery-operated candle inside the bay window………
….. and watch the candle light flickering through the window.
If you like the idea of making a fairy bay window, don’t forget to pin the tutorial for later.
Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you 😉
And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then maybe these beauties will appeal.
And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit.
What a cute little bay window! Your fairies have the cools things. I would love to be a fairy in your garden. Would love to get ahold of some rustic old tin ceiling tiles but the ones I come across are way out of my price range. It’s amazing how much they charge for rusty tiles, and the more rust the more they cost. LOL
I know what you mean about the ceiling tiles being so expensive. We were lucky enough to find a whole bunch on FB marketplace. There were a few that were really badly rusted and I’ve been systematically working through them to find ways to repurpose them into something for our garden. I hope you find some one day to Linda. I bet you’ll come up with such beautiful ways to use them.
This is gorgeous, and perfectly rustic. I love how you reuse absolutely ev.ery.thing. You’re like a magician turning some rusty nails and a ceiling tile into a stunning fairy window. Could you bottle that magic up and send it to Memphis, TN, please? 🙂 Love the warm glow when it’s lit.
😀 You have that magic bucket loads already Amy 😉
What a great project and upcycle! I love rust.
Me too 😉
So cute. I love anything with moss, Lol. This turned out perfect. I love all the photos and how easy you make it look. I will be trying this in the future for sure. I can see myself doing this DIY project with my daughter.
This one definitely ranks as super easy 😉 Enjoy making one with your daughter Brooke
What a charming little home…all lit up and glistening.
Thank you Kim ❣
When I come back in my new life it will be as a fairy in your garden. They have the most trendy home and accessories. ??
Oh my goodness yes Anita!!!! Our garden fairies will welcome you with open arms and I suspect you’ll show them a thing or two about creativity and thinking outside the box ❣
What a cute craft as always!
Thanks so much Kim 😀
This is absolutely darling, Michelle! The tea light adds so much ambiance.
I just love me some rusty goodness like this.
Thanks for the full tutorial.
This was one of those times that I really wished I had a proper camera with all the fancy settings to capture how gorgeous it looks at night. All my phone camera does is capture a blurry image 😀
I love this fairy bay window, Michelle and how you make it seem real that the fairies turn on the light at night?
😉 the fairies made me do it
I always love a good “junk” project for the garden! Thanks for the detailed tutorial!
Thanks so much, Pam. Good old junk projects for the garden always make me happy.
Those fairy folk are living a life of luxury! I just love a project when it doesn’t matter if it gets rusty because it just adds to the charm!
Aren’t those just the best 😉 and we do love our rust so much too