Here's a chance to up your arts and crafts game and inspire your kids with an amazing fairy door activity.

Making elf or fairy doors is an easy and creative activity to keep you and your kids busy. Why not try it during the winter months, by a warm, cosy fire on a cold or snowy afternoon. They are great fun to make, will impress your charge's parents, and provide many a photo opportunity. And don't forget, working together is a great way to build up the kids' “elf-confidence”!  Sorry...

Seriously though, making elf doors is quick and simple to do!

Let's dive right in with our 5 simple steps for this fun activity!

Step 1: Gather your materials

To make your doors, you will need:

• Some tree bark or wood offcuts 
• PVA glue
• Acrylic paint and some paintbrushes 
• Extra stick-on materials like sticks, leaves, flowers, glitter in bold colours like red, green and gold, sequins, baubles, etc.
• It's a great idea to get your kids out of the house for a walk to find your materials. So get a warm coat on and head out to track down some logs or felled trees for old, ideally dry, bark. Don't forget to take something to put your materials in—a cute little basket would be perfect.
• In the absence of natural bark, small offcuts of wood or even some cardboard will do the trick.

Step 2: The creative process

It's a great idea to design your fairy doors on paper before you and the kids start work. Get some A3 paper out and draw up some designs.

First, you will need to plan a 'structural' design, including extra stick-on porches, door handles or windows.

Next, plan the decoration—what colours and materials will you use to make your doors special? Look at our photos below for some extra inspiration.

Step 3: Woodwork

It's time to use your imagination! Size up your doors as you see fit and get any wood glueing done now. If you need drilling work done to make holes for windows, etc., be sure to take any necessary health and safety precautions with your children.


Step 4: Let the painting begin!

We painted a base layer of white acrylic on the doors with bright colours to give them a base to shine upon. Let the white paint dry well before painting the colours of your design on top.

Designing doors has no limits. You can add porch roofs, door handles or even windows.

Consider adding glitter, tinsel or sequins for extra Christmassy effect! Then it's just a question of leaving your Elf Doors to dry!

Step 5: Place your elf doors! 

Once your doors are ready and dry, find suitable locations for them around your house or garden. Ours actually garnered attention from passersby, who stopped to take photos!

Make sure you get your own footage too: Take out your phone and pose for some “Elfies” next to your creations. Send them to your friends for some extra brownie points!


For another creative Christmas craft idea, be sure to check out our Harry Potter scavenger hunt—a great way to keep your kids occupied for an afternoon.

For many more fun and creative activities, choose your own from this variety of ideas!

Enjoy!