using wallpaper in the garden

I just love this idea, and I've been impatient to see it finished.

After wallpapering the kitchen wall, we had quite a bit of paper left over. There are various things to do with leftover paper, you can use it to line shelves, or use it in another room if there is enough, paste it to the back of a bookshelf, or leave it to fester in the garage until you can be bothered to think of something to do with it.

The husband suggested he use it to decorate inside The Fairy Tower.

Fabulous!
The Fairy Tower has been a bit neglected of late. The other playhouses are closer to the house, and tend to be used more, so have had more love and attention lavished upon them. The Fairy Tower was looking a little bit sorry for itself.

Some of you may well be thinking 'outside? You're putting wallpaper outside, where it will have to deal with wind,rain, snow and ice?'
Not all at the same time, but yes. That's right.

We are not oblivious to the fact that said weather will stain the paper, will make it peel, and ultimately make it go mouldy in parts. But, that will take a long time, and in the meantime it looks rather pretty.

I'd rather use leftover wallpaper this way and get to see it each day, than leave it in the garage still rolled up and forgotten. Even though it will end up damaged, I would still rather it was used.

The Fairy Tower copes rather well in cold, wet weather. Something I didn't expect considering sides and door are open. It's quite well sheltered, tucked away at the back of the garden.

We did think of ways to help preserve the life of the wallpaper. The obvious idea being to coat with a clear varnish.
Not such a good idea. Firstly it discoloured it, and secondly, it traps water underneath. This was found out by the timely falling of heavy rain last week. The paper that was left unvarnished had wet patches, but they soon dried out. The varnished paper was left with a splodge until late afternoon.

See?

It worked in our favour to have heavy rain before all walls had been papered.

The varnished piece was removed and replaced, then the husband papered the rest of the Tower. There wasn't enough to do it entirely in blue, but as we had some cream paper left over from the craft room, that was used too. I love the patchwork effect, and I love that even the ceiling is covered in Cath flowers.

The Tower is the perfect place to be in summer, it's in the shade, and a cool breeze flutters through. The curtains can be closed, to keep the buzzy things out but still let the breeze in.
The Girl was delighted to get home from school yesterday and find her Fairy Tower transformed.
This little character seems to approve.