Easter Egg Projects

Make Stringy Eggs of all sizes to hang from the trees or ceiling. And after the holidays, what are you going to do with all those colored egg shells? Why not make a mosaic?

Stringy Eggs

Wrap colored yarn or thread around a balloon to make these giant eggs. You can vary the size of each egg by varying the size of the balloon you use. You can use all one color of yarn or a different color for each layer. Decide what you like best. The results are delicate, so handle the eggs carefully.

You will need a round rubber-type balloon, yarn, crochet thread, or colored string (Easter colors), liquid starch or white glue, and a 1-inch paint brush.

Blow up the balloon and tie a 2-foot piece of yarn or string from the knot end. This will be used to hang the competed project to dry. Carefully brush the whole surface of the balloon with the liquid starch or watered down white glue.

Now you will need to work quickly before the glue dries. Wrap the yarn, crochet thread, or string (what ever you are using) around the balloon in one direction leaving small gaps of about 1/2-inch wide so that the surface isn't completely covered. You won't be able to do a perfect job of wrapping but try to keep it somewhat even.

Brush on another layer of starch or glue right over the layer you just did and wrap another layer but this time go in a different direction. For instance, if the first layer was wrapped from the bottom to the top, this time wrap it around at right angles to it. Brush on glue and wrap one more time, varying the direction again. The balloon should be pretty well covered but you should be able to see gaps, sort of like lace.

Hang the covered balloon from the 2-foot string to dry for about 24 hours. When it is absolutely and completely dry, pop the balloon and very gently and carefully pull it out through one of the gaps. And there you have it! Make a dozen of them and hang them all over.

If you want the egg to stand up (for a centerpiece, perhaps) flatten it very gently on one end.

Eggshell Mosaics

If you've always admired the floors of the Roman baths or the sidewalks of Rio, (Huh? What is she talking about!?) you will want to try your hand at this. Save all those colored shells from your Easter Eggs to make a pretty mosaic picture. Use a dark colored paper for a striking effect.

Break the colored shells into small pieces. You will want to make them small enough that they will lie flat but not so small that they are too difficult to handle. If you like, you can separate the colors by categories onto different plates.

Use a fine marker to outline a design on a piece of tagboard or thin cardboard (the back of a writing tablet is great). Keep the design fairly simple without too many very small areas. Spread white glue in one area of the design and fill it in with eggshell bits, leaving a small gap between the pieces. Continue until your design is filled. Be sure not to cover up your outline. Keep the mosaic flat while it dries overnight.

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