EASTER EGG VASES

When I was little I was always looking forward to Easter because of the various decorations we children could make to herald the spring. There is one in particular I have never forgotten and that is a little vase made from an eggshell.

Wildflowers in an Easter egg vase

To make each vase you first have to eat a softboiled egg. Gently crack the pointy top of the egg and carefully remove the bits of shell until the opening is large enough for your spoon. When eating the egg make sure you do not damage the inner membrane, because this will make the vase waterproof. I tried using a raw eggshell but the membrane became brittle and broke. And for obvious reasons a hardboiled egg will not work either.


This is a nice project for young or old. Children can use paints or stickers to decorate to their hearts' content. Grown-ups too can use various options to create little masterpieces! I decided for a quick and easy way to get an elegant look, so I used spray paint!


Materials needed are clean eggshells, paints, stickers etc. for decorating, glue and something the egg can stand on. As children we used 3 elbow macaroni, glued them evenly around the bottom of the egg, making sure it will stand straight. To make the macaroni waterproof we painted them with clear nail varnish (usually sneaked from mother's bedroom!)

But nowadays it is probably easier (but less fun) to use a plastic ring from a small bottle. Here is what I used:

Cleaned eggshell and plastic ring

Plastic ring glued on. The white line was the result
 of jiggling the ring into its proper position

Spray-painted with gold lacquer

 When all is dry add water and small flowers of your choice. These little vases make beautiful decorations for an Easter breakfast table or grouped together on a centre table. Let your imagination fly!

Silver spray paint was used for this vase

Not many wildflowers available here, so I used small heads of ixora instead

If you live in a temperate climate you could try violets or snowdrops for stunning results!

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you did, please drop a comment!

JEWELLED EASTER EGGS

Easter is fast approaching and the time to create some decorations for the festivities has come. Today I want to show you something a little different from the usual. Easter eggs made of wire and embellished with beads, crystals and more wire. So, grab your tools, wire and a good selection of various beads in any colours you fancy!

JEWELLED EASTER EGGS

What you will need:

Wire cutters, roundnose pliers, flatnose pliers, chainnose pliers, 20g or 18g copper wire for the egg shapes, 24g and 30g copper wire for attaching beads etc. A selection of beads, crystals, leaf shapes or flower beads, even buttons if you like. For shaping the eggs I used an oval bottle (because real eggs will crack and who has egg shaped items) and a round one with the same diameter as the oval at its widest point (not longest). A measuring tape or a piece of string to determine the circumference of the oval shape. A felt pen or sharpie to mark the oval container where you want to start shaping.

Let us start!

First cut a few lengths of 20g or 18g wire in the length you measured plus an extra 8 -10cm for creating a loop at the top of the egg. Hold the centre of the wire against the narrow part of the oval where marked and with the other hand lead the wire to the opposite side and bend it so it overlaps. Still holding it in place mark the centre of the overlapping wire with the pen. Now you can let go. Form the remaining wires likewise. Next take the flatnose pliers and bend one end up where marked at an angle of 90° and the other end around the one you just bent up, also at 90° where marked.

wire ends overlapping
at right angles

left wire end wrapped
twice around the upright
wire

Holding the top of the oval shape with flatnose pliers wrap the lower end twice around the upright end. Cut the end close to the wrap and use chainnose pliers to squeeze tight. Cut the upright end to about1.5cm, bend it sideways and form a loop using roundnose pliers.

Loop formed and egg shape
formed

Remember the round bottle/container you haven't used yet? Insert it in the centre of the oval and gradually force it down until it reaches the bottom. Use your fingers to re-mould it while the round shape is still within. Gently remove and your egg should be properly shaped. Form the remaining cut wires the same way.

Now it's time to decorate. You can take inspiration from the picture above or you have a session with your creative muse! 

I call my designs jewelled Easter eggs because of the materials used. But you can achieve a completely different style by using pipe cleaners and buttons or other decorative items like in the photo below!

Pipe cleaner wrapped around the egg shape
with motif from a hair clip 

The individual decorated eggs, a little larger this time.