Recyclable Easter Flowers

There are only so many hard-boiled eggs one family can eat, let’s face it. But we sooo love to dye them, that we always make too many. So there the dye sat, so much un-used and my boys still wanting to create something long after the egg-basket was overflowing.

So I went into the drawer and pulled out the basket coffee filters. I folded one into quarters and then once again, trimmed the ruffled edge into a petal shape and started dipping into the Easter-egg dye. These (pictured) were made with the yellow, orange and pinkish-red dyes. The filters absorb the dye easily so no need to dunk the whole thing. Then I carefully opened them and left them to dry on our already-covered-in-plastic table.

After they were dry, I gathered them in the centers and twisted and layered two or three to create the flower. I used wire and floral tape to create a stem. The kids cut and dyed a bunch too, I did the wiring and taping, though.

My son then declared we needed a vase. Since these flowers need no water, I decided the vase needed no bottom. I simply took our pastel stained egg crate and folded it in thirds and stapled the seam. Kinda fun, funky modern looking. And the best part is… we don’t have to eat them! Happy Easter!

Bunny Bean Bags

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So once again I am using old socks. I am also using leftover Easter egg dye. What can I say, I’m a reuse-recycle-kind-of-gal. Or I guess you could call me cheap, too! Either way, this is a fun project for the kids.

{This time I had the pleasure of crafting with a friend’s kids, too. We got to use PINK! Let’s hear it for the girl!}

Getting started: Socks. In this case, I used some old white crew socks and dyed each pair with left over egg dye. I dyed them to hide the dinge and make them more festive. If you have a patterned or colored pair already, then skip all this! If you don’t have leftover dye, then make a mix of half water and half white vinegar and add food coloring. I simply squeezed the dye-water out of my socks and then put them into a hot dryer. If you want more pastel, then rinse them. Note: dampen your socks before adding to the dye.

I used pinto beans to fill the socks. I considered rice, but was afraid too many would work their way through the fabric. Give each kid a bowl with beans and tell them to start filling. I used a cut paper towel tube to help keep the sock open. Fill about two-thirds of the way and then twist-off with a rubber band, keeping the body kind of loose. You want them to flop! Then fill the last third for the head. I tied this part off with yarn.

The top tube part of the sock should now be cut down the middle to create the ears. I cut mine down a bit and added a point, but they are still long and floppy. Now decorate! A ribbon around their neck, a puff-ball for a tail, googly eyes, drawn whiskers, we even had hair and sparkles!

The way I did it, each kid got 2 bunnies to make, in the same color. We then used the bunnies for a game “Bunny Hole” which is basically the same as “Corn Hole.” I did a quick hole in a cardboard box and set it at an angle with a 2×4 and let the kids take turns trying to get their bunnies in the bunny hole! Fun outside game. Hilarious watching the kids running around grasping their bunnies by the ears, too. They looked like little hunters with pastel prey. Hoppy Easter every bunny!

Moss Covered Easter Basket

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My genius and oh-so-talented mother was out and about in the “big city” and visited Pottery Barn. She called raving about how cute their moss-covered Easter baskets were but that she wasn’t willing to spend the $60 plus. So she went out and found the perfect flared basket, got herself some sheet moss, broke out the hot glue gun and went to town covering it. If you ever wondered where I got my inclination to “make it” rather than “spend for it” – now you know. Warning: as cute as it is… it SHEDS like crazy!

Paper Covered Eggs

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I had some patterned scrapbook papers left over from another project (I’m not a scrapbooker – but LOVE all the stuff!) and thought the patterns would be adorable on Easter eggs. So I went for it.

This project is much like the Vintage Photo Ornament I did. I used brown paper mache eggs and Modge Podge. I used glossy, because it’s what I had, but I think the flat would work better. I cut out a rough egg shape in paper, making it larger than the egg itself. I then cut slits into the edges of the paper, all around, to allow for the paper to overlap when wrapped. I coated the entire back side of the paper with the glue. Then using my palm, I pressed the paper as smoothly as I could over the egg, carefully smoothing creases and overlapping edges. I did it again for the other side of the egg and then used scrap pieces to cover any odd areas, seams, blanks spots, etc.

To help hide odd intersections, you can cut a single design from the paper and paste it on. In other words, cut out one of the flowers of the repeating print. The paisley print I used was too large, but it worked with the green damask. You’ll still have folds and creases, but they are darn cute!

Finally I coated them all over with the Modge Podge and let them dry. Adorable!!

Antique Easter Postcards

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A few months ago I was given a plastic bag full of antique postcards that had been sent to my great(?) cousin when he was a boy. They date back as early as 1912 and they are addressed to “Master Dickie __” with a city and state only. No post office box or street address. My cousin’s grandmother sent them throughout the years from California and Oregon and other places I can only imagine she was living in at the time.

I decided to rummage through all the cards and find the Easter ones. They are gorgeous inspiration. So sweet, too. I’m trying to figure what to do with them, however. How can I use these images for decoration? I was trying to think of a new card to send out – but we don’t normally send out Easter cards.

I’m thinking about scanning the images and using fabric transfer paper to put them onto off-white fabric. I have some leftover coral solid and gingham check (from the Spring baby shower I did last year) and I could use pinking shears to cut triangles and create a cute flag garland – alternating the images with the fabrics. Good Easter decor? We’ll see what happens, if anything. For now they are just beautiful old reminders of correspondence and perhaps inspiration for you, too.