Egg-stra Fun Easter Craft

The other year, my brother and I decided to do something for Easter that will last a lifetime.

I am finally (2 years later) getting the chance to post this.

We decided to make a new craft out of eggs.

To make this craft, you will need:

-fresh eggs

- a large needle

-bamboo skewer

- lots of hot air

- masking tape

- imagination

- sand/grit

- acrylic paint

- beads or other accessories

- wire

 

STEP 1: Pierce a fresh egg on the top and bottom with the needle.

(One hole to blow through and one hole for the yoke to go out of.

*If you have trouble getting it all out try popping the yoke with your needle.)

STEP 2: Make the holes larger by twisting the skewer into the hole.

(don't twist too hard or you will break the egg)

STEP 3: Now blow the yoke out of the hole.

STEP 4: Clean and dry the egg.

STEP 5: Get creative!

I wanted to make a bird so I first formed his head.

Then I used the tape to make his body.

My brother, William, wanted to make a cat.

See the head and ears?

Pretty good, huh!

Here are the wings on my bird.

I continued to wrap it with masking tape.

William's cat is taking shape too. 

See how he made the feet and attached them to the egg?

This is my finished bird and partially finished rooster.

William got all four legs on his cat. 

Its so fun having a brother who loves to create like I do!

STEP 6: Attach the hanging wire.

I just cut a piece of wire, shaped it like above,

and then taped it onto the bird.

Now the cat has a tail !!!

STEP 7: Mix your paint colors and add just enough sand/grit

 to give your paint the texture you need.

*I chose to do this to cover up the tape seems.  

It gives the ornaments a cleaner, textured look.

STEP 8: Paint your ornament.

Be sure to give it a nice thick coat of paint.

You saw how I made the bird, but the chicken was a little tricky-

I used wire to make feet for the chicken.

Then I used tape to secure the feet in place.

I already showed you how to do the rest (see steps above).

STEP 9: hang to dry.

ENJOY!!!

Linking up with: Rustic Renovations Weekend

Living Wreath

Recently, I have noticed that a number of my friends have posted 

wreaths like this to their pin boards on Pinterest.

 http://www.marthastewart.com/270811/
succulent-wreath

I don't know about you, but pictures like this inspire me.

Back in November, my mom sent me a magazine with this same idea in.

I mentally stored the idea in the back of my mind for a future attempt.

A few weeks later, I was house sitting for friends and realized that their gardens 

were full of all of the plants I would need for these beautiful wreaths.

I went around their property and took small cuttings from plants 

to make a wreath of my own.

When I got home and spread out my findings, 

I was very happy with the variety that I had gathered.

The following are instructions for making a wreath,

along with my own commentary (I know, I always make some of you laugh).

Supplies needed:

- cuttings from various succulents

- chicken wire

- gloves

- wire cutters

- spaghnum and spanish moss

- bucket to soak moss

- wire

STEP #1: Allow your cuttings to dry out

Most of the instructions that I read

 said to let your cuttings sit to dry out the stems for 2-7 days.

I did what the instructions said, 

but really think that because of the tropical climate I live in,

 I could have skipped this step and the next step.

STEP #2: Treat the cuttings with rooting hormone

This step, was to dip the ends in rooting hormone powder.

You have to be careful, because too much powder can cause the plant not to take root at all.
Like I said earlier, I would skip this step if you live in a tropical climate, like I do.

After dipping all of the stems, I separated my findings.

Meanwhile, I soaked my spaghnum moss in a bucket of water.

STEP #3: Soak the moss

While the moss was soaking, I formed my wreath base.

STEP #4: Form the wreath base

I used chicken wire for the base.

The base was made of two pieces of wire cut - 24 in. by 8 in. 

I bent the wire on the edge of my work table to give it the "C" shape.

Then I formed each piece into a half circle.

The half circles were then fitted together into a wreath shape.

STEP#5: Place moss into the base

Most of my directions said to only use spaghnum moss, 

but I added spanish moss into the wreath form first.

This helped the base to catch more water, as well as,

 keeping the spaghnum moss from coming through the holes of the wire

 (which can be a problem until the plant roots are intact).

STEP#6: Fill the base with spaghnum moss

For this step, I thickly packed the spaghnum moss into the wreath base.  

Be sure it is packed well, so that when you start adding cuttings, 

the moss will not fall out.

STEP #7: Be creative, plant your wreath!

Now for the fun part - arranging the cuttings!

Notice the variety of plants - large and small leaves.

There was also a nice combination of light and dark foilage.

STEP #8: Allow to sit out for the cuttings to take root

*It is important to let your wreaths sit flat like this for at least 2 weeks.

This step helps the plant cuttings to take root.

After I finished the first one, I sat it out to dry and then started another.

For this wreath I used the big spiky pieces,...

...added some small purple flowers,...

...and some differant leaf shapes.

I love how they all look together!

I actually made 3 wreaths that day

 (sorry no picture of the third in the prep stage).

STEP #9: Wrap your wreath with wire

*Before hanging your wreath, wrap wire all the way around the wreath form.

Look closely at the wire wrapped around the wreath.

This helps in two ways:

1) it keeps the cuttings that have not yet properly rooted in place,

2) it helps the wreath become more stable and keeps its form.

- - - - - - - - - - -

WREATH #1

During Christmas, this wreath hung outside my door.

- - - - - - - - - -

Wreath #2

 Here is a simplified version of the first wreath.

It hangs on the window just above my homemade bench on the veranda.

- - - - - - - - - -

Wreath #3

The most beautiful wreath, has not found a home yet

(I am hoping to give it to my friends when they move. Shh, don't tell them.)

Tips for watering:

I live in a tropical climate, which means there is plenty of moisture in the air.

On hot weeks, I take my wreath down and soak it in water and then hang it back up.

At times when it is not so hot, I only soak the wreath once every 2 weeks. 

During rainy season, God waters it for me!

One more look at all three wreaths ~

There you have it - my attempt to make beautiful living wreaths!

*The older your wreath is, the fuller it becomes.

Sounds like the Christian life, doesn't it?

The more mature we become in the Lord, 

the fuller our life is.

That is why it is important to read God's Word, so that we can grow in Him.

2 Peter 3:18 " But grow in grace, 

and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..."

By growing in Him, out life becomes more "alive" and beautiful,

just like these living wreaths.

Who knows how much you can grow in one year. 

Who knows how you can help others around you to grow in a year, 

by investing time in prayer and Bible study with them.

Can't wait to see what my wreaths look like next year at this time! 

Linking up to:

Rustic Renovations Weekend