Egg-stra Special Egg-stravaganza!

This week we are focusing on Easter, of course, and seeing that April is Earth Month, we will focus also on using recyclable products. Did you know, the first Easter basket was given the appearance of a bird's nest? So says the FunDo Times. Click here to check it out.

Having many grandchildren, I began rethink using Easter baskets and began using sand pails. I thought this was a great idea but as time went on my kids did not want my grandkids to get candy, so I had to think of something else.

Well, that, and now I have 20 grandkids and cannot afford to fill each sand pail with an outfit or other items that a child might wish for. So now, we make bag baskets and fill them with granola and trinkets. My grandkids love them. Here are the directions and the whole basket can go in your recycling when you are done with it.

Easter baskets

You will need the following items:

Scrap paper in pink, black, and white

A paper lunch bag

First, measure a scrap of white paper approximately 6 inches in length. Next curve from top to bottom on both sides to make a curved shape. This is your pattern for you bunny ears.

Picture 1 - Bunny ears

Next, cut out the bag to make the ears. The just cut a straight line all around the back of the bag. Next, take your pattern piece and cut it down a hare. Ooops! Mean a hair.

Picture 2 - Ears

Make a copy of the trimmed pattern piece in pink (remember to cut two) and glue down to the paper bag ears. Next take scrap black paper and cut thin strips to make the whiskers and glue in a set of three and trim to edge of bag

Picture 3 - Whiskers

Take more scrap black and cut three ovals, two for the eyes and one for the nose. Pom-poms can be used here instead for the nose. Glue down the nose where the whiskers overlap and glue down both eyes.

Picture 4 - Eyes 1

Then, using a hole punch cut two small dots for the eyes and glue them down.

Picture 5 - Eyes 2

Next, measure a scrap of paper approximately 16 inches long by ½ to 1 inch wide and glue to the sides for a handle. Next, cut two strips approximately 1 inch long and fold in half glue to the handle and the back of the ears.

Next glue a cotton ball on the back for a tail, and you have a cute little Easter basket.

Picture 6 - Finished basket

As you can see, I tend to overfill and they do tear. If you tear it, it is easily repaired with scotch tape until Easter day is done.

Eggs-tra Eggs

Dying eggs does not require some fancy kit that has holes that pop out for drying eggs or anything of that nature. You probably have everything you need around your house.

Any food coloring will work, as will food-based dyes such as color paste. In addition, Kool-Aid type drink mixes work well for strong colors. Mix the type of dye you want in a cup with a tablespoon of white vinegar and ½ cup of hot water.

Picture 7 - Ingredients

Now you are ready to begin to dye eggs. But first, you can make that cut-out holder the expensive dye kits have! Flip over your egg carton and cut off the bottoms of the egg mountains. Now you have your own cute holder that will go into the recycling when you are done.

Picture 8 - Homemade egg holder

Napkin Eggs

Napkin eggs are the easiest of all to make. All you need is a pretty napkin and some white glue that has been watered down. Paint the egg with glue and then place a piece of the napkin down on the egg.

Picture 9 - Napkin egg

Cover the top of the napkin with more glue to seal and let it dry.

Picture 10 - Napkin egg

These can be quite beautiful. I collect blue willow and as you can see, my eggs go with my dishes.

Picture 11 - Napkin egg

Wax eggs

These are more of an adult project but an older child who understands not to touch the egg can do this. Boil your eggs and turn the heat down to low. Pick out one egg at a time and dry it  with a towel. Grate leftover crayone (yes, recycle those crayons!)  over the top of the egg.

Picture 12 - Wax egg

The heat of the egg will slowly melt the grated crayons, and they will drip down the side. I grate two crayons at once but you can do one and then the other if you would like. It makes a beautiful marble effect to the egg.

Picture 13 - Wax egg

Sticker eggs

Sticker eggs can be fun. You have to shop for shaped stickers. I found bunnies and egg shaped stickers along with a grass scene sticker. Look for these stickers for cheap at any dollar store.

Picture 14 - Sticker eggs

Cool your eggs completely and then just stick the stickers on. Dip the eggs and let them dry. When eggs are dry, place them in the freezer for about 10 minutes so the stickers peel completely off.

Picture 15 - Sticker eggs

On the other hand, if you have done a scene, leave them on for decoration.

Picture 16 - Sticker eggs

Reinforced eggs

This title may be misleading as the egg it self is not reinforced but the use of page reinforcements makes the egg cute. They are only about $2 at any grocery or stationary store.

Picture 17 - Reinforcement

Cool the eggs completely, place the reinforcement stickers on the egg, and then dip in the dye. Let dry and then peel off the reinforcements. Again, they will remove easier if you freeze the egg for about 10 minutes before removing the sticker.

Picture 18, 19, 20 - Reinforcement eggs

You can also dye the egg first and let it dry. Then I place the egg in the freezer for about 5 minutes, attach the reinforcement stickers, and re-dye the egg. Use a light color first.

Oiled Eggs

This project I do last, as it means I have to mess up my dye. I chose a light color and dye my egg. While my egg sits in the dye solution, I take a darker color and add a few drops of cooking oil to the dye. Using a fork I whip the oil into the dye solution and then pour it over the egg that was already dyed giving it a swirl effect.

Picture 21 - Oiled eggs

When I am running low on dye, I take out a small screen strainer and place an egg in it. I begin to swirl it around with an egg place in it. As it begins to spin, I drip small amounts of the oiled dye over it and it gives it a speckled effect. (Like yellow and green one shown)

Picture 22 - Oiled eggs

This should be enough to fill a huge Easter basket with lots of different eggs to use as a centerpiece along with the flowers you made over the last month. On the other hand, you can make bunny baskets as place markers for the dinner table and fill with shredded green paper and your eggs-tra special eggs.

Picture 23 - The finished basket!

Did you know that fresher eggs are harder to peel when they are hard-boiled? Buy eggs 10 days to two weeks before boiling and dyeing them. They will be easier to peel when you want to eat the. The older eggs are easier to peel, according to hubpages.com, because eggshells "breathe," and over time the area between the membrane and shell increases, making eggs easier to peel.

The only question that remains is what to do with all these left over Easter eggs? Hummm, there is deviled eggs, egg salad, hash and eggs, stir-fry, and well, maybe in next weeks column we will do left-over egg recipes for you. Hard boiled egg cookies: Yum!

Are you doing Easter eggs? Upload your photos!