How to Make a Hand-Painted Easter Egg Garland


Materials Needed:
- 52 large white chicken eggs
- egg-blowing kit
- metal skewer
- bamboo skewers
- acrylic craft paint in pastel colors
- hemp twine
- upholstery needle
- scissors
- all-purpose white glue
- 1" artist brush
- 1.0 liner brush
- German glass glitter (or craft glitter)
- spoon
- bowl
- white tissue paper
Blow Out Eggs
Use an upholstery needle to make a small hole in the bottom of an egg (Image 1). Insert a metal skewer into the egg and stir to break yolk (Image 2). Puncture a hole in the top of the egg with an egg-blowing bulb (Image 3) and gently squeeze to force the yolk and egg white into a small bowl (Image 4). Rinse the eggs with water and allow to dry completely. Tip: Make the exit hole on the bottom of the egg larger, if necessary.




Paint 36 Eggs
Insert a bamboo skewer into the bottom hole of each egg. Once the eggs are skewered, use a one-inch artist brush to apply one coat of acrylic paint to 36 eggs (Image 1), and place the skewered eggs in a tall drinking glass to dry (Image 2).


Glitter 16 Eggs
Working one egg at a time, coat entire surface of unpainted eggs with all-purpose white glue (Image 1). Hold egg over bowl of glitter and spoon glitter over wet glue, turning the egg on the bamboo skewer to coat all sides evenly (Image 2). Place glittered egg in a tall drinking glass and allow glue to dry. Note: Add a little sparkle to painted eggs by using a 1.0 liner brush to paint polka dots, swirls or other designs with glue onto painted eggs, then sprinkle the still-wet glue with glitter.


Thread Eggs
Once eggs are completely dry, insert thin hemp twine into the top hole of the egg. Use an upholstery needle to pull twine through the opposite hole. Repeat the process with the remaining eggs, alternating colors and finishes.

Make Tissue Spacers
To add length and texture to the garland, make "spacers" out of white tissue paper. Stack together six pieces of tissue paper. Cut a 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" square out of the tissue (Image 1). Fold the square in accordion folds and trim each end into a point (Image 2). Use an upholstery needle to thread tissue onto the twine (Image 3). Gently pull the layers of tissue apart to make a miniature tissue blossom (Image 4). Place one after every third egg or at desired intervals (Image 5). Finish threading eggs and tissue spacers until garland is complete. Trim the hemp twine and create loops on each end for hanging. Tip: If garland is too long, make two smaller garlands or nestle extra eggs in a bowl lined with moss.




