Paper Mache Easter Crafts Make Eggs-Citing Gifts and Decorations

• Serves: As many as you wish to make
• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 2 days

Ingredients

• Colorful tissue paper torn into 1 inch strips
• White craft glue (Elmer's School Glue or PVA from the dollar store)
• Balloons (use special water balloons if you want to make the same size eggs I crafted)
• Foam craft brush
• Craft knife (X-acto knife)
• Easter basket grass (I used paper but you can also use the shiny stuff or the new edible grass)
• Jelly beans
• Candy eggs
• Small chick and bunny Easter toys or ornaments

Instructions

Notes
I used water balloons to make my paper mache Easter eggs. I got the idea from a craft blogger, who got the idea from (who else?) Martha Stewart. I simplified the process to make my eggs, and I cut the tops open to look like hatched eggs instead of slitting and adding a pull string to tear open the eggs. You could try that method, but it will destory the egg when the kids open them up.
1. Tear tissue paper into 1-inch wide by 4 to 6 inch long pieces.

2. Blow up balloons to the size of a large goose egg - big enough to fill up the palm of your hand, or large enough to hold the small toys you've purchased to fill up the eggs. I bought small windup chicks and bunnies to fill my grandkids paper mache Easter eggs.

3. Mix white glue and water in equal amounts to create a 50/50 diluted mixture. I used a small bottle of glue then filled it with water to make my mixture. Pour diluted glue into a shallow bowl or recycled cottage cheese container so you can cover and store any leftover paper mache paste.

4. Brush balloon with glue using foam applicator, then lay on a strip of tissue paper and gently smooth out by stroking or dabbing with the foam applicator. Continue with glue and tissue strips to completely cover the balloon. Brush the entire balloon with a final layer of glue Tie a thread around the knotted end of the balloon and hang to dry overnight.

5. Apply two more layers of glue and tissue, allowing balloons to dry several hours or overnight.

6. When eggs feel firm and are completely dry, you're ready to pop the balloon and remove it through the hole where the end of the balloon sticks out. Holding the egg gently, grab the tied end of the balloon and stretch slightly, then insert a pin into the rubber to deflate the balloon.

7. Gently pull the balloon out of the egg, taking care not to crush the egg.

8. About one-third of the way down from the top of each egg, cut a zigzag line around the circumference of the egg, leaving about an inch uncut to act as a hinge (or cut the entire top off if you prefer).

9. Stuff a bit of Easter basket grass into the egg, then fill it with jelly beans, tiny candies and a cute baby bunny or rabbit.