Howcast

How to Decorate for Easter

Howcast — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:15:57 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Welcome visitors with an egg wreath Welcome visitors with an eggshell wreath. Hollow out dyed or natural brown eggs by piercing one end of a raw egg with a straight pin, then pricking the other end and blowing out the egg yolk. Use scissors to cut the wire and form a loop. Thread the eggs onto the wire and adorn with silk flowers or crepe paper as desired. Fasten to the door with a looped piece of wire.
TIP: Create a simple eggshell garland by threading hollowed-out eggs onto a ribbon. Tape one end of the ribbon onto a skewer, then string the eggs, remove the skewer and tie a knot to hold eggs in place.
Step 2: Bring the outside in Cut branches of pussy willows and arrange the stems in a pastel or Easter-themed vase. Or cut daffodils, roses, or any spring flower and place them into floral foam in baskets throughout the house to add bursts of spring color.
Step 3: Hang mini eggs Hang miniature eggs, which can be found in craft or retail stores, onto miniature trees or along pussy willow branches.
Step 4: Create a whimsical table Create a festive table. Mix and match your fine china or stoneware and add colorful linens. Add a playful touch by filling martini glasses with miniature candy eggs and centering on plates. Or, place name cards atop martini glasses or inside egg cups for instant Easter cheer.
Step 5: Add modern flair Place Easter eggs of the same color, but with varying textures and finishes, into a similarly-colored basket for a traditional centerpiece with a modern twist. Then add some embellishments with grasses or flowers. Extend the monochromatic look with linens and dinnerware and add crystal glasses for a shimmery, dreamy tablescape.
FACT: Gold-embellished Faberge eggs were first commissioned by Russian Czar Alexander III in 1885 as an Easter gift for his wife.

You Will Need

Eggs
Straight pin
Scissors
Wire
Silk flowers
Crepe paper
Pussy willows
Vase
Spring flowers
Floral foam
Baskets
Mini trees
Pastel tablecloths or napkins
Glasses
Egg cups
Ribbon (optional)
Skewer (optional)

How to Make a Fabric Easter Egg

Howcast — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:46:17 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Trace and cut fabric Use a template to draw an egg-shaped oval on the back of fabric with a pen. Repeat this shape 4 more times and then cut them out of the fabric with your scissors.
TIP: Use a different color, style, or pattern of fabric for each of the four sides for a wild, stylized fabric Easter egg.
Step 2: Sew two sides together With the external sides of the fabric facing each other, use your sewing machine to sew 2 sides of 2 pieces together, about a quarter of an inch from the edge.
Step 3: Repeat with the other sides Repeat the same process with the other two sides and then sew the two halves together, external sides facing. Leave a 1-inch-hole at the top to turn the right sides out.
Step 4: Stuff with batting Stuff the egg with cotton or polyester batting using a pencil or a knitting needle. Work the batting around to make the egg as smooth as possible.
TIP: Tear the batting fibers into smaller pieces for even filling and to avoid a lumpy egg.
Step 5: Close up the egg Hand sew the opening in the egg closed with a needle and matching thread.
Step 6: Stitch or glue on trim Stitch or glue decorative trim onto the egg with either a hot glue gun or a needle and thread to finish up your first fabric egg. Then make some more, and load your eggs into an Easter basket for a long-lasting decoration.
FACT: On The Thursday before Easter, German Christians use green eggs as a sign of mourning.

You Will Need

Egg template
Printed linen fabric
Pen
Scissors
Sewing machine
Batting
Pencil or knitting needle
Needle and thread
Hot glue gun
Trim
Easter basket
Assorted fabrics (optional)

How to Marble Easter Eggs

Howcast — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:02:18 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare egg dye Prepare the egg dye according to the package, or make your own using natural food colorings. If you plan to eat the eggs, make sure to use food-grade dyes.
Step 2: Add vegetable oil Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to each container of dye.
TIP: If you want to dye some eggs normally or give them a base color before marbling, do that first. Once the oil is in the dye, you can’t go back!
Step 3: Dip quickly Using a spoon or the dipper that comes with a kit, lower the egg completely into the dye and remove it quickly. Because oil and water don’t mix, you’ll get color on some parts of the egg, and none on others, creating a marbled effect. Keep dipping to get a brighter color.
Step 4: Dry eggs on paper towel Lightly pat the just-dipped eggs with a paper towel, or the color may become muddy. If you want to dip them in another color, wait until they’re completely dry first.
TIP: Experiment by adding a bit more oil to the dyes; different amounts create different amounts of marbling.
Step 5: Add some shine Moisten a paper towel with vegetable oil and lightly wipe down the finished eggs with it to add a nice shine.
Step 6: Refrigerate Refrigerate your eggs until you’re ready to display them and wow everyone with your masterpiece!
FACT: In 2005, Belgian chocolate maker Guylian created a 27-foot, 3-inch tall, 4,299-pound edible chocolate Easter egg out of 50,000 praline chocolate bars.

You Will Need

Hard-boiled eggs
Food dye
Vegetable oil
Containers
Spoon or dipper
Paper towels

How to Make an Easter Bonnet

Howcast — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:17:19 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Get a hat Buy a large straw hat with a wide brim.
Step 2: Tweak the theme Tweak the theme, which is the beginning of spring. Tiptoe through the tulips? A Beverly Hillbillies Easter? Seventies flower power?
TIP: If you want to stand out among a sea of pastel hats, do yours in primary colors.
Step 3: Gather trimmings Gather trimmings—lace, ribbon, bows, scarves, buttons, feathers—whatever you can think of.
Step 4: Buy flowers No Easter bonnet is complete without blooms, but if you really want to stand out, visit the florist and buy fresh flowers.
TIP: If you want to use flowers that aren’t very hardy or are out of season, buy high-quality silk flowers; they’re much more realistic looking than plastic.
Step 5: Do a dry run Arrange and rearrange your hat until you have a pleasing composition.
Step 6: Glue it Get out your hot glue gun—and safety pins, if you need them to anchor heavy or awkward items—and get to work.
Step 7: Work it Attach a ribbon to either side of the hat and tie it under your chin—now stand up straight, hold your head high, and strut the parade route like a Milan runway.
FACT: The tradition of wearing a new Easter outfit began in Northern Europe, where it was considered disrespectful to Eastre—the goddess of spring—to wear old clothes on the annual festival honoring her.

You Will Need

A large straw hat with a wide brim
Trimmings
like ribbons and lace
Flowers
Decorative doodads
A hot glue gun and safety pins
Plenty of creativity

How to Make an Easter Basket

Howcast — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:43:36 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Get a basket Buy a wicker basket. You can find them at craft stores, discount chains, farm stands, and even dollar stores.
TIP: To jazz up an inexpensive basket, weave strips of ribbon around the top and handle.
Step 2: Fill with grass Fill the bottom of the empty basket with fake grass. You can buy cellophane grass or cut green construction paper into strips.
Step 3: Toss in jelly beans Toss a couple of handfuls of jelly beans on the grass.
Step 4: Add candy Add your child’s favorite Easter candy to the basket. Classic choices include marshmallow bunnies and chocolate-filled eggs.
Step 5: Add plastic eggs Buy some plastic eggs that twist open in the middle and fill them with small treats – coins, stickers, costume jewelry, hair accessories, or coupons to your kids’ favorite places.
Step 6: Slip in real eggs Just before your child looks for his basket, slip in one or two of the real eggs he decorated. Just be sure to re-refrigerate them after he discovers his basket.
TIP: Tuck your child’s Easter basket somewhere in the house – or, if you live in a warm climate, in the yard – and say the Easter Bunny hid it for him. It will give him practice for upcoming Easter egg hunts.
Step 7: Put in a chocolate bunny For the final touch, put a big chocolate Easter bunny in the center of the basket. Surveys show this is what kids look forward to most in their baskets.
Step 8: Enjoy Enjoy! Watching your child delight in his candy is almost as much fun as eating it yourself.
FACT: President Reagan was such a fan of jellybeans that he had a special tray on Air Force One to keep them from spilling during turbulence.

You Will Need

A wicker basket
Plastic grass or construction paper
Jelly beans
Candy
Plastic eggs
A chocolate bunny
Ribbon strips

How to Arrange an Easter Egg Hunt

Howcast — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:26:08 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Plan ahead Plan ahead. First and foremost, get an idea of the approximate number of participants so you know how many eggs, baskets, prizes, and hiding spots you need.
TIP: Devise a Plan B with an inside location in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Step 2: Hide the eggs On the day of the hunt, hide the eggs. If you include real eggs, keep track of how many you stash and where they’re hidden, so the unmistakable stench of rotten eggs doesn’t announce their location at a later date.
Step 3: Hide a Golden Egg Have a Golden Egg that is especially well hidden, and a special prize to go along with it.
Step 4: Even the playing field Make sure the egg hunters have an even playing field. If there is an unequal ratio of older children to younger ones, divide everyone into teams.
Step 5: Set some rules Set some rules, including the boundaries and duration of the hunt. Discuss how winners will be determined—the person who finds the most eggs? The first to come back with a pre-determined number?
TIP: Set a limit on the number of eggs any one person can collect, to cut down on aggressive behavior.
Step 6: Hide jelly beans Hide some jelly-bean clusters, to keep the competition interesting for the older kids.
Step 7: Mix things up Mix things up with a scavenger hunt that includes items besides eggs, or have a color-coded hunt that directs participants to find eggs of a specific color.
Step 8: Assign monitors Assign monitors to very little ones, so they won’t end up with empty baskets and tear-stained faces.
Step 9: Have extra candy Have extra candy on hand—there’s always going to be one kid whose parents show up late, another child who gets knocked down the minute the race starts, and a tot who is just not gifted at finding eggs.
FACT: The Easter egg hunt may have originated in Europe during the Inquisition, when eggs—symbolizing non-Christians—were hidden by adults and children were encouraged to find as many of these ‘pagans’ as possible.

You Will Need

Participants
A hunting area
Good hiding spots
Lots of eggsu2014hardboiled ones
chocolate ones
candy-filled plastic ones
A Golden Egg
Baskets
Prizes
Jelly beans
Inside location in case of rain
A timer

How to Decorate Easter Eggs

Howcast — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:48:41 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Hard-boil the eggs Put eggs in a saucepan, add water until they’re covered, and gently bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes. Remove from the heat completely and add very cold water to stop the cooking process.
Step 2: Cover up Put newspapers over your table or workspace so you don’t get dye on it, and change into something you won’t mind getting stained. Decorating Easter eggs can get messy!
Step 3: Ready the dye Fill some large paper cups halfway with hot water. Then add a teaspoon of vinegar and the dye tablets, which will dissolve. Don’t have dye tablets? Add one teaspoon of food coloring into each cup of water and vinegar.
TIP: Try natural dyes. In a pan, arrange the eggs in a single layer and cover them with water. For red, add fresh beets; blue, canned blueberries; yellow, ground turmeric; green, fresh spinach. Bring to a boil, then simmer 15 minutes.
Step 4: Make your mark Write or draw something on the egg with a white wax crayon before putting it into the cup. The wax resists the dye, so once the egg is colored, you’ll clearly see what you wrote.
Step 5: Add stripes Put electrical tape around the egg, or simply put a rubber band—or several—around it before placing in the cups. When it’s dyed, remove the tape or rubber bands and you’ll have fun stripes!
Step 6: Make patterns Add some stickers or brush some rubber cement onto the egg before you place it in the dye. When you remove the egg, simply peel off the stickers or hardened rubber cement and you’ll get interesting, creative patterns.
Step 7: Dye it Place an egg into each cup. Leave it in for five to 20 minutes or as long as it takes to achieve your desired look. The longer it soaks, the darker it will be.
TIP: Add a teaspoon or so of vegetable oil into some of the cups of dye. The oil prevents the dye from sticking to certain spots on the egg, so when you remove it you get interesting designs and patterns.
Step 8: Remove Using an egg dipper, slotted spoon, or tongs, take the eggs out of the cups and place them in an empty egg carton to dry.
Step 9: Enjoy Hide your eggs for an egg hunt, put them in baskets, or simply peel your new creations and enjoy!
FACT: Dyeing Easter eggs started as a pagan ritual symbolizing fertility.

You Will Need

Eggs
A saucepan
Newspapers
Old clothes
Large paper cups
Vinegar
Dye tablets or food coloring
Wax crayon
Tape or rubber bands
Stickers or rubber cement
An egg dipper
slotted spoon
or tongs
Empty egg cartons
Fruits and vegetables for natural dyes
Vegetable oil