Making and decorating blown eggs

Making and decorating blown eggs

Blown eggs are a fun way to create stunning decorations that you can use year-round, without fear that the eggs will rot and create a stink in your house! This is a good activity for older children, but even younger children can decorate the eggs after they have been blown -- it is a good way to teach them to use "gentle hands".

You will need:

• Eggs (leave them in the carton)
• Straight pin or sewing needle
• Wooden kebab skewers
• Drinking straws

Here's how to make a blown egg:

1. Gently poke a hole in the top of each egg with the straight pin or sewing needle. If you leave the eggs in the carton as you do this, it is easier to make the hole without breaking the egg as the sides of the carton will support the egg.
2. After you have made a hole in the top of the egg, insert a wooden skewer into the hole and gently press it down until you hit the bottom of the egg. Press the skewer down until it pierces a hole in the bottom of the egg.
3. Remove the egg from the carton and gently move the skewer up and down inside the egg in order to break the yolk and separate the insides of the egg.
4. Remove the skewer and place the egg over a bowl. Holding it gently, place a drinking straw against one of the holes. Blow through the straw gently. The insides of the egg should empty through the bottom hole of the egg into the bowl. You can save the raw eggs and scramble them for breakfast!
5. Rinse blown eggs in warm water and dry off before painting or decorating them.

Decorating blown eggs:

• Paint with acrylic paint
• Glue on glitter, sparkly sequins, or pieces of tinfoil
• Decoupage tissue paper or pictures from magazines
• Sponge paint with liquid tempera paint
• Wrap ribbon or yarn around eggs and glue on
• Glue on beads or plastic jewels
• Decorate with stickers
• Draw caricatures with black pens
• Use crayons or permanent markers to draw faces, then add yarn hair