by guest blogger Mark Kintzel, designer
Easter floral creations don't need to be boring or expected, right? Let me show you how to transform a few simple eggs into an impressive table centerpiece...
- Eggs
- Spoon
- Acrylic paint
- Small craft brushes
- Toothbrush (for speckling)
- Flowers of choice
1. Using a spoon, gently crack open the top of an egg then peel away the eggshell until you have a hole the size you desire (large enough to insert the stems of your flowers).
2. Turn the egg upside down and pour the insides into a bowl to save for cooking or baking.
3. Carefully rinse the inside of the eggshell with soapy water and set it aside to dry. Repeat with all the eggs you'll be using.
4. Paint the eggs the color of your choice and set aside to dry. If you want to speckle the eggs, paint them pale blue, green, or off-white--those are the most natural-looking color choices for speckled eggs. Once you've painted the eggs, allow them to dry completely.
5. For the speckle effect: Dip a toothbrush in a small amount of brown acrylic paint and run your finger over the toothbrush, letting the paint splatter onto the eggs. Allow the paint to dry, and you have some awesome speckled eggs!
6. Fill the eggs with a bit of water and add flowers.
Display your Easter eggshell vases in eggcups, or group several eggs together in a twig nest. I tucked mine inside nooks and crannies of stumps and used a sheet of bark as a tray. Stumps and bark courtesy of our backyard.
Happy Easter!
Mark Kintzel comes from a long line of crafters, artists, musicians, and farm folk. He first came under the magic spell of flowers while wandering through meadows near his grandparents' farm in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, as a boy. His appreciation for creativity and flowers grew throughout the years, and he now specializes in event planning and styling, garden design, and organic floral arrangements for just about any occasion. See more at markkintzel.com.
For more from Maria Rodale, visit www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com