Easter Creations (by 4Ernesto)

I enjoy creating objects for special occasions; I hope you do as well. Here I will try to give you some ideas on how to make your Easter a truly special and memorable occasion for your family and friends. All the ideas are very easy and fast to make. The materials can be found in stores (craft shops, bookshops, DIY etc). If you use your imagination and change a bit the materials they can be used for Christmas or birthdays as well.

Easter Bonnet Card

1. Cut a piece of cardboard 15 x 22cm, score and fold to 11cm. Cut a length of yellow ribbon and cut an inverted "V" at the ends. Hold in place around a small doll's hat and sew, leaving tails at the back. Repeat with a length of slightly narrower ribbon.

2. Trim stems of small fabric flowers and pin them in place on the ribbon at regular intervals around the hat.

3. Sew flowers in place using doubled thread. Finish by sewing the butterfly on the front. Centre the bonnet on the card and attach by sewing through the brim of the hat, and knotting threads on the inside of the card. A small dab of glue will secure the knots.


Faberge Egg Card

1. Use a ready-made 3-fold card with an oval, egg-shaped window. Place double-sided tape around the window edges inside the card. Peel off the backing and attach a strip of gold lace. Cut a piece of satin slightly larger than the aperture, and stick it down so the satin side shows through the window.

2. Glue a large, jewel-like bead in the centre of the egg. Arrange beads, sequin leaves and petals, then glue in position. Tweezers will make it easier to place the decorations accurately.

3. Finish with a smear of rubber-based glue around the edge of the egg on the outside. Leave for a moment to become tacky, then press down the gold braid firmly. Neatly trim the braid.

Keep in mind that sequins and satin add a touch of glamour to a special card!!!


Spring Bouquet

1. The bouquet that you can create on a card can be made up of coloured gummed paper squares torn into simple shapes. Cut a rectangle of white cardboard 38 x 25.5cm. Score across the centre width wise using a craft knife. Fold the card in half along the scored line.

2. All the shapes have straight edges. Press a ruler across a gummed square, lift one edge of the ruler to tear it neatly. Now tear across the paper again, either diagonally or straight across, to form the shapes.

3. Arrange the pieces on the front of the card within a border of narrow strips and squares. Moisten the back of the gummed pieces to stick them in position. Try creating other designs using this method.

By torn pieces of gummed squares you can make up many colourful collages.


Quilted Lilies

1. To make this piece of quilting, you will need a ready-printed cotton panel, about 10cm square, and very thin wadding (batting) to back the panel. Pin the panel to a slightly larger square of wadding. Then cut cardboard 45 x 15cm, and score two folds 15cm apart.

2. On a larger piece of work, muslin would be used as a backing fabric. Working from the centre, tack (baste) the two layers together, making sure the picture covers the wadding.

3. Starting from the centre, with a knot on the back, outline the picture with tiny running stitches. Finish the thread with a double backstitch. Take out the tacking stitches. Measure the finished piece and cut a window from the centre of the 3-fold card. With double-sided tape, stick down the quilted panel and the front flap of card.

The above simple quilted piece depicts traditional Easter Lilies.


Daffodil Delight

1. Cut a piece of cardboard 22cm square, then score and fold at 11cm. Cut out a window 9 x 16.5cm. Trace daffodils from a catalogue or book, and transfer on to cartridge paper. Paint with transfer paints. When dry, place over a square of polyester fabric and press with a hot dry iron for two minutes. Carefully lift off the paper.

2. Place the print in an embroidery frame the opposite way from hand embroidery, and pull until taut. To machine embroider, use the same thread on the top and the bobbin. Take off the presser foot and drop the "feed dog" so you will be able to move the work freely. Place the embroidery ring under the needle and drop the pressure lever.

3. Moving the machine wheel by hand, draw up the bobbin thread to the top and hold it to start. Move ring, keeping your fingers on the edge of the frame and slowly paint with your needle. Sew the outline first, then colour in. Experiment with different stitches. Press on the reverse side, mount with double-sided tape and back with white paper.

Sew a Daffodil picture to make into a card or place in a frame.


Bunny Egg Warmer

1. This cute little bunny can be popped over a soft-boiled egg to keep it warm. First cut out two bunny shapes in white felt. Cut the ears from pink felt, the waistcoat from yellow, and the nose and eyes from black. Glue them in place. Embroider the mouth and whiskers in black thread. Glue on sequins for the buttons and the eyes.

2. Take a piece of ribbon 5cm long and glue the ends together to form a loop. Tie a piece of thread tightly around the middle of the ribbon to form a bow, and sew it to the rabbit between the mouth and the top of the waistcoat.

3. With the wrong sides facing, sew the front and back felt pieces together along the edge, using a blanket stitch.

Make a breakfast - time bunny to bring cheer to Easter morning for your children.


Chirpy Chicks

1. Cut out a chick in lemon-coloured cardboard, creating a tab at the bottom of the chick's body. Cut out a beak and feet in orange cardboard. Glue the beak to the chick and draw the eyes with a black felt-tipped pen.

2. Write the name of your guest with a pencil diagonally on the chick using a letter stencil. Fill in the letters with a felt-tipped pen.

3. Score a sliver of the cardboard along the bottom of the chick's body and bend the tab backward at a right angle. Glue the tab to the chick's feet.

You can use these chicks to guide your guests to their seats.


Now I am working on something new; soon I will give you some more ideas!