I always have a hard time with Easter. I've never been into cute chicks and bunnies, and my version of the pastel palette consists of hot pink, banana yellow and neon green. But that doesn't mean my Easter eggs have to suffer. This year, I'm being bold and teaching my kids a lesson in pop art.

I clicked over to Google images and found some Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and even Keith Haring images. The trick to the eggs is to color them as usual with traditional egg dye kits (I used Twinkling H20 watercolor paints) and then apply images printed on water slide decal paper. This is clear paper that has a protective backing that is most used in model car kits. After printing the image, soak it in water and the image separates from the backing. The result is a transparent background.

If you don't have time to buy the decal paper, you can decoupage the image on the eggs. Decal paper can be found locally at Hobby Bench and Arizona Art Supply locations. Available online at lazertran.com.

Pop Art Decal Eggs
Supplies:

1 package of InkJet Decal Paper or Lazertran Water Slide Decal Paper
Hard-boiled eggs
Watercolor paints, brush
Bowl with water
Scissors
Acrylic paints

Directions: Paint the eggs with the watercolors and let dry. There are two kinds of decal sheets - one for InkJet printers, and another for laser printers. If you use the latter, you'll have to print your images on a color laser printer at a local copy center. Using the high-resolution setting, print the images on the decal sheet. Cut them out and put in the bowl of water. After a few minutes, the image will separate from the paper backing. Carefully pick up the image and lay it on the painted egg. Use your finger to smooth out bubbles. Let dry. Use other paints or markers to add contrasting polka dots.

TIP: Keep your pictures small so they will lay flat against the egg. There will be crinkles around the edges of the decal because the egg is round, but you can smooth them out by carefully snipping the decal and sealing it down with water.
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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Easter, food crafts, other holidays

Use icing tubes to jazz up your chocolate eggs!

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Easter, food crafts, other holidays

Here are some ideas to keep you busy this week!

- Quickie projects


- Fake Easter Chocolates

- Egg Placeholders
- Cascarones


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Easter

Easter isn't simply about hunting for treats and biting the ears off chocolate bunnies. It's also about having fun at other people's expense - if you are into confetti eggs, also known as Cascarones. You can buy ready-made eggs at the grocery store, but how fun is that? Part of the payoff is knowing that you made them. Visit a party store to choose from all kinds of confetti. I used small sequins in my eggs for a shiny effect. Confetti eggs also are great party favors all year. Paint them to match a baby shower or birthday party and fill them with small candies, a favorite quote or a small toy. But remember: When cracking them over someone's head, tap the egg and squeeze it with your hand to make sure it opens.

Confetti Eggs
Supplies
1 dozen eggs with container
Water-based acrylics, brush, cup of water
Paint pen to draw designs
Steak knife
Confetti or sequins
Paper towels
Colored tissue paper
White craft glue

Directions: Working with one egg at a time, poke a hole at the bottom with the steak knife, just big enough to drain the egg. Let contents drip out. Rinse the inside of the egg and rest it, hole side down, on the paper towel. When the eggs are dry inside, decorate the shell with watered-down acrylics. Pour a teaspoon of confetti inside the egg. Glue a piece of tissue paper (matching the color of the egg) to seal the hole. Set the egg hole side up to dry. Paint and embellish the egg carton to match.

Tip: Only use a light coat of paint. Too much and the egg will be hard to crack.

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Cinco DeMayo, Easter, food crafts, Latin-inspired

I met the fabulous Ele Shnier who makes a living by making fake food! Check out these Easter chocolates.
Fake Easter Chocolates
Supplies
Cutting mat
Rolling pin
Easter-theme cookie cutters
1 can of cooking spray
1 bag of Crayola Model Magic
Large foam stamps
Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint, Burnt UmberSmall paintbrush
Brush-on varnish, satin
Assorted dimensional squeeze paints in bright spring colors

Directions: Lightly coat the cutting mat, rolling pin and cookie cutters with cooking spray. Pinch off a baseball-size piece of Model Magic and use the rolling pin to smooth and flatten it until it is 3/4-inch thick. Take a foam stamp (does not need to be sprayed) and press it firmly into the Model Magic so the design looks sharp and defined. Take a cookie cutter and press it in place so the stamped design is in the center. Remove the cookie cutter and peel the Model Magic from the mat. Remove excess product. Let air-dry for 24 hours until hard. Paint the entire surface with three coats of paint, letting each coat dry. Varnish and let dry. Embellish with dimensional squeeze paint and let dry.

Tips: Use a blow dryer to speed drying time for the paint. Once you open the Model Magic, keep the substance tightly wrapped or it will dry out. If you want to mimic other types of foods, Schnier suggests setting the real thing close by so you can copy its shape.
* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Easter

Just because you are set to color Easter eggs this weekend doesn't mean the holiday duties stop there. There are still baskets to fill, food to cook and, most important, decorations to display. With only 48 hours to go, we're sharing a few tips and tricks to make the most of the final countdown.
* Fill plastic eggs with rice. Glue shut to make musical Easter "shakers."
* Create festive place mats with fun foam. Use one sheet as your base and glue a border of shapes in chicks, carrots, eggs and flowers.
* Use hot glue to cover a basket with faux spring flowers for a centerpiece to hold colored eggs.
* Cut bunny-feet shapes from craft sponge and use chalk to leave a trail of bunny footprints.
* Personalize the outside of plastic glassware with stickers, dimensional squeeze paint or markers.
* Make party favors by filling mini-terra-cotta pots with pastel-colored candy.
* Empty an egg, gently create a little "window,"paint and decorate the entire surface and insert a family photo inside for a minidiorama.
* Cascarones: Empty an egg, fill with confetti, decorate the outside with glue and tissue paper. Crack over loved ones' heads for fun.
* Roll up small toys or candies in crepe paper into a ball, add wiggly eyes and construction-paper bunny ears and a cotton ball for the tail. Kids will have fun unrolling the paper to find the surprise.
* Decoupage Easter napkins on all four sides of a box and use as a utensil holder.
* Fill a large, clear bowl with water and drop in fresh daisies to float on top.
* Snip strips of party streamers and roll each into small tissue flowers, tie to a string and hang.
* Glue jelly beans around a plastic foam topiary and insert into a painted planter. Add green basket grass for filler.

* For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Easter, other holidays