Decoupage Eggs

In the 1800's and early 1900's, the Russian royal family had special ornaments made for them for Christmas and Easter by such famous names as Faberge (these ornaments came to be more commonly known as Faberge eggs). Today, you yourself can make these ornaments for your own family. The process is a bit messy but fun, and relatively simple.

There are a few things that you need to make these beautiful and delicate ornaments (and actually, once they are finished, they aren't nearly as fragile as you might expect from an egg). First, start with blown eggs. Tap out a small hole in each end of the egg with a small sharp object; a toothpick or straight pin makes a less noticeable hole but blowing the yolk through the smaller hole can be rather challenging. The sharp end of a can opener also works well, just be sure not to crack the shell. Blow the whites and yolks of your eggs into a bowl (save them in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours for an omelet, cookies, or if you are planning to make a large number of eggs, a pound cake). You may also find it easier to break up the yolks with a toothpick before blowing the eggs so that they come out with less force.

After you have blown your eggs, rinse them out with water and let them sit for a few hours to dry. In the meantime, gather the rest of your supplies. You will definitely need adhesive. Decoupage glue or Mod Podge is available at any craft store but a similar substance can be made by mixing one part water with two parts white glue.

The glue and the eggs are the only required supplies for this project. From here you have several choices. You can clip small pictures (one inch or smaller) from magazines or newspapers. Printed napkins also work nicely. Smaller pieces will adhere to the egg more smoothly. If you are creating Christmas ornaments, look for napkins or magazine clippings in a Christmas theme (reds, greens, gold, holly, evergreen trees). For Easter eggs, look for spring themes (pastel colors, small flowers, birds). You are limited only by your imagination.

Paint your egg with two thin layers of glue, allowing to dry between each coat. Then, dip your clippings or napkin pieces into the glue, coating it thinly. Gently press it onto the egg, smoothing out any bubbles or folds and allow it to dry. Be sure to leave the opening in the ends of the egg if you want to create a hanging ornament.

After your egg is dry, paint or spray with a thin layer of acrylic glaze to seal. To add to the excitement, glue on beads or spray with a layer of fake snow or glitter. Tie a knot in both ends of a length of satin ribbon and lace the ribbon through a bead and then through the egg, starting at the wider end. Or experiment to find your own way to hang your Decoupage egg ornament.