Easter Craft Idea - String Balloon Egg Centerpiece

Clever homemade decorations adorn many homes during the holiday seasons and Easter is no exception. Using a balloon, some string, and corn starch, you can make eggs for decorating in a variety of ways. The following is an idea for a centerpiece for your Easter table.

First, blow up a balloon to a large Ostrich egg size. Wrap this carefully with many layers of fine string while frequently varying the direction of the wrap. When the balloon is completely covered with the string, cut the string and tuck the end in under the other layers so it won't unravel.

The next step is to cook some starch. Any cooked starch will do but cornstarch is the easiest to work with and it works well for this. Avoid the temptation to use the spray on starch that is used while ironing clothes as it will not work for this. In a small saucepan, start with about one cup of cornstarch and one and a half cups cold water. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water and then bring the mix to a boil stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. This should take about six to eight minutes. When the mixture is thick, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.

After the cornstarch mixture has cooled, dip the string covered balloon into the mix until the string is completely covered with the starch mix. Use your hands and/or a rubber spatula to help accomplish this. If the mix is too thick, thin it with a little water so it is easier to work with. When the egg is completely covered, hang it up using an additional length of string and allow it to dry overnight. Be sure it has thoroughly dried before proceeding with decorating it.

When the starch is completely dry, stick a needle through the string and pop the balloon. The balloon pieces can be removed through the tied end of the balloon although this is not mandatory. Gently push the egg on one side to flatten slightly so it won't roll over when placed on the table.

Now that you have a hardened egg, decorate it as follows for a nice centerpiece. Using a wide ribbon in the color of your choice, wrap the egg across the middle, cross the ribbon on the underside, and wrap around the long axis of the egg ending with a bow on top of the egg. Complete the adornment using pastel colored silk flowers and greenery to drape down along the sides of the egg. The finished product will make a nice addition to your Easter table.