Turn Easter egg decorating into a party!
Give an Easter tradition a fresh-for-2017 update with these new egg-decorating techniques that are as much fun to try as they are fabulous—happy memories are guaranteed!
1 Get your eggs in order!
The star of your party is, of course, the humble egg: Plan on buying four to five per person, plus a few extra for any mistakes. For variety, buy brown eggs, too—their shells produce more intense colors when dyed! Traditional hard-boiled eggs are ideal for little hands to manage, but older kids and adults can create keepsakes that last with hollowed eggs.
2 Add an eggs-traordinary touch!
For an extra-festive touch, make a bright garland that’s easy to create with plastic Easter eggs! To start, pick up dollar-store eggs that have holes in the ends. Thread a large needle with string, knotting it at the end. Open each egg so the top and botTip! tom are separate, insert the needle through the hole at the bottom half of one egg, then the hole in the To set a festive a classic top half of the egg. Click the egg together to secure, mood, have like Hop and repeat until you reach your desired length! Easter movie or Easter Parade the playing in d. backgroun
3 Let the decorating begin!
Put a fresh spin on dipped-anddyed eggs with these creative ideas—they’re easy enough for kids, especially with a little help from you!
✤ Glowing eggs! For eggs that truly shine at night, mix a few tablespoons of glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint (available in crafts stores) with water, then add 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Dip your eggs into the “dye” until the desired color is achieved.
✤ Washi wow! Washi tape is super trendy and so easy: Simply smooth plain or patterned tape onto each dry egg for a one-of-a-kind creation—no dye needed!
✤ Chic confetti! Fine glitter gets everywhere. To the rescue? Sparkling confetti! Just brush a thin layer of glue onto your dry egg, then roll it in the confetti for a dimensional effect. ✤ Pretty polka dots! This fashionable pattern is simple to create: Dip a pencil eraser into acrylic paint, then dab on a dotted design. Photos: Shutterstock (5); istockphoto; Steven Lam/getty Images; Teri Virbickis/getty Images; Dreamstime.
4 Serve up Easter eats!
Set out a buffet of seasonal sandwiches like egg salad and ham— cut each into an egg shape using a cookie cutter for a fun touch! Add easy-to-eat sides like chips and the Easter Bunny’s favorite: baby carrots! And for a dessert that wows, try the sweetest Easter basket around:
Easter Basket Cupcakes
A few days before your party, make basket handles. To do: Knead Wilton tylose powder and a tiny amount of food coloring into fondant, such as Wilton Decorator Preferred. You’ll need 1/4 tsp. tylose for every 1/2 cup fondant and food coloring. Roll prepared fondant into thin ropes; twist together. Cut to desired sizes; arrange on baking sheet in curved shapes. Let dry until very firm, about 2 days, turning ropes over after 1 day. Then to decorate, start with your favorite cupcakes. Tint frosting to match fondant; transfer to pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe round of frosting on each cupcake. Decorate with jelly beans and flower cake décors. Insert ends of each handle into frosting.
5 Show off your eggs!
Transform your decorated eggs into a creative centerpiece for your Easter table—it’s easy! Simply start with a small plain grapevine wreath (available in crafts stores), which resembles a bird’s nest when placed flat on a tabletop. Carefully pile your decorated eggs in a shallow bowl, then place in the center of the nest!