The Easter egg chain link fence decoration

I have been having so much fun decorating my ugly chain link fence for each holiday. Here is the Easter egg version. Happy Easter all ya'll!

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Don't throw those Easter egg shells away. Here's how to make an egg shell mosaic box using them.
Mixed Media Artist
Never throw ANYthing out, not even paint-soaked paper towels!
Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on portrait poses, how to make frosting bunnies, chicks and eggs, along with info on house rabbis and a recipe for white bean dip with rosemary oil.
Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi explains how her puppy became the Easter Bunny for a set of greeting cards.
Aileen's Musings
Aileen shows you the bowties she made with her DIL and gives you a few links to easy tutorials for making your own for the young man in your life.
Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess explains how to make a simple art book.

Unusual Easter Egg decorations

I have been having some fun decorating eggs but not really the usual way or with the traditional themes. I was flipping through The Art of Papercutting and I came across this page that has a tutorial for decorating eggs with paper. Well, in keeping with my theme of unusual and recycling, I went to a copy of a fashion magazine to see what paper I could harvest.
I found a picture of a rather cranky lady and the word "guilty" and hey, in my mind they would make an awesome bit of egg decoupage.
After the dust settled...actually the Mod Podge dried I popped on my finger tip Hot Glue Gun Helper and flipped the switch on the Ad Tech cordless hot glue gun and secured a ribbon loop and a recycled Glass Glintz to each of my eggs.
As you can see I decoupaged one egg with a photo of scissors and stamped the word "head" on another....you get the joke right?
Egg Head??? Paper cutting???

Yah I know dorky!

If you like working with paper there are tons more great projects in:
The Art of Papercutting
by
Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell

More about the book from the publisher Cico Books:

"Papercutting has a long history, originally as a traditional folk art practised across Europe and North America, and now elevated to new, sophisticated levels. Here, Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell presents a stunning collection of 35 papercutting projects, ranging from party decorations, decoupage pictures and paper flowers, to greetings cards and gift tags. All have easy-to-follow instructions, with advice on the best paper to use for a superb result. Papers used in this book range from lightweight crepe paper and tissue to heavier weight card and water-colour paper. Recycling plays an important role, too - finding, collecting and using small scraps of discarded paper to incorporate into something new is a rewarding process. Here you will find wallpaper, postage stamps, gift wrap and postcards given a new lease of life. Whether you are new to the art of papercutting, or a skilled crafter looking for fresh ideas, the projects featured in the book will inspire you to pick up your scissors and a sheet of paper and create something beautiful."

How to crochet an Easter Egg

Got some scraps of yarn lurking around and in the mood to whip up a few Easter Eggs for decoration? They are super easy and quick! I was inspired to crochet these eggs after reading the new book Little Crochet: Modern Designs for Babies and Toddlers. I don't have babies or toddlers but I do have Aminekos and they just loved their eggs. If you like Roy's Easter Bunny ears and want to make a pair hop on over the Crocheted Easter Bunny Ears Pattern at Craftside.

This was the page that really inspired me. I loved the concentric circles in pretty colors on this blanket from Little Crochet and they reminded me of the stripes on Easter eggs and I thought how easy it would be to make some.
Here is the rough pattern on how to crochet Easter Eggs as it is quite flexible:

Yarn scraps
Hook to match yarn size.
marbles
stuffing
yarn needle

I pretty much used worsted weight yarn but some of my yarns were smaller so I double stranded.

Chain 3
7-8 single crochets into the first chain stitch
join with slip stitch
Single crochet around increasing about every other stitch until you get to about 15-17 stitches
At this point I started to change colors and make stripes.

Sometimes I did one round and then switched colors other times two rounds. If I planned to use the color again I left the yarn on and just picked it back up when I wanted to use it again. This saved a bit of end knotting etc.

After I did about 6 rows of stripes with no increases I started to decrease about every 3rd or 4th stitch to make the pointier end of the egg.

I should also note after the row of my last color change I trimmed the ends and knotted while the opening was wide.

After a few rounds with decreases I added 3 marbles and some stuffing.

Then when there was only about 3-4 stitches left I cut the yarn and stitched the egg closed.

Pretty easy, hu? Well, if you like crocheting little cute things you will love this book filled with these types of projects!
Little Crochet
Modern Designs for Babies and Toddlers
By
Linda Permann

More about the book from Potter Craft:

Linda Permann, author of Crochet Adorned, brings modern colors and fun-to-work stitch patterns to the pint-sized crowd with this cute collection of over 24 clever crochet patterns for kids.

The adorable designs in Little Crochet are worked in a range of washable fibers and vibrant hues that babies and toddlers are sure to love. Make tiny sweaters, dresses, pants, and accessories while exploring a range of construction techniques, including top-down cardigans, side-to-side sweater vests, motif-based yokes, and traditional seaming. Beautiful blankets, sweaters, soft toys, bibs, booties, and hats employ simple stitches that are sure to steal the show at baby showers. Whether you have a couple of hours or a couple of weeks till the baby's due date—you'll find the perfect project in this book.

And here's the best part: Little Crochet includes size ranging from 0–4+ years, so you can keep crocheting as the little ones in your life grow. Plus, Linda has included lots of wearable patterns for both boys and girls, with swatches showing alternate colorways sprinkled throughout. Each pattern is designed to spark your own creativity, complete with how-to instructions for adding your own crafty touches like sewing, embroidery, and appliqué. Work confidently from Linda's easy-to-follow instructions, clear stitch diagrams ,and schematics, and her illustrated guide to basic and advanced stitches and finishing techniques.

Whether you’re new to crochet or experienced with a hook, you'll find these little designs a joy to stitch and share.

LINDA PERMANN is the author of Crochet Adorned and has published over 50 crochet designs in magazines including Crochet Today, Interweave Crochet, CRAFT, Knit Simple, and Living Crafts. She designs and teaches crochet in San Antonio, Texas. When she's not crocheting, she also enjoys sewing, knitting, gardening and playing with her adorable nephew. Read more about her crafty adventures at www.lindamade.com.

A Hoppin' cute moveable easter die cut card from fabric scraps

I have been called "The Left Coast Martha" and I am simply tickled by that nickname because I am a huge fan of the Right Coast Martha!
And I am a huge fan of her new mammoth craft book:
Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration

They aren't kidding when they say "endless inspiration" here is my post-it riddled copy of the book after just what I want to make now!

So with Easter almost here I needed to make some Easter cards and I thought her technique that she uses to stiffen fabric and then punch out shapes was a perfect place to start. She has a wonderful project for making a bouquet of flowers but I wanted elements for my card.

I followed the directions in the book and grabbed my fabric stiffener which happens to be Plaid's Stiffy and some fabric scraps.
Then onto punching out my elements. I used my Sizzix Sizllit Easter Phrase set, McGill's Egg, and the Martha Stewart Bunny to punch my elements.

I then cut the egg apart in a zig zag shape.

I attached the top of the egg with a tiny piece of wire with a bead on the end and punched a hole in the corner of the egg and paper.

I bent the wire in a spiral on the back side. This allows the egg top to open and close.

I then tied one end of a piece of button thread to the plaidbunny and the other end through a hole in the paper card behind the bottom half of the egg I had glued onto the card only around the edge so the bunny could fit into it like a pocket.


If you like this Easter card, check out another one I made here die cutting and punching out stiffened fabric.

Happy Easter!

More Tina on Fire, Tasty Tilted Cake and Giant pizza with a side of Crafty Blooger Links

Thrown in today with the crafty blogger links for your viewing pleasure is Tina and her boyfriend playing with fire.

A fabulous cake made by one of Leela's bellydancer goddesses, Celest for her daughter Mattie's Birthday and in celebration of Leela's latest show- Alice in Leelaland

And since we are in Leelaland and size is relative, a giant pizza.

The Cornstar herself is truly amazed as we all were!

Aileen's Musings

Check out Aileen's serendipitous assemblage that started with a book cover and find out why cleaning is like a box of chocolates...

Crafty Princess Diaries
Marketing your craft work and yourself does pay off! Here are a few examples of why this is true and why marketing is worth your time.

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there are pills as gifts, moments with Slash (from Guns N' Roses), a sneak peek at L.K. Ludwig's new book-True Vision, and a great how-to on making an accordion triangle book with a bead closure.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Brighten up your day with a happy little sun or select one of the other fun summer-themed patterns.

(Please note the wonderful PLAID pants this boy is sportin'!)

Layers Upon Layers
Digital manipulations using a torn paper landscape background

Polymer Clay @ CraftGossip
Pearls of Wisdom, a creative challenge.

The Impatient Blogger
Join Madge as she shares some sage advice about getting your work published.

Easter 2008- The trouble with taking "hunting photos"

Have you ever tried to take pictures of an Easter Egg Hunt? Well this is what my experience has brought me, excellent "butt shots" -just what everyone wants.

Oh, and running away shots!

So, I gave up on the random shots and we posed with our loot (in case your wondering, kids hunt for the traditional eggs and the adults hunt for little airline bottles of alcohol. This is me and my com padre with our findings thus far. We never find them all. Cindy has become so good at hiding them we estimate 5-6 are left in the yard.

La Famia posing for a group portrait on a very windy day. (Always good for the hair!)

And after we all gave up, we partake in the other Holiday (Halloween) tradition of the "Big Swap" First we all assess our findings and then scope out what others have scored. Decisions are often made based on the prettiness of the bottles (You know how us crafters are!)


Thanks for a great day family!

Bunny, no chicken, no egg, uggggg

This is a chicken nugget that looks like a bunny (side view).
This was sent to me by my good friend Maria's kids!
What kind of chicken hatched the egg that made this? Did this chicken have an identity crisis and thought it was a bunny?
Or a random occurrence in processing?
Makes you want to go hmmmmm?

Sweater Surgery Eggs-Of course, of course

I know you were waiting for them, wondering when they would appear?
Ta-da! Eggs in Sweaters.

Totally easy-over, no really easy-peasy. Just cut a rectangle of sweater, I used a striped rib that was pretty thin weight and it's pulled fairly taught around the widest part of the egg. This reduced the bulk at each end.

Then I did a running stitch around one end to gather it.
I then stitched up the side.
Finally I sewed the other end with a running stitch to gather it and knotted to secure.

Well there you have it. Sweater Surgery Eggs. Happy hunting!

For Peeps-sake!

First let me say my Mac turned Hollywood and went to Rehab.

So I apologize for the lack of posts this week.

In continuation of my Egg theme, I bring you my free-form crocheted fried egg coaster. It is simply a circle of yellow chenille yarn and then worsted weight white yarn randomly increased around it.

And this is my best score this season. Peep shaped plastic containers. They were found at the 99 cents store.

My second best score was I hooked up with my "spray can lid dealer, Dave" in the parking lot of the Starbucks and got my lid fix. If your scratching your head and wondering if I need to go to rehab-click back to this post and all will be explained.

Which came first the Crocheted Chicken or the egg

OK "Peeps" is this not the cutest? An egg cozy that looks like a chicken. If you know of a pattern please post in the comments section! I want to make a flock of these. Thanks.

Chrome Eggs Du Jour

Today's Egg is Chrome!

And just in case you didn't think only eggs came in chrome, I have a chrome banana too. Random chromeness from Casa de Canejo Diablo.

These are my antlers in the back yard with plastic colored/chrome eggs hanging from the points. Oh and the list of poker hands in order of what beats what-I can never remember.
After the egg/alcohol hunt the poker game ensues.

I have since had to plastic wrap my antlers because the native animals like to sharpen their teeth/beaks on them. Anyone know how to prevent this?

This Year's Easter Theme-The Egg

OK-yes I am "The Plaidbunny"
So you would think I would theme Easter always with the bun, but I think this year it's going to be more about the egg.
What, no- which came first the bunny or the egg jokes???

Not that the egg hasn't always played a part in my Easter falderal, but the bunny generally was the focal point. Not that it is easy to tell what is an Easter decoration in my house vs. what's up year round. Let's just say you can't turn around in this house without spotting a bunny somewhere.

So today's egg is.....Golden!

So you too can make golden eggs too. Simply blow out the insides of some eggs and let dry.
I put a bit of glue to fill in the hole. Then I just gold leafed them as the package instructions said to.

And I guess I started this egg theme awhile back, here is a fun ATC embossed paper Egg Pocket project I did. It could be a fun invitation, hmm?

And since it's Flashback Friday I'll share with you a few pictures from a previous Easter Party, here at Casa de Canejo Diablo.

Please note the GIANT eggs on the lawn!!

And what were the girlies looking for? Eggs, well yes there are some of those traditional eggs hidden about, but the real prize, as stated in my "10 things no one else probably has done" Little bottles of alcohol!

The loot of one of the attendees her crafted Easter basket (the first activity of the day!)

What good eggs my friends are!