Welcome back to Red Ted Art and this week’s “How to”. Once again, I am not sure if this a “how to” as such, but I guess if you have never done Easter Egg Blowing, it will indeed be new to you… for those of you that have, it will hopefully serve as a reminder, provide you with some handy tips and give you a pretty and VERY simple “Austrian” Easter egg design – it is one of my favourites ever and I use it on many things! I also have a fun easter decor for kids idea coming up very soon .. so be sure to be back!
I love blown eggs as they have something wonderfully delicate about them! Quite pretty I think!
I also love this craft, as it is incredibly thrifty: you still get to use the eggs! So it is virtually FREE! Only costs to you are a ribbon, a pin and some paint!
Materials: One egg, one pin (a thumb tack is actually much easier on your fingers), one ribbon/ string/ thread (for hanging), paint, skewer for painting & drying (optional)
I used acryclics – they are strong bold colours. You can use food dies and die your egg by – mixing 10-20 drops of food die with 1/2 cup of water and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Submerge egg with help of a spoon and leave for 20-40min. I found the results so so. Definitely worth experimenting with!
How to blow an Easter Egg:
1) Prick holes on either end of your eggs with a pin – I usually make the holes around 4-6 pin pricks big. You can make them smaller, but the blowing is much harder! If you get the pin prick holds big enough the blowing really isn’t too hard – can almost do it one breath!
The image shows a pin, but a THUMB TACK is much better and easier
2) If your needle reaches try and prick the yolk – this will make things easier, but don’t worry if you can’t! Huana in the comments suggested using a toothpick – great idea – piercing the yolk REALLY helps and will stop you “passing out”!
3) Hold the egg steady in both hands and blow through the top hole. This is no easy task, you may want to make your hole a little bigger. But it is possible! Out 12 eggs, I have only broken one… and that is because I got impatient and hurried it.
4) Give it a wiggle with your pin if it helps!
5) Once, everything is out, I like to rinse some water through the egg.
6) Let the egg dry
NOTE: we make the holes “bigger” now – which means my kids (10 and 8) can manage the blowing! They LOVE doing it themselves and I think this is a real memory maker for them!
Painting & hanging
I found it very useful to “skewer” the egg with a thin wooden kebab stick – this makes painting and drying much easier! Alternatively, you can hang it first, but I still find that a little messy!
1) Paint a base colour – match your decor. Darker colours provide a nice contrast to the final design, lighter colours look fabulous for spring!
And this is the result using Yellow (yes, yellow, it turned red) and Blue (?) food die! The blue really didn’t work well – key thing is to juts “pat your eggs” dry and not rest them on the paper towel for too long!
2) Paint your little flowers: they are so easy: one dot in the middle, 5-6 dots around it. Space evenly – but don’t worry too much about exact spacing – they will look nice however you do them. Let dry
3) Once dry: tie some thread/ ribbon to the pin. When it is hanging the pin and the string will form an upside down T in your egg, which is what holds it in place.
Make sure the hole in the egg is big enough to fit the knot through. If not, just gently make it a little bigger with the pin. Push the pin and knot through. The pin should then straighten out to from a T with the string and hold it in place. (the Images show that I added the string first.. Believe me, it is better at the end!)
4) Hang. Finish. Admire.
Make more:
I find these quite addictive. And since giving them a go again a week ago or so, I can’t help but blow out every egg I need for cooking. They make FABULOUS little Easter gifts too!
Gillian Moloney says
Lovely post 🙂 You know what I will be getting upto this Easter 🙂 x
Chris at Thinly Spread says
They are adorable, thanks again Maggy!
Jacq says
That might be a less messy way of letting the kids ‘crack eggs’ than on the side of the bowl too! Thanks for the idea.
Liz Burton says
How beautiful.
And some of your tweets this week are falling into place now!! ;0)
Now is the time I REALLY wished I still have my chooks, for unstamped eggs.
I’ve tried blowing eggs before but get a headache and give up! Will try again with your tips. xx
Little Wonders' Days says
Maggie, these are so pretty. They look beautiful hanging on the tree!
PippaD @ A Mothers Ramblings says
How beautiful. My MIL hard boils hers and paints them, I have always blown eggs lol.
huana says
Use a toothpick to prick the yolk,I do that manny years and it’s so much easyer!
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
Those are really Beautiful!
Ani says
Oh, I love the purple and pink ones! I may have to blow out my eggs and save them so I can make several of these! What a thrifty craft! And cute too!
Icklebabe says
They are just wonderful ! Reminds me of being a kid and watching my mum nearly pass out blowing us all eggs to paint… None were as pretty as yours tho, fab xxx
Erin says
I love this idea! I found your blog at the DIY Showoff. You have such great ideas and I’m your newest follower! I’d love it if you’d follow me back: http://stillwaterstory.blogspot.com/
Again, you did a fantastic job with this!! 🙂
Catherine says
These are gorgeous! Minnie & i will definitely be making these for Easter – thank you 🙂
Red Ted Art says
Aaah thank you everyone!! Look forward to seeing any pictures of your Easter eggs!!! Ein, have followed! Catherine – have some GREAT kiddie eggs coming soon…
Kim @Kims Kandy Kreations says
These are amazing! I love them. What a great decoration they would be hanging outside in our rose bushes, or inside at our Easter party. Thanks so much for sharing. I am definitly going to bookmark this one to try.
I would love it if you would enter your link at our Shindig Saturday linky party here:
http://kimskandykreations.blogspot.com/2011/03/shindig-saturday-linky-party-week-2.html
Ali says
My children and I were chatting about this whilst picking up some eggs yesterday think will have to have a go :)as my son couldn’t believe that you can get the yolk through such a tiny whole.
Caroline says
Hello, I still don\’t get the idea of how to put the knot inside the egg, do you have more photos to illustrate? thanks heaps!!
Red Ted Art says
I am having PC issues at the moment, but as soon as I am back to normal, will add some photos!!
Rebecca says
So pretty. Lovely to have some new ideas for eggs this year,
kelly says
Thanks so much for some refreshing and fun non-chocolate ideas. I am inspired!!!
Shara says
Just wanted to let you know that this tutorial was great! I linked to your site at http://blogging-mama.com/holidays/blowing-out-eggs-for-easter/.
What FUN!!