Unfortunately we don’t have school holidays leading up to Easter this year, but perhaps you could still keep the kids busy on the Friday and Saturday making these crafts.
In many part of Europe, especially Germany and Austria, one of the ways Easter is celebrated is by hanging hollow eggs from the branches of trees.
Adopting this practice means you can have low-cost creative decorations. Here’s how you do it.
Tape both ends of a raw egg. On the smaller end pierce the top with a pin and let it drain. Then shake the eggs to loosen everything else inside, and pierce the bottom end, widening the hole with a toothpick.
Blow through the hole on the smaller end and everything will come out of larger hole. Then you can rinse the shell with water.
Then it’s up to you: paint the shells, cut them in half and use them as little vases for delicate flowers (these make a great centrepiece when placed back in a decorated egg carton or piled in a fake nest), or put tea lights in them.
Using an extra long craft needle you could make egg garland with hemp twine, or perhaps create a wreath.
If you’re not into blowing eggs, you can use paper mache.
Martha Stewart’s recommended process involves three layers of paper for each egg: one for the shell, one for the lining, and a third in between.
Different papers yield varying textures: rice paper can give a crinkly surface, whereas plain newsprint results in a smoother shell. You can also experiment with metallic gift wrap or tissue paper in contrasting colors for the inner shells.
You’ll need to blow up a balloon to the size you like, and the layer the paper over it. You can get matt finish sealant in a spray can or it might be easier to get the type you put in a bowl and then soak your paper in that before applying to the balloon.
Once it’s all dry, cut around the top in a way that looks like the egg has cracked open and take out the balloon.
Another idea is crepe paper carrots. Use orange crepe paper streamers to make a carrot-shaped tube and fill it with trinkets or little eggs. Green paper on top works as leaves. You can use them as place-settings for Easter gatherings, in a basket centerpiece, or give them to guests as they leave.