How to Make Egg-Shaped Paper Mache Easter Baskets

Craft egg-shaped Easter baskets from recycled materials.

Recyclables are an inexpensive way to craft decorations for various holidays. Make egg-shaped paper mache Easter baskets using outdated newspapers and empty pop bottles. Your children can create paper mache Easter baskets as a family quality-time activity. They can serve as decorations in your home or as gift baskets for friends and family. Make up several to have on hand for an annual Easter egg hunt.

Things You'll Need

• 12-inch oblong balloon
• Yarn scrap
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Bobby pin
• 2-liter plastic pop bottle
• Masking tape
• Flour
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Newspaper
• Wax paper
• Straight pin
• Craft knife
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• 1/2-inch wide ribbon
• Hot glue gun
• Two buttons
• Easter grass

Instructions

1. Blow up a 12-inch oblong balloon to the egg size you desire for your Easter basket. Cut a 24-inch length of yarn. Tie one end of the yarn around the balloon's knot. Wind the excess yarn around two fingers. Slide the yarn off of your fingers and clamp with a bobby pin. Cut a 1-inch ring from the center of a 2-liter plastic pop bottle using scissors. Tape the ring to the fat bottom of the balloon using masking tape.

2. Mix 1 1/2 cups of water with 1/2 cup of flour in a mixing bowl until until the mixture is smooth. This is your paper mache adhesive. Tear multiple 1-inch strips of newspaper. Place a sheet of wax paper on your work space.

3. Dip a newspaper strip in the adhesive. Take the strip out of the bowl and gently pull it between your fingers to remove the excess adhesive. Smooth the strip over the surface of the balloon. Repeat with additional strips, overlapping and turning in opposing directions until the entire balloon and bottom ring have been covered. Unclamp the yarn and hang until the covered balloon has dried.

4. Apply four more layers of paper mache newspaper strips to the balloon, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly before adding the next.

5. Poke a straight pin into the knotted end of the balloon to deflate it. This is the top of the egg. Measure down 4 inches from the top and mark a ring around the paper mache egg. Insert the blade of a craft knife into the drawn ring on the egg. Slowly and carefully cut along the ring to remove the top of the egg. Discard the top of the egg.

6. Paint the inside and outside of the egg and bottom ring using an acrylic paint in a spring pastel color of your choice. Apply additional coats for complete coverage. Allow the paint to dry between each coat.

7. Cut a 15-inch length of 1/2-inch wide ribbon. Hot glue one end just below the top rim on the outside of the egg. Hot glue the other end of the ribbon on the opposite side of the rim. Hot glue a button over the each end of the ribbon. Fill the egg-shaped Easter basket with Easter grass.