Recycled Puffy Easter Eggs

Re-imagine a paper shopping bag into a puffy Easter egg.  This creating opportunity gives children a fine motor work out with these lovely sewn edges! 

Materials

• Templates puffy_egg
• Cardstock
• Paper shopping or gift bag
• Yarn
• Large dull needle
• Hole punch
• Strips of newsprint, shredded paper, sheets crunched up (Re-use paper you have on hand)
• Painting or colouring materials (we used Kwik Stix and Posca paint pens)
• Pencil/ eraser
• Scissors
• Binder clips
• Tape

We always find these items useful too:

Directions

• Cut open your bag and fold it over with the two blank sides facing outwards.

• Draw an oval egg shape and cut out two copies. Or use our printable if you like! We have two options- one easier and one a bit more challenging with more dots: puffy_egg We printed it on cardstock and then attached it to the bag with tape donuts (loops with the sticky sides out).

• Lay your eggs with the blank sides up in your painting tray and paint, colour and/or decorate away!  Allow them to dry overnight.

• Lay your two copies of eggs together with the painted sides facing outwards and clip them in a few spots if you would like them to stay steady (and the holes aligned).  Depending on the thickness of your bag material, you may need adult help with this next part.  Punch holes in the eggs around the perimeter about 2.5 cm/1 inch apart.  As you can see, there are little marks for where to punch if you use our template:  puffy_egg

• Tie a knot on one end of your length of yarn or tape it into the inside as shown in the video.  We usually go with a length that is no bigger than the child’s arm.  Thread your needle on the other end.

• Sew around the edge of your Easter egg.  You could either use an “up/down” straight/ running stitch or wrap the yarn around the edges in a whip stitch style.  Sew your egg approximately 3/4 the way around, leaving a space for you to stuff in your shredded paper or newsprint before sewing the egg shut.

• Make a loop with yarn or wire (we added a few beads too) and hang your egg up for decoration!

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Purpose

• Recognizing the symbols of different holiday celebrations.
• Developing one’s fine motor skills (cutting, sewing etc.)

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you use a tray and a smock to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors with care and direct, adult supervision.
• Cord, yarn etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose.
• Beads can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.