Adorable Easter Eggs Made with Paper Mache
Paper mache eggs made with tissue paper, diluted glue and balloons are so simple and fun to make. You don't need to paint paper mache made with tissue paper, and your paper mache Easter eggs will be ready to fill with grass and treats as soon as the glue dries.
Paper mache is a simple green craft that appeals to crafters of all ages, from preschoolers to seniors. I enjoy making paper mache craft ornaments and gifts for all the holidays. Paper mache Easter eggs and candy boxes have been made by hand in Europe for centuries and vintage paper mache boxes and eggs have become pricey collector items. They're still made by hand today in Bavaria.
This year I crafted 6 colorful paper mache Easter eggs to stuff with bunnies and chicks and sweets for my grandchildren.
Follow my step by step instructions to craft your own nest full of frugal and green paper mache Easter eggs.
Paper Mache Easter Eggs
Step by Step Photos - Easy Paper Mache Easter Craft
Paper mache supplies
Paper Mache Easter Egg Craft Materials and Supplies
You probably have all these items at home already
I made my paper mache Easter eggs with tissue paper. It created lightweight eggs and I didn't need to paint the eggs after the paste dried.
- Bright or pastel colored tissue paper torn into 1 inch strips (I used some patterns and stripes just for fun)
- White craft glue (Elmer's School Glue, PVA) - I bought mine at the local dollar store.
- Small balloons (water balloon balloons make the perfect size eggs; that's what I used)
- Foam craft brush
- Craft knife (X-acto knife)
- Easter grass, small candies, tiny Easter toys that will fit into the egg size you make
Shown: Old-Fashioned Papier-Mâché Candy-Filled Decoupage Egg, in Bunny Love
Vintage Paper Mache Easter Egg
Chick and rabbit with Easter paper mache egg cart
When I was a little girl my German grandmother gave me precious Easter paper mache eggs filled with chocolate and a bit of fully Easter basket grass, similar to this collectible Schaller Paper Mache Easter Rabbit Chick Egg Cart
Elmer's Glue for Paper Mache Crafts
Dilute nontoxic white glue with water for papier mache crafting
There are dozens of excellent paper mache paste recipes and several commercial paper mache glues you can buy ready made.
For this project I used a simple 50/50 blend of white glue and water as my paper mache paste. It was easy to use and thin enough so that it didn't tear the paper plus it dried in a few hours. White glue paper mache pastes are also washable so if you spill a bit (or get it on your hands or clothes as I usually do) it's easy to clean up.
White glue is the perennial favorite adhesive of paper crafters and kids. it has no smelly fumes, washes off with warm water, and dries to a durable slightly shiny finish. Diluted white glue the perfect paper mache paste when you're working with tissue paper.
The supreme white glue, Elmer’s Glue-All is America’s best-known and favorite multi-purpose glue. Most of us have a jar of white glue around the home or studio for household repairs, crafts and school projects. It's great for sticking paper, wood, fabric, leather, and ceramics- dries fast and it's non-toxic.
Ino Schaller Hand Painted Paper Mache Rabbit
Gorgeous Easter Rabbit Made in Bavaria
Hand made, limited production paper mache Rabbit in Easter Egg Paper Mache Candy Container
How to Make Paper Mache Easter Eggs
Easy step by step instructions
Here are the easy step-by-step instructions to make goose-egg size paper mache Easter eggs.
Paper Mache Eggs Instructions
- Tear tissue paper into 1-inch wide by 4 to 6 inch long pieces.
- Blow up the balloons to the size of a large goose egg (or larger if you want to make BIG ostrich size eggs)
- Mix white glue and water 50/50 to create your paper mache paste. I used a complete bottle of glue then filled it with water. Pour glue into a bowl or container you can cover and store to use for other paper mache projects.
- Using foam applicator, brush a balloon with glue then lay a strip of tissue paper on the glue and gently smooth out by stroking or dabbing. Take care not to shred the tissue. Continue with glue and tissue strips to completely cover the balloon. Brush the entire balloon with a final layer of glue Tie a thread around the knotted end of the balloon and hang to dry for a few hours or overnight.
- Apply two additional layers of glue and tissue, once again allowing balloons to dry several hours or overnight.
- When the paper mache eggs feel firm and are completely dry, you're ready to pop the balloon and remove it Holding the egg gently, grab the tied end of the balloon sticking out of the paper mache and insert a pin into the rubber to deflate it. Gently pull the balloon out of the egg, taking care not to crush the egg. If some balloon sticks, leave it until you cut off the top of the egg, then remove it.
- About one-third of the way down from the top of each egg, cut a zigzag line all the way around the egg. Leave about an inch of the shell uncut. That will create a hinge for the lid. If you prefer, you can cut the entire top off and then place it back on the treats after you fill the eggs.
Now comes the fun part! Place a small amount of Easter basket grass into each egg, then add candies and a small toy. Allow some Easter grass to spill over the edges of the shell; place the top back onto the egg.
Cut Open Your Paper Mache Eggs After Completely Dry
Home Made Fill and Thrill Paper Mache Egg Boxes for Easter
It's easy and fun to make these fillable paper mache eggs for Easter. I made a batch of half a dozen in almost not time. Here's how you can make your own cute paper mache Easter egg gift boxes.
I worked on this project over a couple days because I let the paper mache layers dry overnight. It's possible to do all the messy work in about an hour or so, then you just need to let the eggs dry thoroughly before you slice open the tops and fill them with candy and tiny toys.
Explore Paper Mache Crafts
Paper Mache Art and Design
Get creative on a budget with paper mache. This book has plenty of projects actually created by the author, who not only shows you how to make beautiful items from papier mache, but also helps you design your own original paper mache crafts.
Reviewers recommend this book for both experienced and beginner paper mache crafters. Enjoy a frugal, green paper crafting art medium - paper mache.
Save Time with Premade Paper Mache Eggs
Skip the egg-building steps and get right to decorating your paper mache Easter eggs
If you'd like to make your own paper mache Easter eggs but don't have the time to create the basic containers, you can save time by purchasing premade basic paper eggs to decorate.
Use ready to craft paper mache eggs and skip the messy part of this craft. You can start by painting or gluing on decorative layers of tissue paper to the brown paper eggs.
One dozen basic paper mache eggs covered with a layer of crinkled tissue paper, ready for you to decorate.
Check with manufacturer as to whether these Textured Paper Mache Eggs
More Easter Paper Mache Crafts
Creative paper mache Easter crafts projects and patterns
Tissue Paper Mache Easter Eggs
The inspiration for my paper mache craft Easter eggs came from this article. These eggs are designed to be broken open to reveal the tiny candies and toys inside.
Paper Mache Carrots from the Easter Bunny
Simple and clever paper mache candy holders take form as the Easter Bunny's favorite treat - paper mache carrots.
Paper Mache Easter Bunny Pinata
Make a cute chubby paper mache Easter bunny to use as a centerpiece or pinata.
Paper Mache Easter Basket Craft
Recycle yesterdays news into a colorful basket to hold your Easter eggs.
Paper Mache Easter Eggs - easy craft how to
Do you make your own paper mache (papier mache) crafts and gifts? I enjoy making paper mache crafts to decorate my home for various holidays, and I like to make paper mache crafts with my grandchildren.