How to Choose the Right Easter Lily

Easter lilies are one of the most popular of all holiday plants. They are great for decorating your own home or take as a hostess gift to a Easter party or dinner. So how do you choose the Easter lilies that is right ? It is easy by following the steps below you will always come away from the store with the perfect Easter lilies.

Look for lots of healthy green leaves. The more leaves that the Easter lilies have the healthier they are. These leaves should be plentiful all away around the plant and go right down to the soil in the pot. Do not choose plants that have brown or yellowing leaves.

Do not choose the Easter lilies with the already blooming flowers.
Many people make the mistake of choosing the Easter lilies that already have many open buds. Try to choose plants with a couple of open buds but with even more unopened ones. This way you will be able to enjoy your Easter lilies much longer. If you buy them already bloomed in a couple of days those will have died and there will be nothing to take their place.

Choose the Easter lilies in which the potting soil is moisture, not dripping wish can cause root rot or dry which means the plant has not been getting the right amount of moisture.

Do not choose plants that are wilted or droopy, this means they have not been take proper care of.

Do not choose plants where they have a protective sleeve all them. These are great for shipping but will quickly cause the plant to wilt and suffocate.

To properly care for the plant at home keep it out of direct sun and heat sources, water every couple of days as needed. Cut the pollen sacs off your lily to avoid the mess and remove blooms as they fade.

By choosing the right plant and taking care of it you will have many days of enjoyment.

Dyeing Eggs Using Rubber Bands

This brings a whole new challenge to Easter egg dyeing but can be a new fun way to dye Easter eggs.

Supplies:
Hard boiled eggs
Rubber bands in different widths and long enough to wrap around the egg many times
Easter egg dye
Paper towels

Directions:

Wrap various widths of rubber bands around the egg covering it completely

Dip the rubber band covered egg into the dye.

Let it set for a few minutes some of the dye will seep beneath the rubber bands and some of the dye will be blocked by the rubber bands

Remove the egg and blot dry with a paper towel.

Carefully remove the rubber bands sometimes I have had to cut them off with scissor.

Beneath the rubber bands you will find an interesting design.

For a different look you can dye the eggs first then apply the rubber bands and dye in a different color

Decorating Easter Eggs With Rubber Cement

Easter eggs that have been decorated using hot wax always looks so beautiful but using hot wax with children can be very dangerous. To get this same dripped look you can use rubber cement. This must be used in a well vented area. If you think the vapors may be to strong you can use Elmers Galactia Glue.

Supplies:
Hard boiled eggs
Rubber cement
Egg dye
Empty egg carton

Directions:
Set the egg upright in an empty egg carton.

Using the applicator dribble globs on rubber cement on to the egg ( if using Galactia glue you will just have to squeeze it from the bottle)

Let the rubber cement dry completely

Now dye your eggs following the package directions and let dry

When completely dry you can peel the cement from the egg leaving the design behind

The children will have fun letting the cement run and dribble all over the egg !

Decorating Easter eggs: Psychedelic style

Bring back the 60's with funky psychedelic eggs. These are so simple to do even your youngest lil hippie can help!

Supplies:
Hard boiled eggs
White vinegar
Vibrant food coloring ( McCormicks Neon food coloring works perfect!)
Colander
Paper towels

Directions: Place 3-4 eggs in the colander in the kitchen sink and pour some vinegar over them

Drip yellow food coloring on the eggs and swirl the colander a bit to let the color spread. Let set for about 30 seconds

Repeat the vinegar and add another color once again swirling and let it set for 30 seconds

Up to three colors can be added this way- after that you tend to get a muddy mess

After the last color has set rinse the eggs with water and let drain

Place them on a paper towel to dry

Proper Way to Eat Peeps

With Spring in the air can those sticky marshmallow peeps be far behind. Those sticky marshmallow tasties that are found in Easter baskets with plastic green grass stuck to their fat little bellies.

Personally I dont eat peeps but there must be millions of people who do because I see them everywhere. According to the National Confectionary Association peep chicks and bunnies are the number one selling non chocolate Easter candy beating out jelly beans for the past six years. Over 600 million peeps will be sold this year.

Now for the correct way to eat a peep.

Millions swear that you should bite the head off first and according to MSI Research and ICR(International Communication Research thats exactly what 60 % of consumers do. Another 40% stretch the neck out first before popping the head into their mouths. No statistics are available on what other part people eat first but 10% admit to shoving the whole thing at one time into their mouths.

A ton of people like them stale instead of fresh including my son who use to shop for grocery bags full on sale after the holiday. Only about 19% of peep eaters eat them stale while 11% like them best frozen. And yes there are a whole group of people microwaving them- they contend it makes them instantly stale and that expand to five times their size.

Though I really cant stand eating the sticky sweet things I do know this please consume completely when at my house.....they are horrible to try to get out of the carpet

Green Coconut Nest

Green Coconut NestsGreen Coconut
Nests are a fun and easy Easter treat to make!
Ingredients:
·1 pound green chocolate coating
·1 7 oz. package flaked or shredded coconut

How to Make Your Green Coconut Nests.

In the top of a double boiler, melt coating over hot, not boiling, water.
Add coconut and mix together well.
Add very small amounts of water to coconut mixture until it thickens enough to hold shapes.
Form into small nests by making mounds and then hollowing them out with the bowl of a spoon.
Fill nests with jelly beans or molded chocolates.

Makes 8 nests.

Recipe- Herbed Deviled Eggs

Herbed Deviled Eggs

Makes 1 dozen
This are really great devil eggs and taste so much better than regular ones

Ingredients:
12 eggs hard boiled
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon grainy Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, plus sprigs and leaves for garnish
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chives, plus snipped chives for garnish

Peel eggs; halve lengthwise.

Pass yolks through sieve into a medium bowl using the back of a spoon.

Stir in mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar.

Season with salt and pepper.

Stir in herbs.

Fill egg whites with the mixture

Eggs can be refrigerated in an airtight container, up to 3 hours.

Blowing Out Eggs for Decorating

By taking the time to blow out your eggs the eggs you decorate can last for years.

Materials Needed
One dozen Eggs
One Nail, Approx. 2" (any sharp pointed object will work)
one medium size Bowl
* optional-baby nasal aspirator

Hold the egg over the bowl. Using the nail, apply a firm pressure and scrape back and forth on the end of the egg repeatedly. (Too much force will break the egg.)

Once you have broken through the shell, turn the egg over and repeat on the opposite end.

Hold the end of the egg (it doesn't matter which end) up to your mouth and blow hard. The raw egg inside should come out of the opening. You may have to enlarge the holes slightly, just keep them as small as you possibly can.

You may have to blow repeatedly before you know the egg is really empty. If you have an aversion to gooey stuff, I am told Martha Stewart uses an aspirator to suck the insides out of her eggs. It is neater but not nearly as much fun.

When you know there is no membrane left in the shell, run hot water over the eggs getting as much water inside as possible. Put your finger over the lower hole and allow the egg to fill up with water. Drain the egg and repeat this process several times to make sure the egg is completely clean.

Let air dry before decorating

Egg Shell Tulips

Materials:
half egg shells dyed in various colors
glue
flower pot
green poster board
scissors
pencil
stryofoam
green pipe cleaners
Easter grass
ribbon

Directions
1. Fill the flower pot with stryofoam
2. Make a hole in the bottom of each egg shell. Push the pipe cleaners into hole and twist hold a bit. Push the other end into the strofoam. You may have to trim the pipe cleaners to keep the tulips from drooping.
3. Trace a leaf shape onto the poster board three times and cut out. Cover with green paper. Push the leaves into the at the base of the pipe cleaners. Fill the pot with Easter grass.
4. Tie the ribbon around the flower pot

These make a cute little gift for children to give to grandmothers, relatives, and teachers

Coloring Eggs with Crayon Wax

These are so easy to make and so great looking...experiment to get the color combinations you want

Supplies:
Hard Boiled Eggs
Crayons (broken ones work great)
Crayon Sharpener
Bowls

Directions:
Hard boil the eggs do not cool you will need them hot to melt the crayons

Choose 2 or 3 crayons that you like the colors of- these can be crayons in the same hue or entirely different depending on the look you like.

Sharpen the crayons over a bowl to get the shavings.

When eggs are still hot, roll them into crayon shavings.

Let cool- great looking tie dyed Easter eggs

Bunny Ears

Turn your little one into a cute little Easter bunny with these simple to make bunny ears

Supplies:
Child's headband
8"x6" piece of pink felt
6"x6" piece of white felt
scissors
hot glue gun
hot glue

Directions:

Cover the headband
1.Measure the width and length of the top of the headband and then add 1/2 inch to all sides, cut this piece out of pink felt
2.Glue this pink felt strip onto the top of the headband taking the extra fabric and wrapping it around the band
3. Measure the underside of the headband and cut a strip of pink felt to fit, glue it on to the underside covering the edges of the felt that was wrapped around

To make the ears:
1.Cut out the shape of a bunny ear out of pink felt twice
2.Out of white felt cut out an inner ear shape for each of these ears and glue onto the pink felt
3.Crease each ear down the center and press.
4.Fold up the bottom about 1/2 inch and attach to the headband with hot glue

Now your little bunny is already to hop down the bunny trail !template

Recycling for Easter Baskets

A great way to recycle plastic berry baskets is to transform them into decorative baskets for Easter. Berry baskets can be found in a wide variety of bright colors at your local supermarket

Supplies:
Plastic berry baskets
Pipe cleaners
Narrow ribbon
White craft glue (Elmers)

Directions:
Join two pipe cleaners together end to end to make a handle, twist into opposite sides of the basket and cover with a small bow made of ribbon

Weave the narrow ribbon through the slats and use white craft glue to secure the ends.

Now you can fill the basket with Easter grass, candy bunnies and eggs, cookies and small toys for gift giving.

Eggshell votives make a wonderful additon to a table for the Easter season and are very simple to make.

Directions:
Make a hole in the top of each egg with a pin, enlarge it and pour out the yolks.

Clean the shells carefully by washing in warm soapy water and dry completely

Dye the egg shells by following the directions on the food coloring package

Place the dyed eggs back into the egg carton with the opening up this will hold them in place

Cut wire wicks about 4 inches long for each egg and secure to the bottom of each egg with a bit of warm wax

Using a funnel fill each shell with hot wax this wax can be dyed with wax tint or not Let the wax cool completely Trim the wicks

Now these delightful votives are ready to light remembering to use caution as with all candle

Marbelizing

This simple dyeing technique will create swirls of color in intricate patterns in which no two will ever be the same. By choosing different colors each becomes a work of art with no failures

Supplies:
12 blown eggs
Food coloring
White vinegar
Olive oil
Several bowls some being shallow
Fork
Spoon
Paper towels

Directions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine 3 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and 10 to 20 drops of food coloring. Place egg in dye, and leave it s until it turns the desired coor shade.

2. In a wide, shallow bowl, prepare a second batch of dyewhich will provide the swirls this should be a darker shade or different color. Make this liquid no deeper than 1/2 inch.Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. and run a fork through this mixture, creating swirls of oil on the liquid surface.

3. As oil swirls, place dyed egg in mixture, and roll it once around the bowl to pick up oil streaks

4. Gently pat egg with a paper towel.

5. Let it dry.

Experiment with different color combinations

Stenciling Eggs

By making stencils with waterproff vinyl adhesive tape and cut out shapes you can put a variety of designs on your dyed Easter eggs. Plaids, polka dots ever monogrammed egss can be made. Any color that you cover with the tape with remain unchanged.

Supplies
Eggs- hard boiled or blown
Food coloring
Waterproof adhesive tape
Small bowls
Paper towels
Drying rack

Directions:
Start with a white egg or one that has been dyed in a pale color

Cut shapes, letters, or various width of tape, sticker may also be used to get the desired shape. Make an interesting design whether it just be polka dots, a plaid or stripes.

Apply these to the egg firmly rubbing with your fingernail so that no dye can seep beneath. You may need to reposition to get a tight fit.

Dip egg into dye that is a different color or darker shade than the egg has been dyed previously raising and dipping until the color deepens as desired.

Blot egg with a paper towel.

Let dry ten minutes.

Remove tape.
This can be a fun family project !

Easter Egg Cascarones

Since the late 1800's children and adults have been cracking confetti eggs on the heads of friends and family. These confetti filled eggs are called "casarones" and can be decorated with paint, tissue paper, glitter or any way you like as long as they are filled with confetti. Cracking one over someone's head is meant to bring good luck so make lots for all your friends and family

Supplies:
Blown eggs
Acrylic craft paint & brushes
Pin confetti (cut up tissue paper in various colors)
Tissue paper
Craft glue

Directions:
Glue a small piece of tissue paper over the small hole made when blowing the egg

Using a paper cone or small funnel fill the large hole of a blown egg with confetti.

Patch the hole by glueing a small piece of tissue paper over it

Now the eggs can be painted and decorated anyway you wish.

These can be so much fun a family gathering but should be done outside if you dont wish to be finding confetti till next Easter !

Savings Your Easter Lily

If you are a Mom or Grandma chances are you will receive an Easter lily as a gift this Easter. Don't throw out those Easter lilies when the holiday is over, they make great perennial plants for the garden. Achieving success with planting Easter lilies is really quite simple by following the suggestions below.

If you want to plant your lilies, wait until they have completely finished blooming.

Then tip the plant out of its pot and gently break up the root ball, this will let the plant get more water and nutrients when planted.

Plant outdoors in a sunny location with well-drained soil, good drainage is very important to the growing lilies successfully.

The lily bulbs should be planted three inches below ground with the same amount of soil piled on top. Plant the bulbs 12" to 18" apart. Be sure to water thoroughly.

When the foliage dies completely cut it back to the soil surface
Always cut off flowers when they wither to promote new bloom

By following these simple steps you will have an Easter lily in your garden long after the Easter bunny has hopped away !

How to Create a Living Easter Basket

Create a living Easter basket for your table centerpiece this year. Make sure to get an early start on this one, though it takes about three weeks.

Directions :
Pick out an Easter basket and line it with a plastic garbage bag.
Fill the basket with soil and trim away the excess plastic from the edges of the basket.
Water the basket and allow it to drain for a few hours, then sprinkle with cat-grass seed, which is available at most pet stores and grows very quickly
Place the basket in a sunny, warm place for the fastest germina and mist the seeds with a spray bottle every day until they begin to sprout.
When the grass has sprouted continue to water whenever the soil feels dry to the touch on the surface.ater the sprouts when the soil feels dry on the surface.
Continue to water for about three weeks,the basket should become covered with grass. If need trim the grass with scissors.

Place eggs and bunny in the basket. Be sure to place something under the basket to protect your table.

Dinosaur Eggs for Easter

What little boy doesn't love dinosaurs ?
This simple and easy technique will allow you to make a reptile design on eggs that will make anyone youngster think they are dinosaur's eggs
.
Supplies:
Hard boiled eggs
6 inch square of cheesecloth for each egg
Rubber bands
Food dyes
Paint brush

Directions:

Wrap the 6 inch square tightly around the hard boiled egg, bundling the ends together and securing the top with a rubber band

Dip your paint brush into the desired color of food dye ( browns, greens and purples seem to give more of the appearance of dinosaur's eggs) then dab onto the cheesecloth covered egg

Repeating painting the egg with various colors and in various places, overlapping or not - just let your imagination go wild.

When finished painting set the egg aside to dry
Be patient and let the egg dry thoroughly the results are much better

When you unwrap the egg you will have an appearance that looks like armadillo skin......what fun !

Easter Carrots that Kids Will Love to Eat

Easter Carrots for Kids

This is an Easter carrot that your kids will be sure to eat and can even help making. There are two variations one is made with orange jelly beans and the other with cheese puff snacks

Supplies:
orange jelly beans or cheese puffs snacks
disposable clear cake decorating bags
green plastic wrap
orange string or yarn

Directions:
Fill the cake decorating bag with either orange jelly beans or cheese puff snacks....being sure to fill to the bottom

Cut a large piece of green plastic wrap and place around the top of the bag tying with a piece of string.

How to Make Thread Eggs for Easter

Thread Easter eggs are easy and fun to make.

Supplies:
Small oval balloons
Thread in various colors
Liquid starch Scissors
Directions:
Inflate the small oval balloons and tie the neck tightly

Mix liquid starch as directions on box state

Cut thread in 18-24 inch lengths in one color or a variety depending on how you would like the finished egg to look

Soak the thread in the liquid starch, pulling it through your thum b and forefinger to remove the excess before wrapping it around the inflated balloon

Cover the balloon by crisscrossing the threads in anyway you like -if you use less thread the finished egg with look open and lacy for a more solid look apply more thread

Tie and piece of dry thread around the neck of the thread wrapped balloon and hang to dry. Allow it to hang until it is completely hard then burst the balloon with pin and pull out through the top

These are great for baskets, egg trees and other decorative Easter centerpieces. Make for a fun activity with the kids though can be messy ! .

How to Dye Easter Eggs

Dyeing and decorating eggs is a fun activity to do with children during the holiday season. The easiest way to dye eggs is with liquid food coloring. By following the few steps and hints below you can have beautiful dyed eggs to decorate.

Preparing the Eggs
You can hard boil eggs for dyeing or for eggs that will last for years use blown eggs. Blowing eggs is very simple. Working over a bowl, pierce one end of a raw egg with a pin then pierce the other end and enlarge this hole.Softly blow into the egg forcing the contents out the larger hole into the bowl

Dyeing eggs
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil and remove from heat
Add tablespoons of white vinegar
Add 2-3 drops of liquid food coloring - the more you add the darker the eggs will dye.
Place egg is dye leaving until the egg reaches the the desired color
Remove the eggs from the dye and blot with a paper towel
Let the eggs thoroughly dry before decorating

Hints to dye eggs better
The smoother the egg the better the dye will take
Rub eggs with white vinegar before dyeing to remove impurities from the egg shell this will also help the egg shell to absorb the dye
Do not have hand cream on your hands when dyeing eggs make sure your hands are clean and perfectly dry- the oils in your hands can affect the way the dyes take

hello

Hello
Im starting a new blog today just in time for Easter...it will be filled with all kinds of crafts that you can do yourself or with your children. Also will added great Easter recipes for you to try with your family. So stop back often and take a look around !