Heirloom Easter Egg Topiary

Courtesy of Melissa Caughey

Happy Easter Friends,

Topiaries date back to around 40 BC when the Romans first began to garden. Topiaries are beautiful, versatile and are often the focal point of gardens. It's no wonder why they have been around for so long and endured in popularity. I have topiaries in my gardens and I love when I can enjoy them indoors. I also love putting fun and unique twists on them during the holidays.

Keeping backyard chickens provides me with a constant supply of eggs. I love incorporating chicken eggs into crafts. I'm also lucky to have friends willing to trade colored eggs with me. Their heirloom chickens naturally lay eggs that are chocolate brown and blue in color. Some eggs are even speckled. The best part about working with these eggs is that they don't require any coloring! For this egg topiary, I combined some Copper Maran and Easter Egger eggs with other chickens' eggs in various hues. If you don't keep chickens or know anyone with chickens and would like to purchase some heirloom eggs, check out your local farmers' market or supermarket. Some are beginning to carry these eggs based on the community's demand.

The eggs on this topiary were blown out, meaning a small hole was pierced in the top and the bottom of each egg and its contents were removed. There are many techniques and videos showing the process online.

Supply List:

• Assorted blown-out eggs
• Styrofoam cone
• Birch tree slice (check in the wood-burning section of the craft store)
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Moss
• Two mini-grapevine wreaths
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Two floral pins
• Small chalkboard sign
• Chalk pen

Now take a peek at the photo gallery below for the entire tutorial and instructions in the captions.

Tabletop Topiary How-To...

Easter Egg Topiary

Add a topiary with natural elements to this year's spring tablescape.

Gather Your Supplies

Fresh eggs from heirloom chickens make this topiary pop! You will also need: assorted moss / a styrofoam cone / a slice of birch tree (look in the wood burning section of the craft store) / hot glue gun & glue / ribbon / scissors / 2 floral pins (optional) / 2 mini-grapevine wreaths / a small chalkboard sign /and a chalk paint pen.

Prepare Your Eggs

Blow out the eggs. Techniques can be found online. I used a Dremel rotary tool with a small drill bit. Once the contents of the eggs are blown from the shells, soak them in a bowl of soapy water and rinse them clean. Set them aside to dry prior to use.

Create the Base

Hot glue the styrofoam cone to the center of the birch tree base.

Cover with Moss

Starting at the bottom, hot glue moss onto the styrofoam cone.

A Blank Canvas

The entire styrofoam form should be covered with moss to create a blank canvas for your egg topiary.

Add the Eggs

Randomly place and hot glue the eggs onto the topiary.

Cover Up

Strategically add moss to camouflage the holes in the eggs. Glue it in place.

Unfurl the Wreath

Next, carefully unfurl the mini-grapevine wreath like so.

Twisted with Grapevines

Starting at the base of the topiary, gently wrap the unfurled grapevine wreath around the topiary. Repeat the process with the second wreath.

Embellish with Ribbon

Next, starting at the base, glue or pin your ribbon into place. Then wrap and twist the ribbon around the topiary. Pin or glue it to the top.

Add a Message

With the chalk paint pen, add a spring time message to your sign and stick it into the top of the topiary.

Top it Off

Insert a chalkboard message sign into the top of the topiary.

Have fun crafting this garden and backyard chicken inspired topiary for your spring table...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Outdoor Easter Decorating Tips

Courtesy of Felder Rushing
Image courtesy of Felder Rushing

Happy Easter Friends,

It has been said that human life, and our mortal fall, happened in a garden. But for over two thousand years, Christians worldwide have celebrated Easter as a rebirth - and how appropriate it is for all of us to celebrate this season as a reawakening of our own garden!

Throughout all parts of the country, by the end of March and early April most seasoned gardeners have spring bulbs, flowering shrubs and wildflowers to kick-start the unfurling of spring. Some have already had azaleas come into full bloom, while others are just seeing blankets of crocus, early daffodils, snowdrops and hellebores peeping through what is hopefully the last snow of the season.

But any garden, even a normally-manicured suburban one, can be quickly transformed into a temporary celebration of Easter and the coming of spring.

First off, there is no rule saying this sort of garden has to be outdoors. No matter the weather, you can easily fill a lined wicker basket with a small pot or two of flowering bulbs from a garden center, florist or supermarket flower center, and adorn it with ribbons and small Easter or spring-themed accessories for a really cheerful display. Some accessories can be used to create even a religious theme.

By the way, in many areas of the country, potted Easter lilies, which are grown in specially-lighted greenhouses to get them to bloom on time, can be set out in the garden later. With deep, well-drained soil and plenty of mulch, they often become reliable garden perennials, though in subsequent years they naturally flower later in the spring.

Take It Outside

Even very small cottage gardens will have spots to hide a few painted Easter eggs for children to find; if you have no children at home, why not invite those of neighbors or friends? Just make sure you let them know how many there are to find, and hide them in plain sight so the youngsters don’t trample all your other flowers in their excitement. While you are at it, include a foil-wrapped chocolate bunny or two as well, and tuck in a little of that fake grass that is so ubiquitous in store-bought Easter baskets.

Fill some of the plastic eggs with candy, but try to also include a few with garden seeds inside, so the young gardeners will be encouraged to plant something of their own.

One of the most common yet unusual Easter garden accessories, which I have seen from coast to coast in every kind of neighborhood, is the Easter egg shrub or tree. Reminiscent of Christmas or Halloween garden adornments, they are seen as a bit tacky by some folks, but to me are pure joie de vivre - an exultation of seasonal spirit!

An Easter garden can be planned well ahead of time, with fall-planted bulbs and cold-hardy annuals that flower soon after the spring equinox, and accessorized for Easter. Or it can be thrown together at the last minute for a garden party or as a place to thrill children with an Easter egg hunt.

Don't leave the chocolate bunny out in the sun for too long…

Follow the advice of a longtime gardener for easy Easter decor in your garden.

Happy Easter Egg Hunting...

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Live well,
Yvonne

11 Fun New Ways to Decorate Easter Eggs

Courtesy of HGTV
Photography by Marko Metzinger

Happy Easter Friends,

HGTV Magazine asked some of their favorite experts to dress up a plain ceramic Easter egg. See what they came up with. The HGTV Star Easter Egg Challenge begins; no dyeing allowed! Seen on the featured eggs here: Water Slide Temporary Tattoo Paper, $20 for 5 sheets, decalpaper.com.

How Each Egg Started

The HGTV stars all used these ceramic eggs. Eggnots, $16 for a set of 12, eggnots.com.

Piñata by Chip Wade

Use a glue stick to attach a small crepe paper circle to the bottom of the egg. Cut different colors of crepe paper into 7" x 3/4" strips, then fringe one long side of each strip. Starting at the bottom, glue the strips around the egg, overlapping them until the whole egg is covered. Trim excess paper. Crepe paper: 81' crepe streamers in kiwi green, buttercup yellow, hot pink, and orange, $1 each, partycity.com.

Color Block by Jonathan Scott

Use electrical tape to section the egg in half vertically. Paint one half, then remove the tape while the paint is still wet. Once the paint is dry, reapply the tape, adding a horizontal piece. Paint the top quarter section of the egg, then peel off the tape. Repeat for the egg’s bottom quarter. Paint: Martha Stewart Crafts multi-surface satin crafts paints in summer haze, poodle skirt, and jonquil, $2 for 2 ounces, Michaels stores.

Marker Drawing by Emily Henderson

Use a black marker to draw graphic doodles all over your egg.

Confetti by Jillian Harris

Use a small hole punch to make confetti from colored paper (bright Post-it Notes work well). Cover the egg with crafts glue using a foam brush. Sprinkle on confetti to cover it. Hole punch: 1/8" circle hole punch, $8, paper-source.com.

Ombré Glitter by Meg Caswell

Use a foam brush to apply crafts glue to the top third of the egg. Spoon gold glitter over the glue. Once it’s dry, apply glue and a mix of gold and pink glitter to the middle third. Let dry, then apply glue and pink glitter to the bottom third. Glitter: Martha Stewart fine glitter in yellow gold and tourmaline, $5 for 1 1/2 ounces, dickblick.com.

Daises by Hilary Farr

Snip daisy trim (you’ll need about half a yard) into individual flowers. Use a glue stick to attach the daisies to the egg. Trim: White and yellow 7/8" daisy trim, $6 per yard, mjtrim.com.

Gold Leaf by David Bromstad

Use a crafts knife and a straight edge to trim a long piece of electrical tape to 3/8" wide. Wrap the tape around the egg a few times, then apply gold leaf following the instructions on the packaging. Remove the tape. Gold leaf: Speedball Composition gold leaf kit, $11, dickblick.com.

Bunny by Drew Scott

Cut ears out of white and pink felt, and glue the pink felt to the white. Attach the back of the ears to the sticky side of white sticker paper and cut them out, leaving tabs at the bottom. Bend back the tabs, then stick the ears to the egg so they stand up. Glue on thin white ribbon for a headband. Make eyes with beads and a nose with washi tape, and draw the mouth with a fine-tip marker.

Polka-Dot Fabric by Sabrina Soto

Cut out five petal-shaped pieces of fabric. (In order for the fabric to stretch around the egg, cut it on the bias.) Use a foam brush to apply crafts glue to one section of the egg, attach a petal, then repeat, overlapping the fabric slightly until the egg is covered. Fabric: Yuwa Honeycomb in yellow, $4.50 for 1/4 yard, purlsoho.com.

China Pattern by Tiffany Brooks

Use small scissors to cut designs from a blue and white napkin. (They don’t have to be perfect.) Separate the top layer of the napkin from the bottom. Use a paintbrush to apply a little matte Mod Podge to the egg, then attach the cutouts. Smooth with the paintbrush. Apply a topcoat of Mod Podge. Napkin: Try Caspari Bali paper napkins, $7.50 for a set of 20, amazon.com.

Stencil Letter by Cortney Novogratz

Put a sticker letter on the front of the egg, then use a foam pouncer to paint the entire egg. Carefully peel off the sticker while the paint is still wet. Letter: Headline 1" stick-on vinyl letters and numbers, $2.50 for a set, dickblick.com; Paint: Martha Stewart Crafts multi-surface satin crafts paint in raspberry ice, $2 for 2 ounces, Michaels stores.

Thanks to our favorite HGTV celebrates we will awe our guest on Easter morning...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Make an Edible Easter Terrarium

Courtesy of Melissa Caughey

Happy Easter Friends,

I thought that it would be fun to craft something garden inspired for the Easter table. I was inspired on a trip to a local retailer where I discovered edible Easter grass! Who knew such a thing existed? My creative wheels began to turn: a completely edible Easter terrarium would be perfect. Now, if only those bunny ears will last until Easter.

Supplies:

• Decorative glass jars
• English toffee-chopped into small pieces
• Oreo cookies-creme centers removed and broken into fine pieces
• Edible Easter grass
• Chocolate bunnies
• Ice cream cones
• Jelly beans
• Candy eggs

You can also create smaller personalized edible terrariums such as a hen on a nest to use as party favors, place settings at your Easter table, or treats for family and friends.



What will you create?

Below are the step-by-step instructions for these edible terrariums.

Easter Terrarium How-To...

Easter Centerpieces

These charming centerpieces make for a wonderful holiday centerpiece or a delightful alternative to an Easter basket for a child.

Layer Your Terrarium

Add the chopped up English toffee to mimic gravel. Next add the crushed Oreos for dirt.

Plant the Grass

Add a bit of the edible Easter grass. This variety tastes like green sour apple.

Decorate

Small speckled caramel candies are perfect for robin's eggs.

Get Creative

An ice cream cone with the bottom removed looks like an Easter basket. It is just the perfect size to fill with candies.

Choose Your Bunny

Keep in mind the size of your glass jar when you are selecting the perfect bunny.

Choose Your Flavors

With so many varieties of Easter candy available, the sky is the limit. Get creative!

Nesting Hen Easter Treat

For a spin on the edible terrarium, make a smaller version featuring this sweet nesting hen, a great option for a party where you need to make multiple treats.

Gather Your Supplies

For each treat you will need: 1 wide mouth pint canning jar/ 1 large chocolate covered peanut butter egg / edible Easter grass / malted milk candy eggs / 1 sugar chick / garden twine / scissors / label / and a marker.

Add Dirt

Place the chocolate peanut butter egg into the bottom of the jar.

Build a Nest

Form a small clump of edible Easter grass and add that to the jar.

Add Eggs

Top the grass nest off with a few colorful malted milk eggs.

Mama Hen

Top the nest off with a hen to sit upon the eggs.

Tie it Up

Cut a length of garden twine and tie it around the rim of the jar. Next tie on the label with the wording of your choice.

A Peeping Treat

Your sweet treat is now ready to share with friends and family. I wonder how long they can resist the temptation?

Delight your family and friends with an entirely edible Easter arrangement...

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Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Host a Charming Easter Dinner

Courtesy of Courtney Whitmore
Photography by Evin Photography

Happy Easter Friends,

Throw a charming Easter dinner party this year filled with yellow and green accents, a delicious menu, sweet party favors and an adorable kids' table. Start with our featured Charming Easter Tablescape. Celebrate Easter by setting a dinner table full of charming details. Pick a color palette of butter yellow and grass green to usher in spring in style.

Beautiful Easter Blooms

Bring the freshness of spring to your table by arranging blooms of tulips, star of Bethlehem and maidenhair ferns into white vases like milk glass or Easter rabbit vases on coordinating cake stands for height.

DIY Dipped Flatware

Add a pop of coordinated color with hand-dipped flatware. Simply dip a set of flatware in yellow paint and let dry. Finish with a clear topcoat. The colorblock look gives a modern twist to a traditional place setting, and you will be able to use them for future occasions. Be sure to handwash only.

Festive Bunny Centerpiece

Nestle a bunny vase inside a rimmed bowl or wide vase filled with green grass to create a festive Easter centerpiece. Add coordinated yellow Easter eggs throughout.

Charming Easter Place Setting

Tie in pops of green by swapping traditional chargers for cabbage leaves. Stack white on white plates, and finish with coordinating napkins in a modern geometric pattern.

Bunny Soap Party Favor

Send guests home with mini bunny soap hand tied with white sheer ribbon and placed in fluted white mini bowls for the perfectly coordinated favor.

Mini Basket Decor

Scatter small white Easter baskets filled with mini yellow and white chocolate egg candies throughout the table to serve as decor, as well as an extra touch of sweetness. Let guests nibble as they enjoy company and conversation.

Brown Sugar Ham

Add a hint of sweetness to the traditional ham recipe by flavoring it with a brown sugar glaze. Brush traditional Easter ham with a mouth-watering brown-sugar glaze. Carve ham for easy serving. Display on a large tray adorned with fresh lemon wedges for garnish. Here's the the recipe>>

Ingredients:

• 1 whole bone-in ham
• 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham in roasting dish and bake ham fat side up covered tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 20 minutes for every pound of ham. Bake one hour for a 3-pound ham and 2 hours for a 6-pound ham.
2. While ham is baking, whisk together remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Remove from oven, and trim off any fat. Brush on brown sugar glaze, and bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Carve and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Courtney Whitmore

Honey Glazed Carrots

Serve a side dish of honey glazed carrots for the perfect accompaniment to ham both kids and adults will enjoy. The carrots are easy to make ahead of time; simply warm to serve. Here's the recipe>>

Ingredients:

• 3 cups baby carrots
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. In a medium skillet, combine butter, brown sugar, honey, nutmeg and salt.
2. Add carrots, and cover to cook on medium low heat for 10-15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Courtney Whitmore

Fresh Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade cinnamon rolls frosted with cream cheese icing make a great addition to an Easter dinner party. These also make a delicious breakfast treat for family and friends. Here's the recipe>>

Ingredients:
For the dough:

• 1/4 ounce package yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/4 teaspoon
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

For the filling:

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

For the glaze:

• 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 5 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water (110 degrees F) and 1/4 teaspoon sugar. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg. Add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth.
3. Add yeast mixture to milk mixture. Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle. Add additional flour if needed. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Place dough in well-greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours. For a warm location to let yeast rise, turn on oven for one minute, then turn off. Set bowl inside oven.
5. When doubled in size, press dough down using your fists. Roll out on a floured surface into a 9x15-inch rectangle.
6. Spread softened butter all over dough. Mix sugars, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle over buttered dough.
7. Beginning at the 15-inch side, roll up dough and pinch edge together to seal. Cut into 15-20 slices.
8. Coat the bottom of baking pan with butter or baking spray.
9. Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan and let rise until dough is doubled, about 45 minutes in warm location.
10. Bake for about 30 minutes or until lightly golden.
11. While rolls are baking, combine glaze ingredients using an electric mixer. Brush glaze onto tops of cooled rolls.

Cute Easter Kids' Table

Set a coordinated pink and yellow table just for the little ones complete with sweet treats, special basket favors and Easter egg touches.

Set the Table

Top white plates with pink ones for a perfectly coordinated place setting atop pink and white pompom fabric reminiscent of cute bunny tails. To make the bunny tail tablecloth, glue pom poms to a solid-colored tablecloth in a random pattern, or use double-stick tape to attach on a plastic tablecloth.

Special Hanging Treats

Give the kids a special treat by hanging edible bunny-shaped cookies on a miniature white tree that serves double duty as a cute, festive centerpiece.

Bunny Cookie Tree

Create your own mini tree by spraying a small branch in white and placing floral foam in a small planter. Adorn with yellow gingham bows and hanging bunny-shaped cookies. Finish by gluing fake green leaves.

Darling Easter Place Settings

Make each little one feel special with their own striped yellow Easter basket filled with yellow paper grass filler, pink and yellow Easter eggs and a gingham bow.

DIY Bunny Napkin Rings

Give the kids something to giggle about with little bunny ear napkin rings. Simply sew fabric in two ear shapes, stitch on to a napkin ring and glue on a bunny tail pom pom.

Mini Hot Cross Buns

Serve miniature hot cross buns during your Easter celebration this year. Kids and adults alike will love this recipe for traditional hot cross buns. Make them in smaller sizes, and display in a shallow Easter basket. Here's the recipe>>

Ingredients:

• 2 packages (1/4 ounce) yeast
• 1 cups warm water
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar + 1/4 teaspoon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 6 to 7 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water (110 degrees F) and 1/4 teaspoon sugar and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine milk, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, spices, yeast mixture and 3 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth.
3. Add in raisins and additional flour (1/2 cup at a time) until soft dough is formed. Dough will still be slightly sticky.
4. Knead dough on a floured surface for 5-6 minutes.
5. Place in well-greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours. For a warm location to let yeast rise, turn on oven for one minute, then turn off. Set bowl inside oven.
6. When doubled in size, press down dough down using your fists. Divide into small balls (30 regular size or 60 miniature size).
7. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet. Cover with tea towel and let rise in a warm place for 30-45 minutes until doubled.
8. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
9. In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk and water. Brush onto tops of buns.
10. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool.
11. While buns are cooling, whisk together powdered sugar and milk to form a glaze. Pipe in an “x” pattern on top of buns.

Recipe courtesy of Courtney Whitmore

Sippin' Sweet

Serve milk in glass bottles tied with white raffia and finished with yellow- and white- striped paper straws to coordinate with the yellow and pink party table.

Colorful Table Setting

Be sure to add pops of color to the party table with inexpensive paper plates in coordinating colors like pink and yellow. Fill mini baking cups with yellow and pink chocolate eggs for a special treat.

Sweet Basket Favors

Send the kids home with their place setting baskets, and let them collect the cookies and edible eggs to place inside as treats for later. They will love this sweet basket as a memory of their Easter dinner.

Bon Appétit...

Check back for more great Easter ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne