Do You like fresh takes on old decor favorites? This wax seal craft with dried florals turns a plastic Easter Egg into a modern and unique Faux concrete egg.

Oh how I love Spring!!!

Longer days, more outdoor time, the stunning green of all the new life sprouting

Shedding our parkas and snow boots.

Even the smell of fresh Spring rains washing away all the Winter dredge.

And how about those bumper crops of asparagus and strawberries displayed next to tulips in every bright beautiful color of the rainbow?

Every year I am compelled to come up with a fresh new take on Spring decorating featuring eggs — and usually a few bunnies and carrots too.

So you can only imagine how excited I was be invited by Missy of Sonata Home Design to join the Handcrafted Society Blog Hop this month. It’s March, so of course the theme is Eggs and Missy chose Colors as our “medium”. How fun is this?

If you are here from Tatertots & Jello, I’m so happy to welcome you. Aren’t Jen’s hand-painted eggs amazing?!!!

Here at South House Designs, I’m all in on creative doings and creative problem solving to make our lives more joyful.

Today’s creative doing is transforming large bright plastic Easter eggs into more upscale and unique decor accessories.

Remember I said we were each assigned a color. Have you guessed mine?

Let’s Get to Transforming Our Bright Plastic Easter Eggs

There are three basic steps:

1. Turning the plastic to “Concrete”
2. Adding the twine and flowers
3. The wax seals

Step 1) Changing Plastic to Concrete-

No hocus pocus required. But the results are pretty magical in my book.

Minimal supplies and minimal skill are needed.

The biggest component is time, but fortunately most of that time is dying time.

Supplies-

• Thin tape
• Joint compound
• Disposable cup with a lid
• Disposable stir stick
• Dixie cups or similar
• Sandpaper – Micro sander highly recommended

Note: these may include affiliate links, which means I may receive a small compensation if you use one of these links, but you don’t pay a penny extra.

1) Apply thin tape over the seam-

First seal the two ends of the egg together.

NOTE: If your egg has a plastic hinge that sticks out a bit, sand it off first.

I used a thin craft tape, but you can cut masking tape to make a thin strip.

Burnish the edges with you fingernail to minimize the edge of the tape.

2) Make Joint Compound Slurry-

It simple. Just mix water into joint compound to make a “slurry”.

Slurry is a thinned clay that is usually used to bind two pieces of clay together. So I’m borrowing that term loosely here.

After a lot of experimenting, I found that having the slurry the consistency of glaze and dipping the eggs, rather than the consistency of frosting and spreading it on worked best for me!

NOTE: toward the bottom of this post is a video with a closeup of the two methods and the consistency of the slurry

TIP: If you want your eggs to be a color, such as pastel green or blue, you can add acrylic paint to the slurry to help thin it and add color at the same time.

You can see how I did that when I made these charming tabletop birdbaths, and when I built our “cast concrete” fireplace surround.

3) Coat the eggs with the JC Slurry-

Again, I prefer dipping the eggs.

Half one day.

Let it dry overnight.

Then sand the edge of the first dipping so you don’t get too much build up around the middle where the two dippings will overlap.

Think about it, nobody wants a thick belly band, do we?

Now dip the other end and let it dry overnight again.

HINT: If you have foam eggs, with a skewer, you can do the whole egg in one coating!

4) Sand your eggs-

Use a micro sander block with 120 grit paper. Use small circular motion all over your egg to smooth out any lumps or ridges or. rough spots in your “concrete”.

Step 2) Add Dried Flowers and Twine-

Supplies-

• Dried flowers
• Twine (or yarn, string, raffia, etc.)
• Glue

I used dried lavender, but also consider baby’s breath or even some sweet little leaves.

Keep in mind the scale to your egg and you want the thinnest stems possible.

And twine can mean thin ribbon, jute, yarn, raffia, bakers twine, string, etc. etc.

I used some wool crewel yarn that I had in my stash.

Hold your egg. in one hand. Determine where you will want your wax seal.

With the thumb or index finger of that hand, hold the end of your “twine” along the stems at the “seal spot”.

With your other, wrap the egg criss crossing at that “seal spot” several times.

When you are pleased with the arrangement of your stems and twine, hold them in place with a dollop of glue. I used Gorilla Brand super glue, because it was handy. Even a spot of good old Elmer’s would do.

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THANKS! Now back to the eggs:

Step 3) Add Wax Seal-

Supplies-

• Sealing wax sticks
• Hot glue gun
• Wax stamp
• Damp sponge
• Small smooth tile or glass
• Scraper

I received that amazing rosemary stamp with it’s wood handle and a sampling of wax sticks from the Etsy shop Adin Paperie out of New York. Shop owner Doriel took great care of me and the package of goodies. I highly recommend this shop. Stop by and tell her I said “Hi “!

Because of the curves of the egg, I was not able to add the wax seal directly to the egg.

I persevered with my vision and after a lot of trial and error, I have what works.

On a smooth tile or piece of glass, puddle enough melted wax to cover the diameter of your stamp.

Dampen the stamp on the sponge and gently press it into the hot wax puddle. My seal is heavy enough that I didn’t really push it down, just steadied it so It wouldn’t slide.

After a few seconds, gently pull straight up, releasing the stamp from the wax.

While the wax is still a bit warm, using a thin scraper, carefully pry the wax seal up off the tile surface. Be careful not to do this too soon or the edges may not be set yet. Once you do one or two, you’ll get the hang of the timing.

Immediately hold it with your thumb and index finger on the left and right side of the seal. Press in just enough for the seal to bow a bit matching the curvature of the egg. Hold for a few seconds for it to cool like that.

Now drop a small bit of hot wax on the glued spot of the twine and flowers. Immediately press the seal into place and hold it there to cool.

Step 4) Highlight the Wax Impression-

Supplies-

Marker of your choice

This is optional, but I think it made such an impact I can’t imagine not doing it. Besides, it’s easy and very quick making the payoff well worth the small amount of time and effort!

Use the side of the marker tip and just brush it very lightly across the top of your impression. You can always go over it again and again to get your desired amount of highlighting.

Do You Prefer Video?

I’ve got ya covered!

Just click this image for about a 5-minute How-To video:

Aren’t these the sweetest? Use them:

• mixed in with some solid eggs in a bowl
• as the star of individual displays at each tablesetting
• In a Spring vignette
• As part of an Easter tray display
• and so many more ideas

And now it’s time to say goodbye to you and send you on to visit my blogging buddies. From here, head on over to the super sweet and talented Wendy of WM Design House. Wendy’s sharing all about using vegetables and spices as natural dyes.

Thanks so much for stopping in! I hope you have a great day full of Egg-celent inspiration — groan! I know, I just couldn’t help myself. I hope you visit again real soon!

Oh, did you guess Coral as my color? You’re right!

Here are all the gals you don’t want to miss:

And a Couple More Projects You Might Enjoy