Decorative Eggs

What You Need:

• Small balloons (water balloons work well)
• Embroidery floss in a variety of colors
• Scissors
• Straight pin
• Fabric stiffener
• Disposable plastic cup or bowl
• Plastic knife
• Damp rag

What You Do:

1. Have your child blow up as many balloons as he would like embroidery floss eggs. The balloons should be very small and have the general shape of an egg. You may need to practice to get the shape and size just right. Once your child has the perfect size and shape balloon, tie the end so the air doesn’t escape.
2. Help him cut the embroidery floss into 24-inch long strands. It's easiest to cut all the floss at once, so your child can simply grab a new strand when needed without setting down the balloon he's currently working on.
3. Instruct him to pour the fabric stiffener into a plastic cup or bowl. An emptied and cleaned margarine or yogurt container works well. Pour the fabric stiffener until you have filled the container up about an inch from the bottom.
4. Have your child pick up one of the strands of floss and lay it across the surface of the stiffener. Use the plastic knife to press the strand of floss down into the stiffener to ensure the entire strand is coated.
5. Ask your child to pull the strand out of the fabric stiffener with his left hand. With the other hand, he should grasp the top of the strand between his thumb and forefinger and run his fingers all the way to the bottom of the strand to remove access liquid. Have him do this over the container so any extra liquid falls back into the container.
6. Have him wipe his right hand off on the damp rag while still holding the strand with his left hand.
7. Help him wrap the end of the strand of floss around the top of the egg. Have him wind the strand of floss around the egg in any pattern until he reaches the end of the strand.
8. Repeat the process, adding additional strands in his colors of choice until he's happy with the appearance of the egg. 
9. Tie another strand of floss around the base where the balloon is tied off and hang it from a shower curtain or other fixture. Allow to dry overnight.
10. Once the egg is dry and the fabric stiffened, use the straight pin to pop the balloon and remove it from the inside. Enjoy placing the finished eggs in a basket, hiding them around the house or hanging them from a piece of string to decorate.

Did You Know? The Guinness Book of World Records lists the largest Easter egg as being over 25 feet tall? The egg weighed in at a whopping 8,968 pounds and was made from a steel frame covered with marshmallow and chocolate.