Ethan Clarke
Plastic Easter eggs are a staple of Easter egg hunts, but what can you do with them once the festivities are over? There are endless ways to reuse plastic eggs, from crafting to storage solutions and even as a mould for soap or frozen yogurt. With a little creativity, you can transform them into something new and exciting. Whether you're looking for fun activities to do with kids or simply want to give your plastic eggs a new lease of life, the possibilities are endless.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Crafts | Use as a base for sculptures, paint them, use as a mould for soap or baby rattles, make maracas, use as a mould for frozen yoghurt, make a mobile, make a wreath, make a snake, make a puppet, make a bird feeder |
| Storage | Store small items such as buttons, needles and thread, loose change, jewellery, screws, media cards, fingernail clippers, band-aids, candy, cotton balls, gifts, eyeglasses, Monopoly pieces, etc. |
| Games and Activities | Add to a ball pit, use for an egg hunt, use for a race, use for learning activities, use for a sensory project |
| Decoration | Spray paint to make them look like robin's eggs, use as festive decorations, fill with sand or dirt and use as a flower garden decoration |
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Paint them
Painting plastic eggs is a fun and easy craft for both kids and adults. You can use regular acrylic craft paint or chalk paint, and decorate your eggs with squiggles, dots, and zigzags. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try your hand at speckling! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Prepare your workspace and materials:
Before you begin, gather your supplies: plastic eggs, paint, paintbrushes, wooden skewers, cardboard or plywood for a workspace, and a vase or tall container for drying. You may also want a hairdryer to speed up the drying process. It is recommended to work on cardboard or plywood to prevent the eggs from sticking to your work surface.
Prime your eggs:
To ensure the paint adheres well to the plastic surface, you can apply a coat of primer or Gesso before painting. Allow the primer to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Paint your eggs:
Using a paintbrush or foam sponge brush, apply a layer of acrylic craft paint or chalk paint to your eggs. If using acrylic paint, you may need to apply two or more coats, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next. With chalk paint, you can achieve full coverage in just one coat due to its superior adhesion to most surfaces.
Decorate your eggs:
Get creative and decorate your eggs with various designs. You can use a fine liner brush to create squiggles and zigzags, or dip the handle end of a paintbrush into paint to make perfectly round dots. If you want to add speckles to your eggs, there are a few different techniques you can try. One method is to dip a toothbrush in paint and then flick it with your finger about 12 inches above the eggs to create speckles. Alternatively, you can use a dry brush stippling technique by dipping just the tip of a paintbrush into the paint, tapping off the excess, and then gently tapping it over the eggs for tiny speckles.
Add a protective coat:
Once your eggs are completely dry, you can apply a coat of craft varnish to add a glossy sheen and protect the paint from chipping or scratching.
Display your creations:
Arrange your painted eggs in a vase, basket, or homemade nest, or place them in a clean, empty egg carton for a unique spring or Easter display.
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Make a mobile
Making a mobile out of plastic eggs is a fun and simple project, perfect for adding a playful touch to a child's room or even as a unique springtime decoration. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating your own plastic egg mobile:
Materials and Preparation:
First, gather your materials. You will need plastic eggs, preferably in varying sizes and colours to add visual interest to your mobile. You will also need strong glue, such as hot glue or E6000, to secure the eggs together. Other materials to consider include:
- Spray paint in pastel or light colours, creating a more natural, egg-like appearance. Textured spray paint can also be used to hide the seams of the plastic eggs.
- Paintbrushes, cardboard or plywood for painting the eggs, ensuring they don't stick to your work surface.
- Additional decorations like paper, scrapbook paper, paper clay, paper mache, coloured tape, ribbons, beads, or craft sticks for added creativity and personalisation.
Assembling the Mobile:
Start by gluing the egg halves together tightly, creating a variety of shapes. You can join matching ends to create balls or oblong shapes, or nestle the halves into a long stack to form a snake-like shape. For added strength, use clamps to hold the eggs together while the glue dries.
Once the glue is dry, decorate your eggs. You can paint them, cover them in paper, or add textures and embellishments. If you're feeling creative, turn them into characters or animals, or fill them with lightweight materials like beans or cotton balls to create shakers.
After your eggs are decorated, it's time to assemble the mobile. Use strong thread or string to hang the eggs at varying heights, creating a visually appealing and balanced composition. You can attach the thread to the eggs by drilling tiny holes and threading it through or by gluing it to the inside of the eggs.
For the mobile structure, you can use a variety of materials. A popular option is to use a small hoop or embroidery loop, from which you can hang the eggs at different lengths. Alternatively, you can use wooden dowels or thin metal rods to create a more structured mobile.
Final Touches:
Add some finishing touches to your mobile by incorporating beads, ribbons, or small decorative elements to the hanging threads. You can also experiment with different types of knots and thread lengths to create visual interest.
And there you have it! A fun and unique mobile made from plastic eggs. This project is a great way to upcycle plastic eggs and create a playful decoration that can be enjoyed all year round.
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Use them for storage
Plastic Easter eggs can be used for storage in a variety of ways. They can be used to store small items such as loose buttons, screws, jewellery, and even small tools like screwdrivers and eyeglass screws. You can also use them to keep necklaces separate and tangle-free, or to store pantyhose, change, or coins. Fill them with sand or dirt to create weights for workouts or to weigh down gift bags. They can also be used as a travel sewing kit by placing a needle and thread inside. In addition, plastic Easter eggs can be used as soap or yogurt moulds, or as a fun way to teach young children colours and numbers.
For those who enjoy crafting, plastic Easter eggs can be decorated and used to create a mobile, wreath, or other decorative items. They can be glued together and painted with textured spray paint to create unique shapes and characters. You can also fill them with different materials like dirt or rocks and have children guess what's inside, or use them as a fun prop for a spoon race.
When using plastic Easter eggs for storage, it's important to consider the size and type of items you want to store. Larger eggs are more suitable for storing bigger items like pantyhose, while smaller eggs are ideal for tiny items such as screws or buttons. You can also choose to decorate and personalise the eggs before using them for storage, making them both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Overall, plastic Easter eggs offer a creative and versatile storage solution for a variety of items, whether it's for organisation, crafting, or educational purposes. With a bit of imagination, you can find numerous ways to put those leftover eggs to good use!
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Create a game
If you have leftover plastic Easter eggs, there are plenty of games you can create with them. Here are some ideas:
Guessing Game
Fill the plastic eggs with different materials like dirt, rocks, sand, or water to give them weight. Have children try to guess what each egg contains by shaking, feeling, or observing them. You can also use these weighted eggs for a racing game where children balance the eggs on spoons and race to the finish line without dropping them.
Counting and Colour Game
Use the plastic eggs as a learning tool for younger kids to practice counting and identifying colours. You can give them instructions such as "Give me two pink eggs" or "How many blue eggs are there?".
Egg Hunt
Create a traditional egg hunt game by hiding the plastic eggs and having players search for them. You can put small prizes or treats inside the eggs to make it more exciting.
Egg Toss Game
Set up a target, such as an empty bucket or box, and challenge players to toss the plastic eggs into the target from a designated distance. You can have different coloured targets for added difficulty.
Egg Maracas
Fill the plastic eggs with beans, rice, or other small items and seal them shut. Decorate the outside with paper, paint, or stickers. Now you have colourful maracas that can be used for a musical game or simply as a fun noisemaker.
There are endless possibilities for creating games and crafts with plastic eggs. Get creative, and you'll be surprised at the fun activities you can invent!
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Make a display
If you have a collection of plastic eggs, you can make a fun and creative display with them. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Paint them
Use spray paint to give your eggs a new look. You can use pastel colours to make them look like robin's eggs or get creative with textured spray paint to add some extra flair. If you're using cardboard or plywood as a surface, be sure to let the paint dry before rolling the eggs over to avoid sticking.
Make a wreath
Create a colourful wreath perfect for spring by using plastic eggs as a base. This simple craft can be made with just a few store-bought supplies and will look cute displayed all season long.
Create a mobile
Make a mobile from recycled plastic eggs to hang in a child's room. This is a simple project that will add a playful touch to any space.
Make a sculpture
Glue or tape the matching ends of the eggs together to change their shape, then cover them in scrapbook paper, paint, or nautical rope and display them in a bowl. You can create a variety of shapes, from balls to oblong spheroids, and even a snake by nesting and threading the halves together.
Fill them with trinkets
Surprise someone by placing tiny trinkets or treats inside the eggs. You can also use this idea for learning activities with children, filling the eggs with different materials and having them guess the contents.
There are endless possibilities for crafting with plastic eggs, so get creative and have fun!
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to decorate plastic eggs. You can paint them with spray paint or textured spray paint, or cover them with scrapbook paper, paper clay, paper mache, or coloured tape.
You can use plastic eggs as a base for various crafts, such as monster sculptures, dragon eggs, or maracas. You can also fill them with soap, water, or yoghurt to make shaped bath bombs or frozen treats.
Plastic eggs are great for storing small items such as screws, jewellery, change, or buttons. You can also use them to store paint, keep necklaces tangle-free, or as an air freshener filled with potpourri.
Plastic eggs can be used for learning colours and numbers, or for teaching younger kids to count. You can also fill them with different materials and have children guess what's inside, or use them for a racing game.
You can fill plastic eggs with treats or small gifts for an Easter egg hunt. You can also decorate them with glue, beads, and ribbon, or use them as a mould for soap or candles.
