Are your Easter decorations looking a bit worn? If they are several seasons old and ready to be retired, why not dive into a fun and low budget craft project that will personalize your holiday decor? Making paper mâché Easter eggs is oh-so-easy!
This simple, affordable DIY project allows you to transform basic materials—newspaper and plastic Easter eggs—into charming, hand-decorated masterpieces. Whether you’re crafting with kids, creating an Easter centerpiece, or simply indulging in a bit of elementary school nostalgia, paper mâché eggs are a beautiful way to celebrate the holiday.
What You’ll Need
- Plastic Easter eggs (used as the base)
- Newspaper, torn into small roundish pieces or strips (For the smaller eggs, I’ve found that round bits go on smoother than strips)
- A large mixing bowl
- Flour and water
- Acrylic or tempera paint
- Paintbrushes
- Glue for embellishments
- Mod Podge or clear sealant
- Optional embellishments such as rhinestones, ribbon, etc. (your imagination is the only limit here!)
A simple and effective paper mâché paste can be made with just two ingredients 1 cup of flour and 2 cups of water. (For a stronger hold, you can also use a mixture of white glue and water in equal parts.)
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and water. Stir well until the mixture reaches a smooth, glue-like consistency. (You can add a bit more water if it’s too thick or more flour if it’s too runny.)
Let the mixture sit for about five minutes before using.
Making the Eggs
To create the base, use plastic Easter eggs (the type you’d use on an Easter egg hunt). These are available in many sizes, from tiny, to the size of a fist. Tape the eggs shut with masking tape or painter’s tape to ensure they stay closed during the application of the actual paper mâché.
Dip newspaper bits into the paper mâché paste, making sure each piece is fully coated, but not dripping. Lay newspaper onto the plastic egg, smoothing it down as you go.
Repeat the process, layering the paper, until the entire egg is fully covered (from three to four layers).
Set the covered eggs aside to dry for 24 hours. (For best drying, place them in a warm, well-ventilated area.)
Once the eggs are completely dry, it’s time to add color and creativity!
The best paints to use for decorating Easter eggs include acrylic or tempera paint. Acrylic paint is an excellent option because it dries quickly, comes in vibrant colors, and adheres well to the egg’s surface. For a kid-friendly alternative, tempera paint is a perfect choice since it is so easy to clean up!
There are many ways to decorate your eggs. For a classic look, paint them in pastel colors and add polka dots (use hole punch reinforcements for easy to remove polka dot stencils), stripes, or if you are talented, floral patterns, bunnies, and other Easter themes.
If you prefer a bit more of a vintage aesthetic, use more muted tones (sage green, grayed pink, dusty blue) and distress the eggs for rustic charm.
To protect your designs (and give the eggs a finished look), apply a coat of Mod Podge or a clear sealant. This step will add durability and a subtle sheen and ensure that they will look just as lovely next year.
Decoupage is another option. After painting the eggs a solid color to cover the newsprint, simply adhere small pieces of decorative napkins (the top single ply only) or tissue paper onto the eggs for a textured effect using ModPodge.
Want a little glitz? Try metallic accents (paint pens allow you to draw directly onto the surface). For a bit of sparkle, use glue to attach flat-backed rhinestones, beads, or sequins.
Ideas for Displaying Your Paper Mache Easter Eggs
Once your eggs are beautifully decorated, there are so many creative ways to display them! Add them to centerpieces. Fill decorative bowls or baskets throughout the house. Use them to prop up your placecards for Easter dinner.
Or, for a more whimsical touch, attach ribbons to the eggs and hang them from a cut branch to create a charming “egg tree” (this was always one of my kids’ favorite decorations). Please note, if you plan to do hang your eggs, poke a hole in the top of the egg and run a ribbon loop through before you start the paper mâché process. You’ll need to cover the ribbon so it doesn’t get paper mâché, paint, or ModPodge on it while you are working, but this is a much more secure hanging method than hot gluing the ribbon to your finished project.
This is one of my all-time favorite DIYs for Easter! Do you have more craft ideas for the holiday? Please share them in the comments. Hoppy Easter, everyone!
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