When Easter is up, there's always the leftover eggs to deal with. Mostly, they get thrown away (or if someone is eco-friendly, composted), but what if there was a better way to get rid of them? Instead of throwing away old Easter eggs, an easy and decorative thing to do is to break them up and mosaic them. A picture frame will add a nice touch to a vacation memory, or a candle holder could lighten the mood on a rainy summer day. It's also a great way to reduce waste and help the environment.
Materials:
- An item to mosaic (picture frame, candle holder, etc)
- Eggshells
- White craft glue
- Foam brush
- Knife
Directions:
- First you will want to break the eggshells up into big pieces – the flatter the better.
- Now you will want to spread glue unto whatever item it is you are mosaicing. Be sure to only do small sections as a time so that the glue won't dry before you can place a piece of eggshell on it.
- The next thing to do is to start placing the pieces on the frame or holder. When the eggshells are pressed into the glue, they can shatter into pieces – that's okay. This is where the knife will come into play because you can move the pieces about as you like. Let them dry completely.
- The final step is to finish the piece any way you like. Paint and glitter can add some flair and go a long way with the finishing touches. Adding sealer will set the paint and egg pieces. If any pieces fall off, just save them and glue them back on after the paint has dried.
History of Eggs
Now that the fun of making Easter eggs is complete, what is their significance? Traditionally speaking, eggs were not eaten during Lent. Instead, they were stored away, decorated, and on Easter Sunday they were given as treats; as years went on, they became gifts to give to significant others. It is believed that eggs eaten on the holiday can prevent illness and guard against disaster.
The shell, too, has a bit of significance. It has over seventeen thousand pores to allow the egg to breathe in oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide. They have a thin membrane, or cuticle, on the inside that allows the egg to stay fresh, and they are incredibly healthy to eat by being high in vitamin D and containing protein.
Sources:
Mary Faler - Technically still a student but with a deep, abiding curiousity in all things, Mary Faler leaps into action anytime a story sneaks it's ...
