Sketching With Crayons

       An unfortunate tendency in the use of certain materials that are particularly adaptable to the primary grades, is that of students and even teachers thinking that higher grades or mature work requires advanced materials. If wax crayons are used by the first grades or if a box of watercolors with only four colors are used in the primary grades, the pupil thinks it a mark of progress if the upper grades allow chalk crayons and watercolors of greater variety; and therefore will not use materials related to beginners. 

With wax crayons it is possible to sketch with simple equipment,
producing a sketch that will not rub off. Sample Alpine Church by
Pedro Lemos.

       This attitude should be discouraged, for after all materials have little to do with real production if the student studies correctly. One great artist said that he would use mud if it gave him the right color in painting. This may be also remembered by those educators who insist that pupils should not mix mediums. Just why some teachers should hold up their hands in horror over a problem that suggests the use of crayon and cut paper or crayon and watercolor has never been satisfactorily explained. We do know that artists from the time of the great masters to this date have used crayon and watercolor, oil-paint and gesso, pencil and watercolor, pen and ink and wash, etc. So why teach today in our schools that which the student tomorrow finds to be untrue in professional practice. 

       I believe that a great many delightful possibilities remain to be discovered and developed in the use of the wax crayon and those crayons that are partly wax; and that these possibilities can be found by any teacher or artist that will use them in their work. To prove this to myself satisfactorily I gave a box of eight wax crayons to a well known landscape artist and asked him to see what he could do with them. Not only were his results very good but he became so interested in the results that he has used them ever since. This same artist, by the way, produces all of his fine watercolor paintings with only six colors in his box. Two yellows, two reds and two blues. His yellows are Gamboge and Chrome Yellow, his blues are Prussian Blue and Cobalt, his reds are Crimson Lake and Indian Red. 

       If we can secure greater possibilities with fewer materials our whole art education will be more productive as we reach points where more materials are available. It may be a strange statement, but nevertheless the work we receive at the office from the lower grades is of a much better standard than that received from the advanced grades, and I believe that it is the result of working with fewer materials and within limitations. Too many things to work with, too many values, too many lines, result in too much detail and over-done results. 

       With the use of wax crayons we have a material that is inexpensive, is easily carried for sketching, does not rub and therefore is fairly permanent, and with varying papers and renderings allows for many variations.

       Every material has a corresponding working surface to which it should be applied to secure best results. A rough or irregular surfaced paper is best for wax crayons. A smooth paper is not good for wax crayon as the crayon refuses to mark well and will not receive additional marks. The ordinary rough manila paper or rough white drawing paper is good. Light stroking of the crayon on the paper will result in the color being received on the surfaces of the rough projections of the paper surface. A second color pressed more firmly will color the lower portions of the paper and a vibrating quality of color is secured which can produce very pleasing effects. 

       In some instances the scraping of parts of the subject or the indicating of detail by scraping with a knife point produces good results. 

       This effect may be seen on the windmill of the color plate. An under color may be revealed by this method which will give an effect even more interesting than where there is no under color. In the use of very rough paper a sky quality of surface texture can be enhanced by spotting the open portions of the paper surface or remaining uncovered spots with a complementary or analogous color to the color first used. 

       The accompanying illustrations show the same subject sketched with different strokes and the results are well worth studying. A pad of rough sketching paper and a little or large box of wax crayons tucked into the vacation baggage this summer may yield a new avenue or opportunity for sketching. Why wait until a large, cumbersome box of paints and sketching paraphernalia be acquired? 

       The thrill of sketching is possible and good results, too, with the oft derided primary wax crayons. And the demand for these crayons has resulted in manufacturers producing them in varying palettes so that a considerable range of hues may be secured. But after all simplicity is the keynote to success with crayons, simple subjects, simple masses, simple colors and restful and satisfactory In the use of very rough paper a sky results will come. 

 The works of God are fair for naught

 Unless our eyes in seeing,

 See hidden in the thing the thought 

Which animates its being. 

Whoever yearns to see aright 

Because his heart is tender, 

Shall catch a glimpse of heavenly light

 In every earthly splendor. 

-Wilhelmina Seegmiller 

How To Embellish Flocked Easter Eggs

       Flocked Easter eggs are not always available for crafting with in local hobby supply. But when these are plentiful they make for a marvelous vintage display. These are light weight and are perfect for hanging on an easter tree tool. Below are several ways you can decorate them with trim, inside or out.

These flocked eggs have holes cut out to 
display a vignette inside.

Supply List:

• flocked plastic eggs
• soft fine Easter grass
• miniature Easter novelties
• lace, ribbon, rick-rack and bead trims
• transparent glitter 
• tacky white glue
• hot glue gun and hot glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Purchase flocked egg blanks for a hobby store or dollar store outlet.
2. Draw the oval shaped window with a soft number two pencil and trace around a tiny stencil directly on top of the flocked egg.
3. Cut away the oval shaped window by poking open the flocked egg with a tiny pair of sharp nail scissors. Cut away all of the pencil markings as these will not be easy to remove with an eraser. 
4. Layer a thick amount of tacky glue on the inside of the egg with your finger tip. 
5. Sprinkle in a generous amount of transparent glitter. 
6. Tap the egg on a table surface to evenly disperse the glitter on the inside of the egg. Do this over a clean sheet of paper to collect all of the unused glitter and return it to the bottle it came from for future crafts. Let the glitter harden.
7. Next, glue inside of the egg opening some soft Easter grass. I used the cotton-like version of grass for this egg vignette. 
8. Then glue in the Easter novelty: a bunny figurine, a basket of eggs etc...
9. Trim the outside edges of the window with tacky glue and rick-rack. 
10. Glue on a ribbon, some lace and a pearl bead here and there.
11. Display your vintage eggs in an egg tree or basket.

After decorating the egg on the inside, I glued rick-rack, laces and bows to the outer shell

 and edges to cover flaws and to add interest to the surfaces of my Easter eggs. I used 

hot glue for this particular project.

Old-fashioned  flocked Easter eggs are covered with
rickrack and bright, bold laces. Use tacky white glue
 to adhere the bits of lace and trim.

How to make faux mosiac eggs using abalone shell tiles . . .

These egg when finished are quite heavy; they
should be displayed in baskets or in vignettes,
not on egg trees.

        Traditional mosaic eggs made from plastic manufactured eggs, grout, and tiny mosaic Mother of Pearl pieces from Michael's. These crushed tiles have been sold at Michael's for over 10-12 years and come in many colors depending upon the year. 

Supply List:

• large plastic egg forms for the local hobby store or dollar store
• crushed abalone shell tile
• wood glue or tacky white glue or hot glue if you prefer
• tile grout, white
• Mod Podge

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. When adhering the tiles to the egg shell rough up the surface of the egg with sandpaper and then glue on the tiles using a strong bonding glue. I believe that I used wood glue for these eggs. 
2. After the crushed shell has dried, smear on a tile grout and then use a soft damp sponge to wash away excess grout.
3. Let the grout harden overnight. Crafters may also use wooden eggs to replace the plastic ones if they wish.
4. Seal the grout with a thin layer of Mod Podge or something like it.

How to craft mosaic Easter eggs using egg shells?

Photo of the egg membrane being separated 

from the shell.

        First you will need to collect egg shells for this craft and the number of those egg shells will depend upon your love of the craft. I collected only enough to demonstrate the process. In order to keep your kitchen clean and bacteria at a minimum, soak the left over shells in a vinegar solution. One cup of boiling water, plus two tablespoons of any type of vinegar will suffice for a gentle soak. This will also help loosen the membrane from the inner shell. The membrane should be removed for several reasons, the first being that it will help keep the egg shells from developing an unfortunate odor and the second being that the shells will adhere better when glued to another shell's surface. Above is a photo of the membrane being separated from the shell.

        After the shells have been dried, break them up and soak them in dying solutions. I chose to do this with food coloring. This is the traditional recipe which includes a few drops of food coloring combined together with the ratio of vinegar and water that I have mentioned above.

Broken egg shells soaking in the vinegar solution.

        After draining and drying the shells on a paper towel, you may then glue these to either hard boiled eggs or eggs that have been hollowed out and cleaned in advance. I used white school glue for this process and then covered the surface of my sample eggs with Mod Podge. You could also paint a layer of clear nail polish over the eggs if you have no other alternatives on hand.

How the mosaic process turns out after gluing the mosiac
egg shell pieces directly onto whole eggs. These eggs are
hollowed out, but you could use edible hard boiled eggs 
for this technique as well.

 Easter by Marjorie Goldwasser, (8 yrs. old)
The grass is turning oh, so green.
Everywhere new buds are seen.
The Easter bunny is on his way,
To bring us eggs on Easter day.

Craft a very hungry caterpillar...

Caterpillar cut from crayon resist paper and leaf cut from construction papers

      Above is a caterpillar craft that I taught during my student teaching. Kindergartener's spent the first day of this project coloring abstract shapes, line and colors onto white paper with crayons. Then they painted with watercolors on top of their crayon designs.

      On the second day, students then traced around giant leaf stencils and cut them out of green construction paper. Then they cut elliptical shapes from their decorated papers and assembled these onto their "leaf frames" with paste. The last step was to add eyes and line details to their caterpillars and leaves with a black magic marker. 

Supply List:

• a large sheet of green construction paper for the leaf cut-out
• white construction paper for the wax resist process
• brilliant crayons
• tempera paint or watercolors
• a green marker

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. To make the caterpillar of many colors, color stripes on the white construction paper. Leave  space between the stripes without color.
2. Then use watery paints to layer over the wax crayon to fill in the parts of the uncolored areas. 
3. Cut out many oval shapes from this paper to make the caterpillar.
4. Glue the ovals together to shape the insect's pudgy body.
5. Add eyeballs and nose.
6. Cut a giant green leaf from the construction paper. 
7. Use a green magic marker to make veins in the leaf and cut out a few holes where the caterpillar has nibbled away at the leaf!
8. Add some prickly hairs growing from the top of the caterpillar's back if you wish.

 "Two girls A.R. and G.H., ages 9 and 11, took my puppet workshop. After graduating from the advance level they performed The Very Hungry Caterpillar all on their own without any help. A.R. plays the caterpillar and the butterfly. G.H. handled all the props. They did this video in one take, I am so proud of them!" from hagley productions

Paint and Design a Giant Egg With Watercolors

         This giant, bright colored Easter egg was painted using a soft camel hair brush dipped in watercolor paint. First the student used a black marker to draw her whimsical butterfly, fish and flowers. Then she painted in her picture with bright, festive colors. I have discovered that very young students produce marvelous watercolor paintings but grow apprehensive about the resulting finished product as they age. This is because the younger an art student is, the less inhibited they are about "how" their artwork looks. Their inhibitions are the unfortunate result of growing old, I'm afraid...

watercolor painted egg

Supply List:

• giant sheet of white construction paper
• watercolor set
• a soft camel hair brush among several other sizes to try
• one black permanent ink marker
• pictures of fish, birds and flowers to work from

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut white butcher paper or construction paper into large egg shapes. The teacher may wish to do this step in advance or not depending upon the age of the students.
2. Give the student black permanent ink markers to draw with. You may want to cover their tables with newsprint for this step and also give them aprons. Some young students get a little enthusiastic about using these markers where they shouldn't so keep an eye on the process to avoid disasters!
3. Teachers can hand pictures of what students can draw on their eggs around the room too. Things like insects, birds, symbols of Easter etc...
4. After drawing with permanent pens, collect these.
5. Now give each student a watercolor set and a small jar of water plus several kinds of paint brushes to fill in all of the white areas.

Sponge Paint a Giant Easter Egg!

This egg painted with sponges.

     This giant Easter Egg sponge painting requires young students to use unconventional tools in the act of painting. Sponges are easy for little hands to manipulate and these hold all kinds of sticky, messy paints made from inexpensive mixtures that kindergarten teachers can quickly shake together without investing large sums of cash in a art project. Small children do not generally produce art that will be kept forever by anyone other than their parents so, it is important to use materials that may be expendable but also fun to work with. The key to developing student performance in art is repetition and inexpensive materials ensure that the activity is repeated frequently.

Supply List:

• one large sheet of pastel colored construction paper
• tempera paints mixed in pastel colors 
• simple sponges cut into geometric shapes
• cover tables with paper wherever this activity takes place
• give young students aprons to where
• each student should have at least several trays of paint to dip sponges in while they work

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Precut large egg shapes from pastel shades of construction paper.
2. Mix tempera paints for students in advance
3. Set up large tables for young ones to work at. Cover the surfaces with newsprint; perhaps, even the floors. Put paint trays within reach of painting activity.
4. Children my dip sponges into the paints and print the shapes on their paper Easter eggs. 
5. Encourage them to fill the areas, make patterns, and try different paint colors!

This video, from Nuttin' but preschool, demonstrates an excellent step-by-step process for making homemade "tempera" paints. However, if you are an artist, you know that actual tempera paints used by professionals include an egg binder. So here is an old recipe for high school students.

Crayon Resist Egg Painting

      This giant Easter Egg was crafted using a popular wax resist method. Young students learn to color with firm pressure onto drawing paper before painting a watery solution of colored paint over the surface of their wax colors. The paint will then leave traces of painted paper wherever the crayons have not been applied. The use of this method is very popular in grade school because it shows students how they can use several art materials in one lesson and also develops their eye-hand coordination.

Supply List:

• one large sheet of white construction paper
• bold crayon colors
• a water color tray
• scissors to cut out the egg with

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. On a large sheet of white construction paper, scribble with brilliant colored crayons. Encourage young students to press firmly on the paper as they work. 
2. Once the paper has been worked on thoroughly, show them how to dip a brush into darker versions of those same crayon colors. Wash the surfaces with watercolor and see their crayon scribbles turn into gems!
3. Cut out the nicest areas into large Easter egg shapes.

"Handy" Little Butterflies

A finished handy butterfly stapled to the 
bulletin board in my classroom.

       These little butterflies made with magic markers and construction paper sure come in handy when you need a quick way to decorate your classroom for spring! Little ones can also learn the parts of a butterfly while crafting their butterflies. 

       Students can learn about patterns and colors with this assignment. First they will need to fold a white sheet of paper in half twice and fill in each of the four spaces with patterns of shapes and colors of particular selection. After they have completed this step, students will then need to trace around their hands four times within each square of their designed paper. Cut these hands out to form the wings of your butterflies. I stapled their wings to some simple shapes of a butterfly's thorax cut from black construction paper. You can also add a few chenille stems for antennae. 

       My kindergarteners were so proud of their creations. What seems to be old-fashioned to us is  always entertaining to five year olds. It is one of the many blessings of being new to the world. Every little innocent thing holds some fascination for the very young. 

       Many of these butterflies did not make it to the bulletin board. My kindergarteners loved this butterfly craft so much, they tried to sneak their paper butterflies home! I saw them, however, stuffing their new friends into their backpacks before I could collect all of my bulletin board trim! I stapled the butterflies all over my display areas after students finished this art project. What an easy fun way to fill up bulletin boards!

Supply List:

• white drawing paper
• magic markers
• black construction paper
• white school glue or stapler
• one black chenille stem per butterfly

Left, color patterns on drawing paper. Center, trace around child hands for the wings. Right,
glue or staple on black butterfly body and black chenille stems for antenna.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Fold a sheet of white drawing paper in half and then in half again. Unfold it; now your student will have four spaces to draw four different patterns with a set of magic markers.
2. Once students have completed their patterns, have them trace around their hands four times and cut out the four hand tracings to attach to their butterfly bodies.
3. Fold a small, narrow length of black construction paper in half and cut out a simple butterfly shaped body for it.
4. Glue or staple the handy wings to it. 
5. Cut one black chenille stem in half.
6. Twist one end on each half into a little ''c'' shaped loop.
7. Glue the opposite ends to the top of the handy butterfly to make antenna.

Make a Lenten Card Featuring Palms

Lenten cards in the traditional season's colors: purple and green.

       These cards for Lent feature simple, palm leaf motifs cut from green papers layered on top of both purple and beige patterned, acid free papers. The scripture and palm leaf graphic may be downloaded and printed from The Christian Clip Art Review for this card. Use the illustrations at this blog for non-profit, personal crafts only, if you are not fund raising for your church.

       The scripture reference reads, "And all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished. ....And they understood none of these things." Luke 18: 31-34

The following poem may be included with the card, it is in the public domain:

by S. D. Gardner

And this is life -- to-day we here abide,

Perchance to-morrow we must step aside,

We master not our own; no vain regret

Can change the path for us which God has 

set.

Then let our footsteps be toward the light,

With loving words and deeds make each day

bright.

Let charity progress to wider plan,

Lend gracious ear to creed of every man. 

A close-up look at the Palm Sunday themed card.

Make Christian Cross Cards

"And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me." 

 Matthew 10:38 

      This card illustrates classic, simple lines; a hand-crafted yet formal card excellent for announcements, “Thank You” notes or sentimental letters. I outlined this simple cross clip art with a metallic, silver ink pen. Then I pasted the cross to a variety of layered parchment papers, cutting each consecutive paper slightly larger with every new pasting.

Quotes:

• “The world takes us to a silver screen on which flickering images of passion and romance play, and as we watch, the world says, “This is love.” God takes us to the foot of a tree on which a naked and bloodied man hangs and says, “This is love.” Joshua Harris
• “We sinned for no reason but an incomprehensible lack of love, and He saved us for no reason but an incomprehensible excess of love.” Peter Kreeft
• “Christ is sufficient. We do not need "support groups" for each and every separate tribulation. The most widely divergent sorrows may all be taken to the foot of the same old rugged cross and find there cleansing, peace, and joy.”  Elisabeth Elliot

Illustration:    The cross of Jesus Christ was to the Greeks foolishness and a stumbling-block of the Jews. They could not see its meaning; just as I have walked out on the porch of a north Georgia home two hours before day, and in the dim starlight I could see only the faint outline of mountain and hill. I could not tell what they were. It was an indistinct picture that had in it no meaning to me. I have gone back to my room and after a while have walked out on the porch again. The sun had risen on the scene and bathed hill and mountain and valley in a flood of light, and then I looked and saw hills and mountains and valleys and streams that mine eyes had never seen before.-- "Famous Stories of Sam P. Jones."

My Christian cross graphic with
 a crackled surface pattern.
Click on image to download
larger size.

Mission Quilts and Kits for Lutheran World Relief

         Every year Lutherans across the U.S. sew quilts and assemble kits of supplies that LWR sends to partners around the world that request them to meet the needs of people affected by poverty and disaster.

       Mission Quilts were one of the earliest forms of aid that Lutherans sent through LWR to reach out to people in other parts of the world. In 2016, LWR sent $14 million worth of quilts and kits to more than 576,000 people in 21 different countries.

• Get instructions for the making of quilts for Lutheran World Relief

      There are five kinds of LWR Kits:

1. LWR Personal Care Kits contain items like toothbrushes, wash cloths, and soap, intended to help a person or family maintain hygiene practices. 
2. LWR School Kits contain notebooks, pencils, erasers, a backpack, and other items to use for students to attend school. 
3. LWR Baby Care Kits contain T-shirts, cloth diapers, and other items to care for a baby. 
4. LWR Fabric Kits contain fabric, thread, and needles so that people can learn to sew, potentially to earn an income.
5. Covid 19 Defense Kits contain items like face masks, essential hygiene items and self care supplies.

       In 2013, LWR joined the United Nations Humanitarian Resource Depot, which allowed it to pre-position quilts and kits in depots across the world for rapid deployment after an emergency.

Collar Design in Bulgarian Embroidery

       I am furnishing you a pretty design today. the very name of which will call to your mind the peasantry of the Balkan Mountains who are noted for their remarkable skill in completing some of the handsomest embroidery of historical beauty. It is their aim and delight to use a great many colors, intermingling them in a manner so clever that one color blends like a shadow into its adjoining part.
      For this pattern I suggest for the center pieces, or floral motif, the different shades of blue, ranging it from pale blue to a china or phenol blue, or begin the wheel center with medium blue and graduate the tones to a navy blue. In the stem and leaf portions use dark leaf green in outline, then a lighter green for leaves, with a very pale tip-green. The butterfly can be worked in Delf blue with wing spots of blue, two colors, and a mere touch of green. Miniature triangles on collar border should be worked in green. Fill the notches in satin-stitch of dark green floss, and border with a scallop of dark blue. I have offered this color scheme because the colors, as a rule, wash well.
      All portions are in solid effect, with the exception of wheels, made with Battenberg stitches. The pattern can be developed in all white, but I feel sure you will like a color effect to create a decided novelty in your finished collar. Sincerely yours, Winifred Worth

Restored illustration of collar design.

Old-Fashioned Embroidery Designs for Plate Doilies

Satin, outline, eylet and button-hole stitches.

       These designs may be worked in either solid or eyelet. Detail drawings, show method of working.
      There are two ways to apply the designs to the material upon which you wish to work them.
      If your material is sheer--such as handkerchief linen, lawn, batiste, and the like--the simplest method is to lay the material over the design and with a well pointed pencil draw over each line.
      If your material is heavy secure a piece of transfer or impression paper. Lay it face down upon this, then draw over each line of the paper design with a hard pencil or the point of a steel knitting needle. Upon lifting the pattern and transfer paper you will find neat and accurate impression of the design upon your material. 
      There are two points to observe in this simple process if you would execute it satisfactorily. One is to see that your material is level--cut and folded by a thread--and that your design is placed upon it evenly at every point. 
      The second is, when placed accurately secure the design to the material with thumb tacks or pins, so it cannot slip during the operation.
      Do not rest your hand or fingers upon any part of the design while you are transferring.

 

Historic embroidery pattern depicting daisies.

Historic embroidery pattern depicting wheat stalks.

A Poppy Design for A Round Table

       The floral design pictured you can readily transfer to linen, leather or burlap by inserting a sheet of carbon, or tracing paper between the design and fabric, then going over all the lines of the design with a stylus or sharp pencil.
      You will then find the lines on the fabric distinct enough to follow in your embroidery. 
      This historic pattern has a lovely all-over design using poppies, their buds and leaves. Victorians loved to display a decorative vase with a bouquet, prominently in the center of a table covering like the one included here.
       Use brilliant reds, oranges and pinks to emphasize the design in your own version!

A draft of the historic poppy pattern.

Embroider Butterflies of Brilliant Hue

    Bright colored butterflies bring a feeling of joy and sunshine to one's work, and these dainty little creatures are charming in flower pieces or as separate motifs on table mats, curtains, dressing-table runners, and other household articles.
      Butterflies are so easy to work that no one need fear to attempt them, especially with the help afforded by the varied selection on the color samples shown below, and the chart, herewith, giving the direction for the stitches. These butterflies, also the dragonfly and bees, are originally from Weldon's Transfers (1900), you may reproduced tracings from the photo below in order to stitch butterflies similar to those embroidered at the turn of the last century.
      The wings are all worked on the same principle; the markings first in long and short stitch (or for the more definite spots and bands, in satin-stitch), and stem-stitch for veinings. All stitches should be directed towards the body. Between the markings the wings must be filled in with long and short stitch directed from their edge towards the body.
      For the body, long and short stitch can be worked lengthways, or rows of satin-stitch fitted one into the other, as shown on several of the specimens. The long and short stitch can be continued on the head, or this can be worked in satin-stitch. One or two little stitches of red or yellow, or some fairly bright color, are all that are required for the eyes.
      Stem-stitch or split-stitch gives a fine line for the antennae, which are tipped with one or two satin-stitches in the same direction as the stem or split-stitches. 

 

Color enhance reproduction of sample silk butterflies, bees and dragonfly by Weldon's Transfers, 1900.
This embroidery is done with fine silk threads.

 

 

Watch Malina embroider a silk butterfly using a satin stitch.

Make an Easter Egg Pocket Pouch Craft

Easter Egg Nest, made from paper plate pocket.

       Young students can make these easy paper plate, egg pockets a day or even a week, if they are in Sunday school, ahead of time. Then teachers can fill them with a chocolate treat or two for the Easter egg hunt later. Once children have participated in egg hunts, Sunday breakfast and service etc... they may take the extra surprise home!

 

Supplies Needed:

• two paper plates
• one brass fasteners
• colored markers or pencils
• green construction paper or tissue paper
• Easter grass
• Easter eggs or chocolate candies
• white school glue
• scissors
• white construction paper

More Paper Plate Crafts for Sunday School:

• Noah's Ark paper plate pocket...
• Easter sunrise made using paper plate
• Noah's spinning ark paper plate craft here!

Left, see how the brass fastener is positioned. Right, see how the pocket looks when closed.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut a large egg shape from the white construction paper. This egg shape should be smaller than the diameter of the paper plates, but very large, leaving approximately one inch from each end of the paper plates showing.
2. Draw repeating patterns across the egg shape. Then coloring the patterns in using either markers or colored pencils.
3. Cut strips from the green tissue or construction paper. Using scissors cut ruffles or 'blades of grass' along one long length of the stripes. 
4. Glue the paper grass behind and around the large patterned Easter egg. Let dry.
5. Mount the egg and grass onto the center of one of the paper plates using school glue. The plate should be inverted, because you want it to form a hollow pocket when attached to the second plate.
6. Use a green marker to color the background edge of this paper plate if you wish.
7. Now turn the paper plate over and use a pencil to draw a 'cracked' jagged edge down the center of the egg and plate lengthwise. This will be the opening of the egg to find treasures stored inside of the Easter egg pocket.
8. Attach only one side of the egg decorated plate half to the edge of the back paper plate half. Use glue squeezed along the rim to do this. let it dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
9. Poke a small hole using the tip of your scissors or a hole punch, right at the edge of the back paper plate where you want the upper part of the egg pocket to attach and move open and shut to reveal the contents of the pocket.
10. Insert the brass fastener.
11. Now fill the paper plate pocket with Easter grass and treats for each student when they come back to class to show off their crafts to parents, brothers and sisters. This is the teacher's surprise for a party...

Fans and Flowers For Spring

Description of Illustration: blue bonnet, lily of the valley, violet ribbon, apron, Victorian child, large palm fan, die cut, scrap for crafting, restored die cut, primrose, white feathers, pink silk fan, five petal yellow Ranunculus or Woodsorrel

• Read about how to craft fan folded palm branches here
• Learn how to make accordion fanfold paper dolls for your Easter egg tree here

"Speak not evil one of another." James 6:11.
scripture included.

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

"Love Your Neighbor" coloring page

Description of Coloring Page: text, appears in Bible in Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37-39, and Mark 12:29-31, butterfly coloring page by kathy grimm

• "He is Risen Indeed!" Butterfly Coloring Page
• Learn how to draw baby chicks scratching here and there, looking for something to eat!
  

Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

The Buds Opening in Heaven

Child with flower.

       Heaven is greatly made up of little children, sweet buds that have never blown, or which death has plucked from a mother's bosom to lay on his own cold breast, just when they were expanding, flower-like, from the sheath, and opening their engaging beauties in the budding time and spring of life. 'Of such is the kingdom of heaven.' How sweet these words by the cradle of a dying infant! They fall like balm drops on our bleeding heart, when we watch the ebbing of that young life, as wave after wave breaks feebler, and the sinking breath gets lower and lower, till with a gentle sigh, and a passing quiver of the lip, our child now leaves its body, lying like an angel asleep, and ascends to the beatitudes of heaven and the bosom of God. Indeed it may be, that God does with his heavenly garden, as we do with our gardens. He may chiefly stock it from nurseries, and select for transplanting what is yet in its young and tender age--flowers before they have bloomed, and trees ere they begin to bear. Rev Dr. Guthrie

"'Tis sweet to die! The flowers of earthly love,

(Fair, frail spring blossoms) early droop and die;

Upon our spirits evermore to lie

Fanny Forrester.