Shoebox: Papier-Mache Egg

Materials:

round balloons
two packs of Rigid Wrap
hot glue gun and glue sticks *
acrylic paint
lace and decorations
8" round plastic foam disc (2" thick)
6" round plastic foam disc (1" or 2" thick)
pinch light with any color bulb (optional)

* Editor's note: Hold the Foam adhesive will glue the foam and not melt it, like hot glue is prone to do.

Steps:

1. Blow up balloon to desired size.

2. Cut Rigid Wrap into 6-inch lengths. For smaller eggs, cut the strips in half lengthwise.

4. Apply three layers of the Rigid Wrap strips. It also helps to apply a coat of Vasoline to the balloon to prevent the strips from sticking. Set aside to dry for at least 24 hours.

5. When the plaster is completely dry, prick the balloon to deflate it and remove it from the plaster shape.

Note: Though Kim didn't mention it, I'm sure that if the opening is not quite the size or shape you wanted, you can re-shape it with scissors.

6. Paint egg desired color and allow to dry.

7. Use a spoon to shape a gully in an 8-inch plastic foam disc to act as a base and to hold the egg upright. Hot glue egg in place if desired.

8. Hot glue the smaller (6-inch) plastic foam disc inside the egg and compose a scene inside the egg.

9. Hot glue lace around the outside edge of the opening.

10. Add a pinch light at the top if desired.

Though the balloons Kim uses are round, they usually blow up to be more egg shaped than round, so they work well for this project.