(To fold your own napkins — ideally reusable cloth napkins — into “rabbits,” see this tutorial from Martha Stewart.)
Looking for some simple, DIY ideas for green Easter decor?
We’ve rounded up several ideas, including this cute basket — just weave strips of paper or ribbon through a strawberry basket’s slots (great idea via Parentella blog!) — on this Unconsumption Pinterest board.
See also: Our Easter-tagged items on Tumblr.
7 year-round uses for plastic Easter eggs
- Use eggs as refillable snack containers.
- Use as holders for jewelry, coins, screws or other hardware, or other small items.
- Fill with needle and thread, safety pins, and an extra button or two, and use as portable sewing kits.
- Turn eggs into bird feeders: thread string through hole in one end, then roll egg in peanut butter and birdseed.
If you have small children:
- Fill eggs with small objects and use in learning games (e.g., memory games, finding matching pairs of items).
- Tuck crayons into an egg for a portable activity option.
- Use eggs as sound shakers — fill them with paper clips or nuts.
Find other child-friendly ideas on the Playing House in Maryland blog.
(Credits: top, RealSimple.com; others, Playing House in Maryland here and here)
No matter what you’re celebrating/observing this weekend, here’s some cuteness for you.
It’s the best of Unconsumption — Easter edition!
tutorial: wheatgrass teacup planters via Holidash
I like the idea of repurposing teacups as planters.
This photo with the wheatgrass reminds of me of this one of wheatgrass growing in eggshells. A container or two filled with wheatgrass sprouts can add a nice splash of spring color to a room. Bonus: It’s edible!
(via dizzymaiden)
![For Easter decor, why not make egg planters?
After Easter, the plants — eggs and all — can be planted in soil.
How-to:
— Hold an extra-large or jumbo egg on its side. Tap the pointed end firmly with a table knife to just break through the shell; turn it slightly and tap again to remove the “cap.” [Reserve the contents to cook with] and rinse the shell.
— Create a drainage hole by carefully pushing the point of a small knife through the bottom of the shell.
— Gently remove about half the soil from around the roots of a small plant. Ease the roots and remaining soil into the shell; add a small amount of soil to cover the roots.
(via Pretty Ways to Decorate with Easter Eggs for Easter from Better Homes and Gardens)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m103qzuZ561qzv12bo1_400.jpg)
For Easter decor, why not make egg planters?
After Easter, the plants — eggs and all — can be planted in soil.
How-to:
— Hold an extra-large or jumbo egg on its side. Tap the pointed end firmly with a table knife to just break through the shell; turn it slightly and tap again to remove the “cap.” [Reserve the contents to cook with] and rinse the shell.
— Create a drainage hole by carefully pushing the point of a small knife through the bottom of the shell.
— Gently remove about half the soil from around the roots of a small plant. Ease the roots and remaining soil into the shell; add a small amount of soil to cover the roots.
(via Pretty Ways to Decorate with Easter Eggs for Easter from Better Homes and Gardens)
While searching online for basket-weaving projects, I came across this classic tutorial for making paper baskets, written by Friend of Unconsumption Diane Gilleland.
(Many of you will recall the awesome project Diane made for us — for our Uncollection — in which she spruced up an old t-shirt by adding the Unconsumption Mr. Cart logo onto it.)
Any paper you have on hand that’s at least 12” x 12” in size could be used for weaving these paper baskets. A nice use for some outdated maps, I think.
To make your own basket(s), check out Diane’s thorough tutorial on CRAFT magazine’s CRAFTzine blog here.
(Even if you don’t intend to make baskets, you could still check out Diane’s tutorial — it’s really well done!)
Related: Earlier Unconsumption post on paper basket-weaving, also via CRAFT, here.
Cross-file under “uses of natural materials” and ”Easter-related things”:
To dye eggs using natural materials, consider using these food items:
- purple cabbage — turns white eggs blue; brown eggs = green
- red onion skin — makes a lavender or red coloring
- beets — turn white eggs pink; brown eggs = maroon
- yellow onion skin — turns white eggs orange; brown eggs = rusty red
- ground turmeric — gives a yellow coloring
- Celestial Seasonings’ Red Zinger herbal tea — provides a lavender color
Other tea varieties, coffee, blackberries, and grape juice are among other items that will stain eggshells.
For additional information, including how-to / DIY details, see Vibrant Eggs, Dyed Naturally | The Kitchn.
Happy spring! Happy weekend!
(via KyleBean.co.uk)
See also earlier Unconsumption Easter-related posts here.
Happy spring! Happy weekend!
(via Wheatgrass Easter Egg Centerpiece — Craftzine.com blog)
See also earlier Unconsumption Easter-related posts here.
Peep This: How To: Make Chick Magnets
After Easter is over, there’s nothing more fun than making Peeps do work.
These attractive magnets can be used to post a reminder on the fridge about when it’s time to throw all these stale Peeps away!
First, choose a good-looking Chick (you wouldn’t want to be seen with…
Repurposing Peeps, from Friend of Unconsumption Alissa Walker.
