Elegant Eggs

Pattern

Instructions

PREPARATION
Lightly sand both eggshells and plastic box. Wipe clean.
PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Paint entire eggshell or box with thinned coat of Titanium White. Use flat brush and work quickly. Do not rinse brush. Pick up a bit more water and Jade Green. Blend a little on surface to create a mottled, marble look. You can go back and forth between white and Jade Green to get just the right color. Let dry.
2. Because of the curved surface of both shells and box, it is easier to transfer small elements of the pattern. Cut out individual leaves and banner. Draw an oval on one side of the uncut eggshell. Lay the banner across the center of the oval and draw around it. Draw outline of leaf at approximate location. All eggshells are unique and pattern pieces have to be laid to fit. Turn some leaves over and overlap others for a natural look. The berries are simple circles and you can put as many as you like. Vary berry sizes and overlap a few. Paint True Red. Box has no banner and cut egg only needs tails traced.
3. Paint banner with two coats of Glorious Gold. Pencil in lettering. Paint lettering with liner loaded with thinned black. Helpful Hint: Start in the middle and go each way to be sure lettering fits.
4. Paint oval using same marbling style as in Step 1. Use Jade Green and Plantation Pine to get a darker shade of marble.
5. Use angular shader to basecoat leaves with thinned coat of Jade Green. Shade with Plantation Pine and highlight with Celery Green. Use liner to paint veins first with straight Plantation Pine. Highlight with white, being sure to extend points out.
6. Use angular shader to basecoat berries with True Red. Shade with Lavender/Black mix and use liner to make stems with same color. Add white highlight. Let dry.
FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Seal box or eggshell with two light coats of Americana Matte Spray.
2. For cut egg, tie ends of ribbon around toothpick in the middle and stick toothpick through hole at top of egg. Toothpick will turn sideways and not come out. Thread ribbon through hole in bead cap; glue bead cap to egg top. Wiggle until eggshell hangs straight.
3. Stuff mylar inside cut eggshell. Poke only a little at a time until full.