Home Grown

I love handmade ornaments. Each year I think up something new to reuse and recycle to make new an unique ornaments for my Christmas trees. This spring I got a move on and finished my projects early so they have plenty of time to cure.

Back in the spring when hens were all geared up and laying their eggs in abundance I asked some friends to send me some eggs from their colored eggs layers. From lines of pure bred Araucanas I was sent blue eggs and from Copper Marans I was sent these deep chocolate colored eggs. I was so tickled to receive these. My chicken mom friends were generous with the eggs they sent, too. I expected maybe a dozen eggs and instead I got nearly 3 dozen.

I washed the eggs. Blew the eggs. Washed the eggs again. I heat dried them so there wouldn’t be any stinky egg smell over time by placing the eggs on papertowels and putting them in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time. The eggs heat up to beyond finger burning temperatures and any moisture left evaporates. Some eggs dry quicker than others. Some of these I had to process in the microwave two or three times to get them dry. Do not put them in the microwave and set the timer for more than 15 second intervals. Too much heat for too long and the steam created can cause the shells to crack.

Using long wooden skewers and a piece of styrofoam to hold them suspended in the air I decorated them with stickers found in modge podge crafting and scrapbook supply sections of Michael’s. Once I had them decorated I them used jewelry bead caps to dress them up and to hide the holes used to blow the eggs. At the same time I used ribbons for ornament hangers. Some of the eggs have real wire hangers leftover from another ornament project we did previously. Using glossy mod podge to coat them. The mod podge not only is a protective coating that keeps the stickers from peeling and cracking over time but it also seals the egg shell and prevents the natural colors from fading. The color on the shells is a natural biological component produced by the hen in the last stages of egg production and over time it will fade.

Some eggs I left plain as they are beautiful as they are naturally.

I used no embellishments and simply placed them on the skewers and coated them several times with the mod podge. I added pretty ribbons to finish them off.

Here they are – my 2009 Christmas ornaments for my tree. I add new hand made ornaments every year. As some of you long time readers already know I put up a decorated tree in every room of my house. I put up 8 full size trees and countless small and tiny trees decorate tiny places in our home. Buying ornaments for those trees would be crazy expensive. Each year we take the time to make ornaments from things found in nature. Pine cones, cotton bolls, eggs, bird nests, twigs and berries, holly, dried boxwood and countless other items that catch our fancy.

Handmade ornaments are also a wonderful gift to give to others. When they hang them on their tree they remember with a warm heart those who gave them. It’s like having a tiny piece of you on their tree. I also like to use ornaments to embellish gifts for special people.

This is also a great craft to do with your kids. From blowing the eggs to the ribbon hangers there isn’t anything they can’t help do.

I do have some trial and error suggestions for you – the rub on type ‘stickers’ work great but those would be very hard for little hands to complete without something tearing or not rubbing off. Do not use any of the scrapbook type stickers that are plastic coated or are made of heavy card stock. You want thin paper, uncoated, easily manipulated stickers to conform to the shape of the eggs. The heavier ones won’t bend and the plastic ones won’t contour and stick to the shell.

Check around with local fresh markets, farmers markets or homes with signs that indicate eggs for sale if you want to find colored eggs. I have some green eggs I did later in the summer from different chickens and forgot to photograph those. Also plain brown egg layers produce eggs in varying shades of color. You can buy brown or white eggs at the grocery to use as well. The grocery store also offers jumbo eggs so that you can make different sized ornaments.

I am fortunate to have several choices of fowl eggs to use.

Quail eggs are wonderful when dried to use in small nest decorations. The big goose eggs work as dioramas. Turkey eggs give a different shape to the same idea and also add speckles to make for an enchanting ornament.

Eggs come in all shapes and sizes. Have fun. Be creative. Get involved with your kids. Make your friends oooohh and aahhh over your creative talents.

Repeat after me -

I can make prettier decorations than I can buy.
Yes, you can!

I will have beautiful ornaments to hang on my tree. I will not be lazy.
Chop. Chop. You are burning daylight!

I will take 10 minutes out of my day to do a crafty productive step in decorating and preserving similar eggs so I don’t have to do it all on December 22.
Come on. You have 5 minutes to poke a hole and blow an egg. You have 10 minutes to decorate one. You have 3 minutes to coat one in mod podge. One step at a time.

Yayyy me!
I [b]double dog dare [/b]you to decorate your eggs and make beautiful ornaments for your tree.

If you make ornaments I would love to see. Link back here so I can visit you.

If you try the low carb Autumn Spice muffin recipe link back here from your blog and if you don’t have a blog leave your comments and an entry for a Autumn gift giveaway drawing on Oct. 15th.

Don’t forget about the Gone Country giveaway. Thanks to those of you who have shared your stories! Entry closes this today and a gift recipient will be announced on Monday. The John Deere cookie jar is filling itself with names of participants don’t let yours be left out!

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