Monday, March 22, 2010

Framed Book Page Egg Wreath

I have been dying to make a book page wreath since before Christmas and have just never gotten around to it. But with Easter rapidly approaching, I thought of a fun way to combine the two: The Framed Book Page Egg Wreath!! It’s a mouthful, but a good one! :)

2010_03_01_6964 2010_03_01_6934

If you want to make this project, gather together these supplies and get to work, because Easter will be here soon and you’re going to want to keep this out for a little while! You’ll also want to grab an empty frame. I used a square 15x15, but you could easily use any size, you’ll just need to adjust the size of your wreath base accordingly.

2010_03_02_6991

I got 2 bags of small Easter eggs from Hobby Lobby for $.67 each, and there were about 25 in a bag. The Dollar Store in town didn’t have any foam wreaths but they did have round floral planters, so I sawed off about an inch of that, wrapped it in newspaper, and used it as my wreath base.

2010_02_28_6807

I picked out a few old books with varying degrees of page yellowness, tore out some pages, cut the length a little longer than my eggs, and the width just long enough to wrap all the way around the egg. I used Mod Podge to glue the paper around the eggs and then set them aside to dry for 5 minutes or so. (I learned the hard way, that if you try to glue the paper on the whole egg all at once, the egg slides around in the paper and you get air bubbles. Don’t do this, you will become annoyed very quickly.) I had a little assembly line going with my eggs, which was a good way to give the eggs a little time to dry in between the steps, and helped me not to waste any of those precious naptime minutes.

2010_02_28_6905

Once the middle section was dry and could be a sturdy base, I cut slits on each end of the paper, and pushed them down so that one side of the egg was exposed.

2010_02_28_6863

Make sure that when you are pushing down the slits, that you peel them down just a bit further, ripping the paper a little. This ensures that they will lie flat when you are smoothing them down against the egg, and there won’t be any air pockets.

2010_02_28_6884

Otherwise it will look like this in the end. Not so pretty.

2010_02_28_6900

Once the paper is pushed down, smear the top of the egg with a good bit of Mod Podge. I used the Matte finish, so it didn’t matter if it got all over the top of the paper. Use your thumb to push down a few of the pieces at a time, smoothing them so that they lay flat and overlap a little.

2010_02_28_6910

Top with more Mod Podge, and smooth down the next few strips, working your way around the egg.

2010_02_28_6911

You will end up with a nice little overlap, and if you’ve been smoothing it out with your thumb as you go, it will look great!

2010_02_28_6847

Once I had a finished pile, I pulled out my wreath base, hung it on the frame and started gluing on the eggs. This was mostly to see how far this batch of eggs would take me and how many more I needed to make.

2010_02_28_6897

I hot glued the ends of the ribbon around the frame because I wanted the wreath to be centered, and I wanted to use the hardware that was already attached to hang the framed wreath on the wall.

2010_02_28_6913

I also hot glued the ribbon to the base of the wreath, so that I could put some eggs on top of the ribbon.

2010_02_28_6914

I then made a big floppy bow, glued the ends in the knot so that it wouldn’t come undone, and glued that to the top of the frame.

2010_02_28_6917

I loved the scrunched brown coffee filter idea that Jen used last month on her Burlap Valentine Heart, so I used a similar idea to make a flower. I just scrunched it up, inked the edges with a black stamp pad, added a second layer for extra fullness, and glued a little button to the middle.

2010_02_28_6859

And there you have it!! I love this wreath. It is so neutral and chic, and looks nice in every single room of my house. Now I just have to decide where to put it! I also need to figure out if I can pull it off after Easter is over :) A lack of pastels means I can keep it up, right? Furthermore, since I used an old frame that was holding a blah piece of art and already had the ribbon, glue and books, this project cost me less than $3!!!

2010_03_01_69552010_03_01_6938

If you decide to make these eggs I’m warning you that you will have a hard time deciding what to do with them, because the possibilities are endless. You could make a little egg tree or topiary. If you opt not to glue them down, you may want to give them their own little display.

2010_02_28_6842

Or you could use them to fill your glass containers and apothecary jars. I’ll just go ahead and say it, book page eggs are the new twine balls. :)

2010_02_28_6831

I shared this project last week on Tatertots and Jello, but am so excited to share it with you here, and I hope you like it as much as I do!! Please let me know if you make some of these eggs, I would love to see your take on them!

I’ll be linking to these great parties this week, so please stop by and check them out!


Visit thecsiproject.com



78 comments:

  1. I love this idea! Anything with book pages really catches my eye. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is really darling...love this idea. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very cute...I really like them in their own little display like a real nest. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. How great! Love the idea. Thanks for sharing with Made it Monday! Jules

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your idea...your wreath looks outstanding! Come by and show it off at my NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAYS PARTY...hope to see you there:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  6. Breathtaking! And I love that you added it to an empty frame.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a fun idea, this is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this! I've been so impressed with all of the projects I've seen on here!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very cute! Love your detailed instructions!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I might be in love! Was just thinking this would be an excellent teacher gift!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amazing! Just gorgeous!
    *hugs*Deb

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such a cute job on all those eggs. The wreath even looks good partially covered :).

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is very cool - I'm inspired.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I LOVE this! It's a nice change from the millions of book page wreaths that have come out recently. I love the eggs and think I need some :)

    Brandy
    www.brandyscrafts.blogpot.com {Home Sweet Home}

    ReplyDelete
  15. That is just stunning! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh that is SO cute! and you made it look super easy too. Thanks for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Bee-You-Tee-Full! I adore your wreath! ...and excellent photo how-to. I will making some of these cutie pies! until later...

    ReplyDelete
  18. I mean really, this is too much! It's just as great as I remember it from last saturday!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow - love, love, love this! I'd like to invite you to come plant your "creative seeds" at my new blog party on Fridays: "Plant a Punkin Seed at Punkin Seed Productions".

    Hope to see you there!

    Kristi
    Punkin Seed Productions

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh my goodness!!! Awesome, spectacular, i am speachless!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh how I love this idea! Those eggs are FABULOUS!
    We have a Friday Fun Find party (on Fridays, obviously)... if you're interested, we'd love it if you'd link up this week!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh, do you have the patience of a saint! I made a few of those the other day and THAT was enough! But then my technique was much less practical! LOVE this wreath!

    m ^..^

    ReplyDelete
  23. So clever - we've done some interesting decoupage with hymnal pages...this makes me think we need to start a new Easter project. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. That is adorable and very clever too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. just might be my favorite idea yet!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Cute!! You have GREAT tutorial skills. I love the pictures and clear instructions.

    I will be making this.

    Thank you for linking this to A Little Craft Therapy with Life in the Pitts.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is one of my favorites so far!! LOVE the combination of book pages & eggs. Great way to do spring/Easter without so much pastel.

    ReplyDelete
  28. That looks beautiful! I like the way you did the eggs, they look so smooth and professional. How you figured out how to do that is amazing, I am stealing that idea for the future! Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh my gosh, that is gorgeous! Your patience astounds me, I think I could get through maybe 5 eggs but to make an entire wreath..wow!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is my favorite egg wreath. I love it!! You are amazing!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. wish i would have found you yesterday -- i made these eggs yesterday and did it with strips of paper -- over and over again - never thought of making slips the way you did -- now i know! your wreath is awesome!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. What a simple and gorgeous project! Love it!

    Katie

    ReplyDelete
  33. very sweet wreath...you make it look so easy...love the little flower, too

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a lovely way to keep some of those outdated books in such a cute & creative manner! Great tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great tutorial! Very creative and original. I'm going to link up to this tute.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Looks terrific. Book Egg Wreath. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Of all the eggs I've seen in the last month, these are the BEST~! move over martha, you've been beat by a mile.
    Sonny

    ReplyDelete
  38. Too cute! I wish I had the patience to make this. Have a blessed weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  39. That is so creative. I think you could leave that up year round. Even though you made it with Easter eggs, they look a bit like walnuts to me.

    Great job!

    Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day at My Backyard Eden!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Lovely and classy! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I just wanted to let you know that I featured your here:
    http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2010/03/fireflies-and-jellybeans-birthday-and.html

    ReplyDelete
  42. Those are great! I wondered how you would cover them to be flat.

    ReplyDelete
  43. This is so darling! I love this! Thanks for sharing at Fun to Craft's Spring has Sprung Party.

    ReplyDelete
  44. How clever! I just love those little eggs. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  45. omg this is darling!!! what a beautiful wreath! we do work with recycled books as well! its kinda our thing ;) glad to see other people doing the same thing! come and check us out sometime!
    xoxo
    http://bibliochicshop.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  47. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I am in LOVE with this wreath! I made all the eggs, but never got around to creating a wreath! Next year.

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a great way to use up those eggs I never know what to do with. The wreath looks great! Terrific detailed tutorial too!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Adorable idea. Just found it from this week's CSI (mod podge).

    ReplyDelete
  51. Love this wreath...can't wait to try this. So very cute for easter!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Very cool looking. love the idea of using the newpaper.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Not just great for Easter, but for a fall wreath too, as I found the wreath to have a delightfully nutty look about it. Not nutty wacky, literally like walnuts! Really cool!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I saw your project linked up over at the CSI Club and just had to come by. I collect eggs and am a huge fan of vintage papers. Your wreath is an incredible way to combine both. Simply wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Just posted a photo of my book page egg wreath you inspired me to create on my blog. I love it! Just wanted to thank you again for this very thorough tutorial. In case you want to see it {I gave you credit ;)} Here is the address: http://blog.familybringsjoy.com/2011/03/29/easter-decorated-mantle/
    Have a great day, Erin! :D

    ReplyDelete
  56. Such a cute idea. Thanks so much for posting! You have a new follower :).

    ReplyDelete
  57. I love this idea! Great alternative to pastel colors. It feels like old world meets mod. Thank you for sharing the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  58. I am featuring this idea tomorrow! Thanks for the idea!!!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I just found this tutorial. I love it. I am a new follower. Hope you can drop by/follow on my blog http://scrapidoodlelicious.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  60. This is a very unique wreath.. I love it! I hope it's okay, I just couldn't help but feature it in my Easter wreath and topiary round-up I just finished. You can see it here:

    http://jamiebrock.hubpages.com/hub/Decorate-Your-Home-for-Easter-Topiary-and-Wreath-Ideas

    Thank you so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  61. This wreath is gorgeous! I've been planning to make these eggs since I read your tutorial, I tried today and failed miserably, lol! You either have a lot of patience or I am doing it wrong!

    ReplyDelete