Activity: Paper-Mâché Eggs

These eggs are perfect for centerpieces and for gifts to grandparents, teachers, and other family friends.

1. For a centerpiece egg, blow up a large balloon (about 12 inches in diameter). For gift eggs, blow up small balloons (about 5 or 6 inches in diameter). Tie the balloons closed with a piece of string and tie the loose end of each balloon string to something to keep the balloon from floating away while you're working. 

2. Cover your work area with newspaper. 

3. Make papier-mâché paste with 2 cups flour, 1 cup water, and a little white glue. You may need to adjust the amount depending on the number of balloons you will be covering.

4. Soak torn (not cut) newspaper strips in the paste, squeeze off excess, and lay them over the balloons. Continue adding strips, slightly overlapping them, to cover the entire balloon. Keep a 1- to 1 1/2-inch (or larger depending on how you plan to fill the egg) opening at the top. Add a second layer, and let dry for 24 hours. 

5. The next day, add one more layer of papier-mâché and then let dry for 24 hours. 

6. Decorate the egg balloons by gluing on pieces of colored tissue in patterns. 

7. After the tissue is dry, if the balloons are still inflated, pop them. 

8. For the centerpiece egg, insert candies and small toys into the opening and place the filled egg in the Easter basket with grass. 

9. For the gift eggs, insert candies into the opening and close the opening by tying a bow around the egg with a piece of wide cloth ribbon.