Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Christmas Eggs

You may have noticed in my header picture our baby Emily, who is now 25 years old, is holding in her hand an egg.  And there are a couple more hanging on the tree around her.  Our Christmas egg tradition started in 1978 when our last two kids hadn't been born yet.  I saw an article in a woman's craft magazine on making decorations out of real eggs.  That really appealed to me so I spent a lot of time that winter making egg decorations, which involved blowing the yolk and white out through a small hole poked in the pointy end of the egg, drying it out, putting two coats of paint on them, cutting out and glueing tiny wrapping paper motifs on the painted eggs, and finishing with two coats of decoupage medium, a cap finding and thread for hanging.  Quite a long process, but well worth the effort.  I put a child's name and the year on lots of the eggs.  This continued for several years until all six older kids had several eggs with their names and dates on them.  I stopped doing it for awhile, and then six years later Emily was born so she needed to have her own name egg too so I did a few more in 1986.  And that was it.  We had so many pretty decorated eggs that one year they were the only decorations on our tree, except for lights and garland, of course.  That year was also the year a friend's child crawled behind the tree and knocked it down - not one egg was broken!

As the kids grew up and left home, they each took with them some of the eggs, especially the ones with their own name on them.  I always like to go visit their homes at Christmas and find their special egg on their tree.  Seeing the 1978 or 1979 date on them really gives a feeling of passage of time.  This year I decided that it's only fair that the kids' spouses and children have their own egg ornament so I got busy and started blowing eggs - lots of scrambled eggs, omelettes, french toast, etc. so that the insides of the eggs wouldn't be wasted.  I had forgotten in my excitement to make the egg ornaments that family multiplication over the years made it necessary for me to make 34 eggs - one each for each of my 7 kids, 7 more for their spouses, and 20 for the grandchildren. 

This year I was more adventurous and rather than limit myself to wrapping paper motifs, I raided my scrapbooking stash and used paper from there as well as ribbons, beads and lots of bling.

Here's a few of the finished results:

Decorations in progress

Just bling on Jenny's egg this year

The youngest member of the family gets a suitably appropriate one.



This was my first try at an all-bling egg for granddaughter Kenzie

See how pretty they look on the tree.  I had to take them off again of course so they could be given to the new owners.


And a few more on the tree.

I had tried to post more pictures of the eggs, but Blogger wasn't cooperating with me today.  I hope these eggs are part of my kids' Christmasses long after I'm gone.




14 comments:

Granny Annie said...

I like to draw portraits on eggs and since we raise chickens I usually have a surplus of "canvas". I should be making Christmas ornaments and might just start for next Christmas. Doubt mine would be as lovely as yours.

Magpie said...

What a wonderful tradition! You have so much talent and patience. I love your bling eggs. :)

Chatty Crone said...

Almost as gorgeous as that baby in the header! sandie

just call me jo said...

I love your tradition. Those are the special moments of the holidays. Beautiful!

Mickey said...

Oh Pat they are so gorgeous! scrapbooking supplies really work beautifully on your eggs. I am glad that you are getting them all done in time! Wonderful keepsakes of your family! Know they will treasure them!

JQ said...

The best part is your handwriting on them.

TARYTERRE said...

They are BEAUTIFUL. So sweet. I can't believe it. We have something more in common. I couldn't afford glass bulbs for my first Christmas Tree, so my friend showed me how to use eggs to make decorations. I do mine a little differently than you, though. I poke a quarter size hole in the side of the egg and remove yolk. I expand the hole so I can add a little scene inside the egg. To make extra spending money I would sell them one at a time or by the dozen or half dozen. It was my hobby for many years. So tickled to hear someone else has a similar one. Take care.

Sush said...

Those eggs are heirlooms! What a lovely memory...(and you know how we love making those) for all of your family! Isn't it amazing how the numbers keep growing and keep us busy!
I know you will have some very thrilled family members come this Christmas!
Hugs~

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Your egg ornaments are just beautiful. They will be treasured keepsakes for years to come. It looks like your family is larger than mine as I only have or will have 17 grandchildren come May next year. I do love the picture in your header. What a wonderful memory that is.

Anonymous said...

They look wonderful - especially the 'bling' one!

Michael MacKenzie said...

!!!!!!!

Rick Watson said...

Wow! What a great idea.

Danielle said...

very cute - too much to get done this year .. but definitely going to try some eggs next year. never occurred to me :)

Anonymous said...

Awesome eggs! I hope I'm getting one!!! - Mary