Fun Easter craft for the whole family

A four-day break in mild autumn weather is a great opportunity to catch up with your favourite people and get everyone happily involved in Easter craft and cooking. For our backyard celebration there’s a cute cubby house to paint, bunny-themed decorations to make and sweet treats to ice. Give everyone a task, from littlies to grandparents, and let the egg hunt begin!

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Tree hangers

Create a 3D egg ornament by cutting out five identical egg shapes from painted card. Fold each shape in half lengthways to form segments, then attach two aligning segment halves together using double-sided craft tape. Continue with the remaining segments, securing a loop of string in the centre with the tape before the final join.

For the clay ornaments, roll out white air-dry craft clay to 10mm thick, use Easter-themed cookie cutters to create shapes and poke a skewer through the tops for hanging holes. Allow to air dry for 48 hours, paint, then once dry, thread strings through the holes. Collect branches from the garden, brush clean, paint white and arrange in a vase to form a ‘tree’ from which to hang decorations.

Easter cookies

Whip up a batch of vanilla biscuits using bunny and egg cookie cutters, then enlist the kids to decorate them with pastel-hued royal icing (or melted white and milk chocolate) and colourful sprinkles.

Egg-hunt sign

The highlight of any Easter party for kids is always the hunt for eggs! Point the way with a D.I.Y. sign simply made from an MDF placemat, scrap timber, a hardwood garden stake and hobby letters. Prime and paint all the pieces, using templates for the bunny and arrow, then just glue it all together with construction adhesive.

Easy Easter fest

Keep the menu simple with a vibrant salad and skewers to grill on the barbie. Children will love helping to transform a store-bought sponge cake with ready-to-spread frosting and mini eggs.

D.I.Y. Easter bunting

Cut identical flag shapes from fabric remnants (or recycle old tea towels). Starting at one end, fold 50mm jute webbing in half and pin the tops of the flags into the fold, leaving consistent gaps between each. Once the desired length is reached, cut off excess webbing and use a sewing machine to sew along the webbing, securing the flags in place.

Easter tablecloth

Dress up your feast with a bespoke on-theme table covering, featuring a border of pastel bunnies with fluffy pompom tails made from yarn. Lay the tablecloth flat on a drop sheet and tape bunny stencils about 300mm apart, 100mm from the long edges, then paint using mini rollers. Look online for how to cut pompom-maker rings from cardboard. Cut yarn into manageable lengths (about 500mm). With cardboard rings together and slits lined up, loop yarn around the cardboard and through centre until rings are covered and centre is full. Snip with scissors through yarn layers along the outside. Tightly tie off a piece of yarn in the centre between the rings, then remove the rings and trim yarn. Repeat to make a pompom for each bunny. Hot-glue pompom tails in place.

Keep in mind...

• When painting and using adhesive or a hot-glue gun, always wear safety equipment (eye protection, gloves and mask) and work in a well-ventilated area. Place a hot-glue gun on its stand after use and allow it to cool down before storage. Do not leave unattended while in use or directly after use.
• Keep all paint and chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
• Keep dogs away from Easter egg hunts as chocolate is toxic to them.

Hop to it!

Check out more egg-citing Easter project ideas and inspiration.

Photo credit: Louise Roche.