This year the kids and I decided to dye our Easter eggs with out the mess of traditional dyes. My oldest son, John, cannot stand to get dirty, so most holiday traditions become more of a hassle for him than fun. So thanks to Martha Stewart and her staff member, Jackie Manzolillo, and her family traditions we were able to change things up for him this year. Jackie's family dyes their eggs using old silk garments. You know a little Christian Dior, a little Oscar De La Renta. This is a perfect use for the silk tie you gave dad last year so that you can replace it with a new one this year. Dad will love it! Don't you agree?
It is very simple to do. You just take a strip of silk fabric and wrap it around a raw egg. I found the reds and blues worked better than paler colors. Then you wrap the fabric wrapped egg in a tight knit white fabric and secure with a twist tie. Place in an enamel or glass pot cover with water and 1/2 cup of vinegar and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for about 25 minutes.
After that you remove them from the water. Let them cool and unwrap them. And behold the most amazingly simple decorated eggs. While they may have imperfections, they are still elaborate. And way more detailed than I could have ever done myself, let alone a child.
The kids loved it. With each one they unwrapped they ooh-ed and ah-ed! And there was no dye to wipe up. Just silk and cotton to let dry and re-use next year. Works for me!
Just like this card I made for last months design team challenge. The challenge was to follow this simple sketch, that was so simple even I couldn't do it. That's right, I could not follow the sketch. But that is the beauty of a good sketch challenge ( at least in my opinion) is the ability to see the design and run with it and make it your own. So below is the sketch challenge that I came up with and then my sample and those of the other dt members that took part in the challenge.
February Sketch Challenge
My card: Cream Cardstock, Aquamarine Stardream - layer and antique label die, Bronze Stardream, Rose Quartz Stardream - Flower tag die small and Ashley "U" die, Basic Grey Lili Kate 6x6 paper, Basic Grey Rub Ons.
& last, but certainly not least, Carla Mayfield.
Aren't they all wonderful? So many different styles and textures. That is the beauty of having such a diversified design team and an equally diversified paper selection. Did you know that Creative Cuts & More offers their dies in more than a dozen different mediums, such as Bazzill cardstock in smooth, canvas, criss-cross, felt, vellum, velvet and chip board just to mention a few. And when you add up the different colors the combinations are just endless! There are about 270 different colors in all. So many colors even the Easter Bunny would be jealous.
Happy Easter!
Dusty
Brilliant! What a great read. That was a good post - informative but not too heavy. Thanks for taking the time out to write it! I think spirituality is really important too, we certainly agree on that point. A leader without spirituality is missing a key element.
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