Easter comes right at the beginning of spring this year. The first sprouts are beginning to push through, and the sun’s shining more often, pushing the dreariness of winter away. Just as the outside is made new again, you can try your hand at some of these crafts and give your home something new, too.
1. Burlap bunny table runner
Burlap has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent years. Also called hessian fabric, it’s used in everything from ribbons to placemats. It can be formed, draped and tucked into virtually any container or shape. It’s especially handy in the garden, and it’s biodegradable, too.
Burlap is one of the most popular craft materials for shabby chic decor, as well, and it gets yet another job for this table runner. As shown here, black rabbit silhouettes are painted onto the fabric, and then finished with big, fluffy tails. It’s a super-easy project that you can make in just a few hours.
You can change this up however you like, too. Nowadays, burlap comes in all sorts of colors, so try making this in a fresh spring green, sweet lavender, robin-egg blue or sunny yellow — any of which would be nice for Easter. How about using a different shade for the painted bunny silhouettes? The natural background color is neutral, so any of those springtime colors would look great.
No matter how you choose to do it, a burlap bunny table runner like this will be a sweet treasure for your Easter table — and one that you can use year after year.
2. Reclaimed wood Easter bunny
Old wood takes on a brand-new shape when you use some salvaged from hardware stores and scrap piles to make this patchwork-style decoration.
Check your own garage for leftover pieces of wood from home improvement or gardening projects, or ask around at a store or two if you can grab an old pallet they’re planning to scrap. Then, use a few tools and some imagination to make this adorable, durable Easter bunny in half a day, tops.
You can use a jigsaw to cut the pieces of wood, following the bunny pattern included at the link. If you don’t have an overhead projector à la an ’80s elementary school, have an engineering print made at a print shop.
The backing for the bunny should be made of MDF or plywood, which you can pick up at the hardware store or lumberyard. (Note: MDF doesn’t hold up well in damp weather, so use plywood if you’re planning to put your bunny outside.)
Once created, just paint or stain it any way you like. (Chalk paint and wax is popular now for shabby chic looks.) If you have only a few scraps of wood, make a miniature version, or several cute little guys.
This is not a child-friendly craft, but kids of all ages will love the look of it when it’s done! If they’d like to join in on the decorating, they can paint on eyes, noses and mouths, or stick on some decals or ribbons.
3. Easter wine glass centerpieces
Need a decoration in a hurry? Here’s one to make with what you already have available in the house.
Even if you don’t drink wine, chances are good that you have some wine glasses in your cupboards. Put them to good use this Easter as charming centerpieces!
All you have to do is flip a stemmed wine glass upside down, and boom: instant, perfectly-sized holder for one of those cylinder-shaped candles you probably have stashed away somewhere. The wineglass shape makes the perfect little fishbowl beneath the candle for Easter-scapes. Fake grass, a stuffed baby chick, some dyed or candy eggs — whatever Easter-ish items you have around will work.
If you have a little more time, painting the glass is an option. Try your hand at Easter eggs, bunny faces or abstract designs, or add some ribbon and feathers.
Even non-stemmed glassware can get into the act. Paint it with a solid Easter-y color and give it a glitter coating.
How about making a few of these and sharing them around to hostesses and friends as a non-food Easter treat this year? They’re a great option for sharing the Easter love with the “no candy” folks.
