Mother Nature got a little help this spring in making these beautiful Speckled Eggs. There are so many ways to display these little pretties, from a grapevine nest to a twig wreath to simply scattering a few here and there. Many thanks to Rebekah Meier for sharing this tutorial with Crafts ‘n Coffee.

Speckled Eggs Nest and Wreath by Rebekah Meier.

To make Speckled Eggs, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: Eggs in assorted sizes; Rebekah used two 4″, four 3″, and four 2″
• Acrylic craft paints: antique white; light teal
• Acrylic stain and antiquing medium in burnt umber
• Varnish, satin finish
• Artist’s gesso
• Spackling
• Wooden skewers
• Low-temp glue gun
• Thick, white craft glue
• Tools needed:  Stiff, round paintbrush and flat paintbrush; disposable palette; palette knife, 1″ wide, or recycled credit card; water basin; paper towels; wire cutters; fine-grit sandpaper
• Optional: Large twig wreath; small grapevine wreath; natural excelsior; gray floral moss; floral wire; white spray paint

The wreath is understated and beautiful.

To make Speckled Eggs:

1. Insert a wooden skewer into bottom of each foam egg and use it as a handle.

2. Spread a thin, ever layer of spackling onto each egg using a palette knife or an old credit card. Place skewer in heavy glass or jar and let dry completely.

3. Remove skewers from eggs. Dab a bit of spackling over holes left by skewers, as well as any uneven areas, and let dry. Sand eggs with fine-grit sandpaper until smooth; wipe away dust with damp paper towel.

4. Using a flat paintbrush, apply a thin coat of gesso to each egg. Sand and apply second coat of gesso; let dry. Mother Nature isn’t perfect, so don’t worry about a little unevenness or texture.

5. Paint eggs light teal or antique white, using photo as a guide. Let dry completely.

The soft colors and imperfections mimic what you’d find in nature.

6. Dip tips of stiff brush into burnt umber paint. Firmly draw thumbnail across bristles to spatter paint each egg with flecks of color; if desired, lightly tap egg with more burnt umber for greater contrast. Let dry completely.

7. Apply one coat satin varnish to each egg; let dry.

8. To display in a small nest, line the small grapevine wreath with moss and excelsior. Secure moss with floral wire. For a vintage look, spray with a very light layer of white spray paint. If attaching the wreath to the larger twig wreath, use floral wire.

How would you display the Speckled Eggs?

There’s something magical about finding the  fragile yet beautiful shards of a robin’s egg on the ground. It’s till too cold for much nesting where I live. How about where you are?Have you seen any birds nesting?

Happy crafting.

Sharon