A Fun Spring Centerpiece

I saw something similar on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens this month and had to come up with my own twist. I love the organic look of it and the fact that you could make the entire project from recycled or natural materials.

Supplies:

Paper egg carton
Empty egg shells
Soil
Small flowers or plants

Using a knife, crack the eggs in the upper 1/3 of the shell. Hit it sharply to remove the top cleanly then pour the egg into a bowl. I started saving my shells about a week before I began this project. After my husband saw the project he said "I wondered why you've been force-feeding us eggs for a week!"



Using a large carton (18 eggs) I cut it in half to form a square planter. I filled some of the spaces with egg shells filled with soil, and the remaining spaces soil only.


A nice nature walk in the woods turned up fresh grass sprouting and green moss. I spent about $1.69 at Lowe's for a six-pack of pansies to jazz it up. I LOVE moss, so it played a large roll in my finished project.

To dress it up for the Easter table, try using one of those ceramic egg dishes we all have hanging around to use once a year.

I may start some seeds in the remaining shells, like mini-planters. I should be able to put the entire shell into the ground when the seed is ready to go outside. I'll let you know how it works.

Happy Spring!

Bird's Nest Home Decor

I love to collect fallen bird's nests. I am fascinated by the intricate things a small bird can accomplish with two feet and a beak. Usually, I fill the outside windowsills of my house with the nests, tucking them into the corners here and there. As I find feathers or shells I add them to the nests, it's an ever-evolving collection.
I was thumbing through an issue of Good Housekeeping last month and noticed a bird's nest display on someones kitchen counter and knew this was the solution to my display dilemma, a way for me to bring the outside in. I tried to duplicate the idea here.
Gather your supplies:

An apothecary jar
Bird's nests (please don't remove these from trees, I only take those that have blown down in the wind)
Feathers, broken shells
Twisty branches in the shape of a "Y" to support the nests.

Place the largest nest in the bottom of the jar and arrange a few unusual feathers or your shells inside

Next, place several branches above and around the nest and arrange them to cradle a smaller nest

Rest your smaller nest in the crook of the branch

It looks like a tiny tree under glass. You can add to it as you find treasures, but avoid cluttering it up. The simplicity of the branches and nests are beautiful alone.