You know when a blockbuster movie releases, and suddenly everyone on social media is buzzing about the hidden “Easter eggs” tucked within the scenes? They are talking about secret references that only the most vigilant observers catch. Well, while we love a good movie secret, that is certainly not the kind of Easter egg we are talking about today!
We are going back to the original, colorful, and messy roots of the tradition: the physical Easter egg.
As winter melts away and the flowers begin to bloom, there is no better way to welcome the season than by getting creative. Whether you are a teacher looking for classroom activities or a parent wanting to keep little hands busy during the holiday break, this guide to 20 exciting Easter egg crafts for kids is your ultimate resource. Get ready to grab your paper, yarn, tape, and glitter—it’s time to get crafty!
The Fascinating History of the Easter Egg
Before we dive into the glue and scissors, it is always fun to learn a little bit about why we are doing what we are doing. The tradition of the Easter egg goes back centuries. The egg has long been a symbol of new life and rebirth, making it the perfect representation of Spring.
But did you know that different cultures celebrate with eggs in wild and wonderful ways? Here are some fun facts to share with your kids while you craft:
- United Kingdom: In a tradition called the “Easter Egg Roll,” children decorate hard-boiled eggs and race to roll them down grassy hillsides.
- Germany: They have a tradition known as the “Egg Dance.” Eggs are laid out on the floor, and people must dance around them without breaking a single shell!
- Italy: In a game called Scuccetta, participants tap their boiled eggs against their opponent’s egg. The person whose egg remains uncracked is the winner!
- Latin America: They create Cascarones—hollowed-out eggs filled with confetti that are hidden and then cracked over heads for good luck.
- Central Europe: There are unique traditions where men splash women with water (playfully!) and receive eggs in return, symbolizing vitality and health.
Now that we are inspired by traditions from around the globe, let’s create some traditions of our own with these amazing crafts.
20 Exciting Easter Egg Crafts for Kids
We have categorized these crafts by material so you can use whatever you have lying around the house. From simple paper projects to sensory yarn art, there is something here for every age group.
Category 1: Paper & Cardboard Masterpieces
Paper is the easiest material to work with and ensures easy cleanup!
1. The Quilled Masterpiece
If you are a beginner to quilling, this is the perfect project to practice your skills!
- What You Need: Quilling paper strips (bright colors), a quilling tool (or a toothpick), and glue.
- How to Do It: Draw a large egg outline on a piece of cardstock. Roll your paper strips into tight coils, loose circles, teardrops, and ovals. Glue these shapes inside your egg outline to fill it with texture and color. It looks like a professional mosaic!
2. Tissue Paper Suncatcher
Let the spring sunshine filter through these beautiful transparent eggs.
- What You Need: Contact paper (sticky back plastic), colored tissue paper cut into squares, and black cardstock.
- How to Do It: Cut an egg frame (an oval with the middle cut out) from the black cardstock. Place it on the sticky side of the contact paper. Have your child stick the tissue paper squares onto the contact paper to fill the middle. Seal it with another sheet of contact paper, cut it out, and tape it to the window.
3. Giant Papier-Mâché Egg
A messy but memorable project that results in a giant decoration.
- What You Need: A balloon, newspaper strips, flour, water, and paint.
- How to Do It: Blow up a balloon. Dip newspaper strips into a mixture of flour and water (paste). Layer them over the balloon until covered. Let it dry for 24 hours until hard. Pop the balloon inside and paint your giant egg with bright patterns!
4. Woven Paper Strip Eggs
Great for practicing fine motor skills and weaving concepts.
- What You Need: Colored cardstock, scissors.
- How to Do It: Cut an egg shape out of cardstock and cut horizontal slits across the middle (leave the edges intact). Cut thin vertical strips of contrasting colored paper. Weave the strips over and under through the slits.
5. 3D Paper Strip Egg
This creates a spinning ornament perfect for hanging on an Easter tree.
- What You Need: Patterned scrapbook paper, a stapler, and string.
- How to Do It: Cut 6-8 strips of paper of the same length. Stack them and punch a hole at the top and bottom. Thread a string through. When you fan out the strips, they form a spherical egg shape.
Category 2: Yarn, Fabric & Texture
For kids who love to touch and feel different textures, these crafts are perfect.
6. Yarn Wrapped Cardboard Egg
This is wonderfully repetitive and calming for toddlers.
- What You Need: Cardboard cut into egg shapes, multicolored yarn, and tape.
- How to Do It: Tape the start of a piece of yarn to the back of the cardboard egg. Let the child wrap the yarn around and around the egg until the cardboard is hidden. Use variegated yarn for a rainbow effect without changing strings!
7. Felt Button Polka Dot Egg
A cute sewing introduction or gluing project.
- What You Need: Colored felt, colorful buttons, and school glue.
- How to Do It: Cut egg shapes out of felt. Give the kids a pile of buttons and let them glue “polka dots” all over the felt. For older kids, this is a great chance to teach them how to sew a button.
8. Cotton Ball “Sheep” Egg
Okay, it’s not exactly an egg pattern, but it uses an egg shape!
- What You Need: A black paper egg shape, white cotton balls, and googly eyes.
- How to Do It: Cover the black egg shape with fluffy cotton balls to make the sheep’s wool. Leave a space for the face. Add googly eyes.
9. String Art Easter Egg
A sticky, gooey science experiment that turns into art.
- What You Need: Small water balloons, embroidery floss, and white glue.
- How to Do It: Dip long strands of floss into a bowl of glue. Wrap the sticky string around a blown-up water balloon. Let it dry completely (it will get hard). Pop the balloon and pull it out to reveal a hollow string egg!
10. Fabric Scrap Collage
The perfect way to use up leftover materials.
- What You Need: Cardboard egg shape, scraps of fabric, lace, or ribbon.
- How to Do It: Simply let the kids go wild gluing different textures onto the cardboard. It’s abstract art at its finest.
Category 3: Recycled Materials
Teach sustainability while celebrating the holiday.
11. Egg Carton Wreath
Don’t throw away the carton after using the eggs!
- What You Need: Paper egg cartons, paint, a paper plate, and glue.
- How to Do It: Cut the individual cups out of the egg carton. Paint them in pastel colors to look like flowers or shells. Cut the center out of a paper plate to make a ring. Glue the painted cups around the ring for a 3D wreath.
12. Plastic Spoon Easter Eggs
- What You Need: Plastic spoons, markers, and a jar.
- How to Do It: The back of a spoon is the perfect egg shape! Draw faces or patterns on the convex side of the spoon. You can plant them in a pot of dirt like little “egg flowers.”
13. Tin Foil Relief Eggs
- What You Need: Cardboard egg, yarn, tin foil, and permanent markers.
- How to Do It: Glue designs made of yarn onto the cardboard egg (swirls, zig-zags). Once dry, cover the whole thing with a sheet of tin foil. Rub gently so the yarn design shows through. Color the raised areas with Sharpies.
14. Bubble Wrap Stamper
- What You Need: Bubble wrap, paint, and paper.
- How to Do It: Cut bubble wrap into an egg shape. Paint the bubbly side. Press it onto a plain piece of paper to make a printed egg with a cool texture.
15. Popsicle Stick Puzzle
- What You Need: 6-8 popsicle sticks, tape, and markers.
- How to Do It: Line up the sticks side-by-side and tape them together on the back. Turn it over and draw a large Easter egg across all the sticks. Remove the tape and mix up the sticks. Now the child has to solve the puzzle to build the egg!
Category 4: Decorating “Real” (or Plastic) Eggs
Sometimes you just want to decorate a 3D object. These work on hard-boiled eggs or plastic craft eggs.
16. Shaving Cream Marbled Eggs
A sensory favorite that smells good too!
- What You Need: Shaving cream, food coloring, a tray, and hard-boiled eggs.
- How to Do It: Spray a layer of shaving cream in a tray. Drip food coloring over it and swirl with a toothpick. Roll the egg in the foam. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe off the foam to reveal a tie-dye effect!
17. Melted Crayon Rocks (Hot Rocks)
- What You Need: Smooth oval rocks (egg shaped) or hot boiled eggs, and crayons.
- How to Do It: Adult supervision required. While the egg or rock is still hot, draw on it with crayons. The wax will melt instantly, creating a vibrant, painterly look that you can’t achieve with markers.
18. Washi Tape Resist
- What You Need: White eggs, Washi tape (or masking tape), and egg dye.
- How to Do It: Stick patterns of tape onto the egg. Dip the egg in the dye. Once dry, peel off the tape. The area under the tape will remain white, creating a geometric pattern.
19. Glitter Bomb Eggs
- What You Need: Plastic eggs, Mod Podge (glue), and lots of glitter.
- How to Do It: Coat the plastic egg in glue. Roll it in a bowl of glitter. It is simple, messy, and absolutely dazzling. (Pro tip: Do this one outside!)
20. Potato Masher Prints
- What You Need: A potato masher, paint, and paper.
- How to Do It: This is the easiest craft for toddlers. Dip a potato masher into paint and stamp it onto paper. The design of the masher often looks like a decorated Easter egg!
Conclusion
Easter is a time of joy, color, and new beginnings. While the chocolate bunnies and jelly beans are delicious, the memories you make sitting around a table covered in paper scraps and glue are the ones that last a lifetime.
These 20 Easter egg crafts for kids offer a variety of ways to engage with the holiday, whether you have five minutes or an entire afternoon. They help develop fine motor skills, encourage creativity, and most importantly, provide a lot of fun. So, choose your favorite, gather your supplies, and have an “egg-cellent” time crafting!