Hand-painted Easter Eggs – Finding Design Inspiration

It’s only the middle of February, but I have spring on my mind already. As I sit here typing, I hear birds chirping in the distance and can feel a warm, spring-like breeze blowing in through the open windows. Days like today are some of my favorite. They fill me with joy and a sense of gratitude and always remind me why Spring is my favorite season. I have lived in Houston for more than a decade, but I am still so thankful for every sunny and warm day that blesses us in the winter months.

With spring right around the corner, now is a great time to start gathering ideas for beautiful Easter tablescapes. I love to incorporate handmade items into my holiday decor, as it creates a more personal experience. It’s especially meaningful when the pieces become part of a holiday tradition and are displayed year after year. Since I’m still participating in the Frugal February Challenge and am not purchasing home decor items this month, I decided to use my existing craft supplies to make anything new I would like to add to my Easter collection.

The Plan

Today’s post is part one of a two-part series that I have planned, where I’ll be sharing my complete process for creating hand-painted wooden Easter eggs. Below I’ll walk you through the initial stages of the project, from finding inspiration to sketching preliminary designs. Then in early April, I’ll provide detailed instructions on how to prepare and paint the eggs. I hope these posts will inspire you to incorporate a few hand-painted items into your own Easter tablescapes.

If you’re worried your painting skills aren’t quite up to par, have no fear. I’m not a skilled painter either – my hands are so shaky that I have trouble painting straight lines and fine details. Reese Witherspoon once said “My rule is, if it’s not moving — monogram it!” I’m beginning to feel that way about painting, as I have been on a painting kick lately. I’m optimistic my technique will continue to improve with all this practice, but I’m also realistic about what I’m actually able to paint at this point. My advice would be to take your time and choose a theme and designs that lend themselves to your current skill level. Sometimes the most sophisticated designs are quite simple.

Decide on a Theme

When it comes to choosing a theme to paint for Easter, there are so many options. A classic theme composed of pastel-colored gingham, stripes, or polka dots would look lovely with any decor, while hand-speckled eggs in hues of light blues and browns would add a beautiful natural touch to a space. I knew I wanted my designs to capture the sense of a fresh start that spring always inspires in me, and nothing does that better than flowers. Since I’m drawn to more traditional motifs, I was born and raised in Connecticut, and I love natural elements, I chose the theme of Springtime in New England. On each of the six wooden eggs I have, I will paint flowers that are reminiscent of New England in the spring.

Winters in New England can be cold, dark, and long. There are days when it seems like winter may never end. So when the first shoots of green start to poke up through the snow, it’s a cause to celebrate – the days will be getting warmer, and winter will soon be over. In Connecticut, crocuses (also called croci) are the first to appear, usually in late February or early March. Growing up, my family and I would always watch anxiously for them to appear beside our back porch – the brilliant purple color signaling the coming of spring. In April, daffodils and tulips are in bloom across New England, and the spring flower festivals hosted in their honor will begin. Many of these festivals have been running for more than 70 years, and they are an unforgettable experience that I can recommend highly. By May, the region is awash in color, thanks to blossoms of all kinds, especially the prominent apple, lilac, and dogwood. Many people associate Fall with New England, thanks to the vibrant fall foliage, but Spring in New England will always hold a special place in my heart.

Let Inspiration be Your Guide

One of my favorite ways to let inspiration find me is to spend time outdoors enjoying nature. Nature has always nurtured my soul; the fresh air and gentle breezes help to clear the clutter from my mind and allow me to see things more clearly and experience things more fully. I have come up with some of my best ideas while wandering down tree-lined streets, enjoying a relaxing day at the beach, or meandering through fragrant flowering gardens. I learned many years ago that your sense of smell is your most potent source of memories, and I’m always amazed by how easily I can be transported to a particular time or place simply by a faint smell wafting through the air. The beauty of these moments inspires me in unexpected and astonishing ways.

Inspiration can be found in so many ways. Think about the people, places, and experiences that bring you the most joy. When something elicits strong emotions, inspiration is sure to follow. A photograph, a color, or even a word can set you on a creative path. Experiencing new places and cultures is another great way to find inspiration. While travel might not always be possible, there is an infinite supply of cultural information in magazines, on social media, in art museums, and more. The key is to open your eyes, and your heart, and inspiration will surely find you.

“I have found that sitting in a place where you have never sat before can be inspiring.”

Dodie Smith, author of I Capture the Castle

Choose a Color Scheme

When choosing a color scheme, first think about the colors towards which you normally gravitate. Do you prefer warm hues such as reds or yellows? Or are you more likely to be drawn towards cool colors such as blues or purples? Take notice of any feelings you associate with them. One thing I always find helpful is to peruse some of my favorite design books and make note of the myriad of moods that can be created by color alone.

I also have several binders’ full of magazine clippings that are a wonderful source of information and inspiration. I subscribe to several monthly magazines, and I’m a sucker for a gorgeous cover at the grocery store check-out line, so I have amassed quite a collection of articles over the years. As I read through them, I’ll tear out the pages of interest and then store them according to category in my binders. I know it’s a very old-school method, but I really love to leaf through the binder pages to find inspiration for recipes, decor, or craft projects.

Within the Easter section of my binder, I have a few favorite recipes, but the vast majority of the clippings are related to Easter egg decorating ideas. For the last few years, I have been using foods and spices to dye real eggs that I serve on Easter. My favorites are turmeric, blueberries, onions, beets, and coffee. It’s amazing the colors that can be achieved by using pantry staples (and a splash of vinegar to create a more vibrant hue), and I love to experiment with different ingredients and combinations. These beautiful muted hues inspired the main color scheme for my hand-painted Easter eggs.

Research Desired Motifs

Once you select your theme and color scheme, spend some time researching potential motifs. Flip through design books, peruse Pinterest, or visit an art museum to be inspired and gather ideas. Save your photos to theme-specific collections, which could be digital or physical, depending on your preference. By comparing images within a collection, I find it easier to identify the individual motifs I would like to create. I have to say, I’m in awe of the gorgeous floral images I found on Pinterest – the variety of shapes, colors, and variegation possible in nature never ceases to amaze me.

Create a Mood Board

When starting a new project, I recommend creating a mood board, or inspiration board, to visualize ideas and get a feeling for how the different elements will work together. Depending on the project, I might create a digital board (I like to use Canva to create them), while other times, I prefer to curate ideas using physical items from around my home. I try to include elements that reflect the key colors, patterns, and textures I plan to incorporate. The process of organizing items on the board helps me to organize my thoughts as well, making it much easier for me to envision the final design. I’ll usually create an initial board one evening, then I’ll spend a few days moving items around, swapping one item for another, until I’m happy with both the concept and the content. I’m a very visual person, and I find that I’m able to produce more cohesive designs by creating a mood board first; I’m always thankful to have taken the time to create them.

As a life-long avid crafter, my craft closet might resemble more of a small craft store than a bedroom closet. I have ample supplies not only for creating my heirloom felt ornaments and counted-cross stitch designs, but also a plethora of other items such as glitter, pipe cleaners (now called chenille stems), stencils, stamps, paints, and more. I spent time cleaning and organizing my craft closet last fall, so now all my supplies are neatly categorized, and I am able to see just how much I have at my disposal. One of my goals for the year is to use the supplies I already have, rather than buying new ones, and I’m especially happy that I already have all the supplies I need to undertake this project.

I purchased the gorgeous wooden eggs quite a while ago but wanted to save them until I had adequate time to research ideas for decorating them. The wood grain of the eggs is so beautiful that I’m tempted to leave them in their natural state and never paint them, but I’m hopeful I can incorporate it into my design somehow. The other elements on the mood board represent the colors and motifs of the overall design. I’m especially excited to include a bit of gold paint, and maybe some glitter too, for an extra special, and sparkly touch.

Sketch Initial Ideas

An important step in any design project is to sketch your ideas prior to working on the actual piece. I prefer to do this using a pencil and paper, but you can also use digital design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or even PowerPoint. At this stage, work out the dimensions, scale, perspective, and the overall look and feel you’d like to achieve. I sometimes find that a design doesn’t actually come together as I had hoped, and I need to rework it slightly to find something more appropriate. Make several versions of a design, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t worry about the quality of the sketches either, as they are aimed only as a guide; simply use them to help bring your vision to life.

Enjoy the Process

Finally, and I can’t emphasize this enough, remember to enjoy the process. One of the reasons I enjoy crafting so much is that it’s a very relaxing activity. At times, though, I can become so focused on the end result that I forget to have fun. As a perfectionist, I want everything to always be done perfectly, but no handmade item is ever perfect. Try to remind yourself that the beauty of a handmade item lies in its imperfection. My dad, a very talented artist, likes to remind me that paint is a very forgiving medium. If you make a mistake or don’t like the look, simply paint over it. Since it’s so important, I’ll say it again: enjoy the process.

“Creativity takes courage.”

– Henri Matisse

I hope you found these tips helpful. If you have any questions about the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to help.

In early April, I’ll be sharing the final results as well as a tutorial on how to prepare and paint the eggs. Although I map end-to-end process workflows at my day job, this will be my first step-by-step craft tutorial, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

xo, Tiffany