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Decorating Easter Eggs: Decoupage

Martha Stewart Decoupaged Easter Egg

Somehow I envision myself as someone who should be able to decorate pretty little Easter eggs like Martha does. Aren’t they so lovely? She even has a decoupage tutorial for her eggs.

Decorating Easter Eggs: Decoupage

My attempt at a sheet music egg for spring.

I made my first attempt this week at “mod podging” a sheet music egg for spring. My hands stuck to the sheet music (which was kind of a strange deja vu) so it was a real challenge to place the music where I wanted it.

Clearly I need to work on my technique.

Do you Mod Podge? {halp!!}

UPDATE! Readers have come to the rescue again in the COMMENTS! Check out the great tips! And don’t forget to look at Martha’s tutorial!

Need more Easter inspiration?
HOW TO DECORATE A SPRING TABLE!

Speckled Easter Eggs

Easter Decorating & Traditions

Easter Centerpieces & Placecards

shared with Centsational Girl Spring Projects

60 Comments

  1. Kathy

    I Mod Podged several paper maiche eggs, Melissa, and it was just a mess. Once dry they look fine, but while I was doing it I swore I wouldn’t do it again! Like you, I had it all over my hands and kept thinking there had to be a better way.

    Reply
  2. Sandy

    I have done few things with Mod Podge, the first was clipboard. There is definitely a learning curve! I would think a rounded surface, such as an egg, would be harder to do.

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Yeah, I think that was part of my challenge. Trying to make the paper bend on a round surface was tricky lol ;-(

      Reply
      • Leanne

        I think to use smaller paper, it’s easier to mod podge, that’s how I do it anyway. Then on a curved surface they are more likely to take it’s shape. Also, I do the mod podge first, place the paper on, let dry, then add more paper etc. until the end when you can apply the last coat of mod podge to get the “finished” look. Baby steps.

        Reply
  3. Diane

    Hi Melissa-

    These are so cute, colorful,and stylish. I have been looking for ideas to decorate some eggs to put in a wire basket I have in my dining room. I think this idea is a keeper. Thanks for posting it.

    My best- Diane

    Reply
  4. Lisa

    I’m a huge crazy Mod Podge fan….and I discovered last year that the thinner your paper is that your modpodging on,the better when it comes to eggs. Paper napkins work great but I do loooove your sheet music!!
    Happy weekend Melissa!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Yeah, maybe my paper was just too thick, especially for an egg. I want to try napkins next. And next time I’m coming to you for tips.

      Reply
      • Fiona's Mosaic

        YES! Napkins work great! That’s what I have used. I did a clear glass plate that way. Very fun!

        Reply
  5. Tara G.

    I have some beautiful eggs from Japan that they’ve covered with their pretty papers. The artists cut the paper into thing strips, slightly overlapping them before coating with their version(?) of mod podge.

    Reply
  6. Amy

    I have never mod podged, but after seeing your cute egg I’m inspired to try it. I have learned recently, that no matter how ugly it gets creating something, Everything ends up better and nicer once it’s been completeed and finished, great job!

    Reply
  7. Judy

    It’s not as easy as it looks, right? I don’t know how Martha Stewart gets it without any wrinkles. I do like your sheet music eggs.

    Reply
  8. Stacy

    I used a paint brush to spread the glue on my eggs. It is messy, but it gave the kids and I something to do over spring break. I posted our project on my site if anyone is interested.

    Reply
  9. Rebecca E. Parsons

    i think that is a pretty good try for your first time!!! i have been decoupaging since the 1960’s…it was the first class i ever taught…try smaller pieces of sheet music and pick them up with your brush, apply them to the pre-podged egg and smooth with the brush (altho i often like to smooth with my fingers) i usually do half the egg (long side) and let it dry on an egg carton sideways…then i do the other side overlapping the joins…

    XOXOX
    R

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Ooo good tips. Thanks so much!!!!! I’m definitely going to try it again!

      Reply
  10. Melissa Lewis - Midwest Magnolia

    You know what, I haven’t used Mod Podge before. But those are precious. I love your sheet music eggs. I might be giving this a try soon:) Happy Friday!

    Reply
  11. Robin

    LOL, those look better than my first eggs I tried! Well, I say my “first” eggs….they are really my “only” eggs because I don’t want to try it again because they looked so bad!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Haa. I’m not going to give up yet, I guess I just need some more practice lol.

      Reply
  12. Gina

    I adore Mod Podge! Use it frequently, and if you need tips, try the blog modpodgerocksblog.com Amy is great! (and super nice) and had a tips area. Good luck ^_^

    Reply
    • Melissa

      MOD PODGE ROCKS blog? I totally need to study that blog. Thanks!!!

      Reply
      • Gina

        oh, your quite welcome! I have found some many wonderful things to try there. I’ve Mod Podged furniture, used it with my scrapbooks, all kinds of paper crafting…

        Reply
  13. IAMSNWFLAKE

    They look great. Don’t think I will try it though. I really don’t like getting my hands all glued up and sticky.

    Reply
  14. Cara Ferguson

    Hi Melissa ~
    I’m a lurker that enjoys your blog. This is question about your lantern in your dining room. Do you feel it puts out enough light over the table? I am planning to find a similar fixture for above my table, but wanted to make sure the light would spread over the table adequately.
    Thanks in advance!
    Cara

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Oh, it is not very bright at all! Fortunately I have big windows on that side of the house. But you’d definitely need supplemental lighting if you want a brighter room or have a large table!! Hope that helps! You could look for a lantern with more light bulbs and it would be much brighter.

      Reply
  15. Denise Vander Werf

    I was looking for some inspiration to do a small project today and I found it. Woo hoo!
    I think I’m going to try it with tissue paper.

    I’m eggcited! Sorry, couldn’t resist. :)

    Reply
    • Melissa

      I think tissue paper would be so much easier to work with, eggspecially on an egg lol ;-)

      Reply
  16. Karen

    Melissa,
    I think your sheet music egg looks sweet—were the Martha eggs decoupaged? I have been wanting to try my hand using mod podge…i’ll have to try it sometime. I’m going to read all of your reader tips first.
    Karen

    Reply
  17. Megan

    Try using smaller pieces of paper, and maybe soak them in a water/mod podge solution to make them more flexible. When you put them on paper you can smooth the wrinkles. There will still be some, but they’ll be smoother.

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Brilliant! Soaking the paper pieces first, that makes total sense! Thank you!!!

      Reply
  18. Vee

    Yes, with about the same results. Perhaps smaller sheets and, if the paper is too thick, can it be split? Great idea for sheet music eggs, though. We use pretty paper dinner napkins and split them down tissue thin.

    Reply
  19. Bonnie Mattson

    Hi Melissa,

    Try some little bits of colored tissue paper and liquid starch. Very easy and so pretty. The little pieces should be torn rather than cut and the starch makes it all overlap seamlessly.

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Good tip Bonnie! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  20. Bonnie Mattson

    Melissa, I just reposted a post where I showed what the tissue eggs look like if you are interested. Have fun! Just double click on my header if it isn’t up yet. B

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Thanks Bonnie!

      Reply
  21. Kreative Karma

    You should try using rub on transfers from the craft or scrapbook store. They should turn out more like Martha’s look. ;)

    Reply
  22. Rachel Lynn

    I think the trick is to use a softer paper (she used napkins) and only apply small pieces at a time. You could probably use rubber stamps to put designs on an egg.

    Reply
  23. Marilyn Holeman

    Great post, and fabulous tips from other readers. Thanks for posting, Melissa. I’m going to give it a try, too!

    Blessings,
    Marilyn

    Reply
  24. Fiona's Mosaic

    Very sweet Melissa! I love the sheet music!

    Reply
  25. {occottage}

    Not sure what Martha thinks but…I would suggest thinning the Podge a bit to get the strips of paper wetter and easier to work with…like making papier mache in grade school. Also, I like to use Liquid Laminate instead of MP…it’s so much easier to work with!!

    m ^..^

    Reply
  26. {darlene}

    this voice major loves your music eggs. Can’t help with mod podge… I am ashamed to declare to the blog world: I hate crafts. hee hee.
    -{darlene}
    fieldstonehilldesign

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Ha…I’m not crafty, but I try every now and again. Oftentimes with less than desirable results ;-)

      Reply
  27. Arlene

    Totally agree about using napkins. Just use one ply…usually the decorative napkins have a printed ply and a white ply. Back in the 90s….I used to use napkins to decoupage picture frames. They are cute! You do have to use small pieces of the napkin and work a little at a time for the best results. I always use one of those cheapie foam brushes to apply the mod podge. I enjoy your blog…thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  28. rachel c

    maybe I’m the only one, but I really like the look of your eggs – I love the imperfection in them!

    I’m totally going to this with my girls…AFTER buying some cute tissue paper and memorizing the modpodge blog. =)

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Thanks Rachel! :-)

      Reply
  29. Mod Podge Amy

    So many great tips, I have nothing to add! I don’t mind the rumpled look either like some of the other commenters. If you want it really smooth, I would do mini-patchwork. But they look really cute. Yay!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Thank you Amy! YOU are the Mod Podge Expert so I’m glad you don’t mind my rumpled egg. Maybe that is an acceptable look! ;-)

      Reply
  30. Susan

    I don’t buy Martha Stewart living, but I love the latest cover because of the blue & white eggs and cookies.

    Reply
  31. Mimi

    Used to mod podge a lot. Did some eggs a couple of yeas ago with tissue paper. It works rather well, but it does begin to stick to your hands after a while. Think using smaller bits of paper is a good idea.

    Reply
  32. Angela

    I am definitely going to read the tips here, but I have to say this first. Dude, you rock.
    Nothing of mine ever looks like Martha’s. Thanks for sharing your lumpy egg :)

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Ha, you are welcome. All in the name of being real ;-) I do attempt martha-esque projects and sometimes, they are lumpy.

      Reply
  33. Paula Gonzales Rohrbacher

    Try cutting the paper into smaller pieces, (diamond or squares) applying the modge podge to the egg, placing the paper and then coating it again. It takes longer, but the results are worth it. I love paper crafts – check out my blog post about paper!

    Reply
  34. Jenny

    Transfer your design onto thin tissue paper (the kind you buy in gift wrap)by photocopying the design onto the tissue paper. Begin by cutting the tissue paper the same size as your printer paper. Tape the tissue paper to one end (the end you insert first into your printer tray) of a sheet of your printer paper, place the two sheets into the into the tray, put the design onto bed of the copier, and print out. Voila, any design you want on tissue paper

    Reply
  35. Linda Pare

    Thank you so much for your post. I wanted to try this with residents in an assisted living facility.

    Reply
  36. Jenn

    I think that you have to use a thinner paper, like a napkin or tissue paper. You could also try to cut the sheet music into very small squares and glue them on almost like a mosaic. BTW… I’m a new follower and am so excited I found your site!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Thank you Jenn! So excited to have you here!

      Reply
  37. Sistergirl

    I love those eggs. I will try to do that for Easter.

    Reply
  38. Jo

    Aw, your crinkly egg is cute! I’ve only ever mod podged flat surfaces…well, if you don’t count the corners and edges of a binder.

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Thank you Jo! I’m starting to grow more fond of it.
      :-)

      Reply
  39. Anu

    Wow! This looks lovely. Hope to see you at My Dream Canvas!

    Reply
  40. liz

    I think the trick is to use a softer paper (she used napkins) and only apply small pieces at a time. You could probably use rubber stamps to put designs on an egg.

    Reply

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