Sugar String Easter Eggs

When I was little my mom made these Sugar String Easter Eggs with us.  She actually still has them today sitting on her table at Easter!  This year I decided to do them with my kids.  They didn’t turn out like I wanted them to.  I wanted them to be more sugar Crystallized, but they turned out cute for this year, next year we will for sure make them a little different.  I do have to say though that Difficulty Level is probably for ages 6+.  My 3 and 5 year old did not like this activity very much {because it was very sticky} and I ended up making them for them. 

Instructions:

• String
• Scissors
• 2 C. Sugar
• 2 C. Water
• Balloon
• Large bowl
• Old newspapers

• Blow up a balloon to desired size and tie the end in a knot.
• Fill a large microwaveable bowl with water and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
• Add sugar to the water one cup at a time until the sugar will not dissolve anymore. Stir the sugar in to help it dissolve, and allow the mixture to cool.
• Dip a balloon into the mixture and turn it so all sides of the balloon are coated with the sugar mixture.
• Dip string into the mixture, and wrap the string onto the balloon in any direction you like. Make sure the string covers a majority of the balloon. The string should stay on the balloon by itself due to the sticky nature of the sugar water.
• Dip the balloon into the mixture again, and turn it so all of the string gets re-coated in sugar water.
        
• Tie a long string to the knotted end of the balloon, and suspend the balloon from a high place so it isn’t touching anything. Place old newspapers under the balloon so sugar water doesn’t end up on the floor.

   

• Wait for the balloon to dry completely {over 24 hours}, then pop the balloon. Take the deflated balloon out of the hardened string basket.

Next year I am going to use Sugar and Starch {instead of water}, and Thinner String or yarn.  Also I am going to use a lot more to cover the balloon.  The balloon should have holes, but should be covered more with string.
Here is how they turned out.  If you don’t melt the sugar and just mix it with the starch it will look really pretty and crystallized!!  I think they turned out pretty cute though!
Now to decorate, you can leave them plain, and put in a cute basket.

Or cut a hole in it to make an cute Easter display… You can decorate by putting flowers around it, lace or ribbon!  We just used what we already had, and put cute bunnies inside!

 

   

There you have it! Happy Crafting and Happy Easter!