How to make an Easter egg tree

In many European countries, it’s traditional to hang hollowed-out, brightly coloured eggs from the branches of trees to celebrate Easter. Make your own centrepiece with small branches and twigs from the garden, arrange in a vase, then hang the decorated eggs.

You will need

• 6 white duck eggs or hen eggs
• Darning needle
• Olive oil
• A few drops of concentrated watercolour paint (we used Dr PH Martin’s Radiant Concentrated Water Colour in Norway Blue and Ice Blue, from larger art stores and atlantis.co.uk
• Needle long enough to thread the length of the egg
• Ribbons for hanging the eggs

1. Lay sheets of newspaper down on a kitchen table and make sure you’re wearing old clothes or an apron.
2. Use the darning needle to pierce a small hole in the thinner end of each egg – it helps if you do this while the egg is still in its box. Turn the egg upside-down, then make a larger hole in the other end. Poke the darning needle inside the hole and wiggle it to break up the yolk.
3. Hold each egg over a bowl and blow into the small hole to push out the contents of the egg. (As long as you use a clean bowl, you can save the egg to make scrambled eggs.) Carefully rinse the hollow egg shells in warm water, then leave to dry.
4. Pour the oil into a shallow bowl and add a few drops of the watercolour paint. Use a fork to swirl 
the colours together to create a marbled effect.
5. Roll the eggs in the paint to decorate, then use kitchen paper to dry a little. Leave to dry for at least 48 hours. Using a long needle, thread the egg with ribbon and knot at the bottom.