Easter Mosaic Cross

Well as promised here is a great project with all those eggshells. I did this with Grade 3 yesterday, because it is a Catholic school and we focus on the religious symbolism of Easter.

This technique can be easily adapted to any shape.

Materials Required:

- eggshells, cleaned and dried (you need about 6 halves)
- thin cardboard
- scissors
- acrylic paint in Easter colors as well as your grout color
- mod podge
- wax paper
- paintbrush




Collect some eggshells. Rinse them with water and if possible try to remove inner membrane. To do this just break off a little shell from the edge and peel the inner white membrane at the same time. It comes off easily when the eggs have just been cracked.

Let dry.





Paint your eggshells. Use acrylic craft paint. I did some in solid colors and some with patterns. I asked the kids to only do 2 with patterns, I find that if you use to many patterned eggs it takes away from the mosaic.

Let them dry.








For this project I pre cut cardboard crosses for all the kids. They are about 8 inches high.

I used cardboard from the back of paper pads that I had stored away but you can use cereal boxes, or any lightweight cardboard.



Paint your cross with your grout color. We chose white. I had initially thought black but I think the white worked better.




If this is for hanging make sure you punch your hole at this time as well.





Taking the mod podge start on an edge and paint some on. You want to do small areas at a time as the mod podge will dry before you get to the end.




Place a 1 inch or so section of shell on the mod podge...it won't lay flat but that is OK because you then press in down with your finger smooshing it into the mod podge and creating your mosaic.




In these photos I am adding a top coat as I go however for the kids it was easier to finish the cross completely and then add the top coat.

I also had containers of water nearby for them to wash their sticky fingers...you'll find that your sticky fingers will begin to pull off the paint otherwise.






Continue until you cover the entire shape. Don't worry about going over the edge you'll trim it after its dry.



When it has dried take some small scissors and clip the edges. This gives the piece a good finished look. You can also sand any rough edges with an emery board.


Add a coat or 2 of mod podge to the back and you are done.

You may find your shape warps as it is drying...the podge has a lot of moisture to it...just gently bend it back into place before the podge has dried completely.





You can then string it with some nice ribbon and even add a flower trim.

Here are the ones done by the kids. Sorry about the picture quality but I was having issues with the light. They did a great job.

I had to watch as some wanted to mound up several layers of eggshell on top of one another. I also found some kids wanted to break up there shells into little pieces and painstakingly position each piece. (hey! you can't rush great art) CLICK ON PHOTOS TO SEE LARGER

Several teachers at school thought they looked like stained glass.

Due to the lacquer effects of the mod podge these crosses will be quite durable and will make nice keepsakes for the parents.

That's it for today hope to see you soon.

gail