Easter tree

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 14

Easter tree

Last October I told you about the friendship tree which is popular with children in some parts <rf the world. If you made one then, you will be able to decorate it for Easter. If you have not already made one you could do so now. It is very easy. Choose a shapely branch from a deciduous tree. The leaves will be starting to change colour. You can leave them, or remove them if you wish. Fix the branch in a container with a wide firm base. Decorate the twigs with tinfoil, glitter or paint. Deck the tree with Easter things — feathers col-: cured with felt pens or ink, rabbits, chickens, eggs, hot cross buns, Easter cards and pictures. . You can make attractive birds from hollow egg shells, and this is what you do: Tie a thread to a match. Gently insert the whole match through a hole in {he top of the shell, keep-

ing the thread out to be used as a hanger. With a felt pen draw large eyes about one third of the way down the shell. Make a beak shape on cardboard, colour and cut it out. Glue it to the shell about two thirds of the way down. Colour some feathers for wings. Glue them to each side between the levels of the eyes and beak.

Tie the egg-shell bird to the Easter tree by the thread from the top. To blow an egg to make it hollow, the egg must be room temperature. A cold one from the refrigerator cannot be blown. Prick the big end of the egg with a needle and chop away some of the shell to make the hole a little larger. Make a hole in the small end. Put your thumb and middle fingeti over the holes; hold firmly and shake the egg hard to break u the yolk. Blow through the small hole and empty the egg into a cup. Leave the shell overnight to dry.