CREATE: Eggcorn Capsules

This is the first post of many for my new DIY FALL IDEAS series called #createfall. Everyone is invited to JOIN or FOLLOW along with me in this DIY FALL FUN adventure that's happening all month long!!!

FALL is finally here and what could be a better time to drag out your Easter Eggs? Huh, say what? You heard that right, you are going to need leftover plastic Easter Eggs in order to make these DIY ACORNS a.k.a. "Eggcorn Capsules", but I promise these are totally worth digging through your spring holiday storage. These ACORNS turned out sooo adorable, if I do say so myself! Even the kiddos are begging me for them already and they have no idea there is actual candy inside!

Let's get this #createfall crafty party started...

DIY TUTORIAL

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
• Plastic Eggs
  (colorful or plain white)
• Multi-surface Satin Finish Craft Paint
  (white, gray, blue, orange, red, aqua, yellow, green, pink, etc.)
• Flat Tip Paint Brush
• Small Sponge
• Hot Glue Gun & Hot Glue Sticks
• Rope or Braided Cording
  (NOTE: I used 3 different thickness sizes of rope but you can choose to use only one size) 
• Matte Finish Paint/Surface Sealer (optional)
• Egg Filler (optional)
  (Candy, Nuts, Treats, Gifts, Potpourri, Confetti, etc.)

DIY DIRECTIONS:

STEP #1:  Dig your plastic Easter eggs out of STORAGE! Wipe CLEAN if necessary and let DRY.

STEP #2:  Using Multi-surface Craft Paint and a Flat Tip Paint Brush, slowly PAINT one coat of long brush strokes all the way around the longer/bigger bottom egg cap portion ONLY! Let the first coat of paint DRY completely! (NOTE: when you snap open a plastic egg, there is a small top cap portion and a longer/bigger bottom cap portion, it is not recommended to paint the smaller top cap)

STEP #3:  REPEAT "STEP #2" by applying a second coat of PAINT. Let the second coat of paint DRY completely! (NOTE: you may apply as many coats of paint that you feel necessary to cover the egg, but let each coat dry completely otherwise it will cause paint to pull/drag and cause clumps)

STEP #4: In order to disguise the glossy plastic egg surface, this step is necessary to transform it into looking like "distressed" chalk paint which adds more texture. After all the previous coats of paint have dried completely, on the longer/bigger bottom egg cap portion, dab/blot a Small Sponge in a "teeny tiny" amount of white paint and very lightly barely drag/smear the sponge vertically from top to bottom creating a streaky white wash paint effect. This step is GREAT for hiding any "BOO BOO's" or imperfections during the previous painting steps. (NOTE: If you accidentally paint too many white streaks then just reverse back to STEP #3) Let the third coat of white paint DRY completely!  

STEP #5:  To make the ACORN cap, use the Hot Glue Gun to GLUE a small circle of glue on the very top center of the smaller top egg cap portion, then very quickly place one end of the small size rope onto the glue. Start adding small amounts of GLUE around the outer edge of the rope, then keep placing the rope in a spiraling pattern until it to resembles a cinnamon roll. REPEAT this step until the entire smaller top egg cap portion is completely covered in rope EXEPT a tiny space left untouched around the rim so the longer/bigger bottom egg cap portion can still easily snap into the smaller top egg cap portion. (NOTE: I personally did SIX rows of SMALL sized rope, then THREE rows of MEDIUM sized rope, then ONE row of LARGE sized rope to achieve the 3-dimensional look of a real acorns cap/top [view photos for example]) 

STEP #6:  To add a stem to the ACORN cap, you need a short piece of MEDIUM sized rope with a knot tied to the top and bottom of it. GLUE one knot to the very top center of the smaller top egg cap portion. 

STEP #7: (OPTIONAL) Gently PAINT or SPRAY a coat of Matte Finish Paint/Surface Sealer to the longer/bigger bottom egg cap portion in order to seal the paint and give it a protective finish. This step is only necessary if the ACORNS will be handled a lot by opening/closing them.

STEP #8: (OPTIONAL) Fill your NEW Eggcorn Capsules with candy, nuts, treats, potpourri, confetti, etc.  DIY project is DONE!

CREATIVE IDEAS:
Here are a few creative ideas for your DIY ACORNS to get you inspired...
- They can be used as fall decor by displaying them inside a vase, jar, bowl or basket.
- Scatter them throughout a fall tablescape and tell guests they are a party favor with a treat inside!
- Make a tree branch "floral" arrangement and hang them on the branches.
- Attach them onto a handmade wreath or already made leaf garland.
- Take it a step further by turning them into a garland by stringing a long piece of yarn through the acorn's stem.

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of my DIY PROJECTS 
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CREATE: COLOR-BLOCK Letter Magnets

What's so CORKY about these COLOR-BLOCK Letter Magnets? They are actually made out of CORK, duh! Since I have been recently redecorating my office area, I wanted FUN and COLORFUL magnets to go all over my MAGNETIC surfaces so that I could DISPLAY my large random collection of scrapbook paper ARTWORK pieces, DECORATIVE note cards, INSPIRATIONAL pictures and fabric SWATCHES that are too tiny to frame. But when I went searching through all of the magnet selections available in OFFICE/DEPARTMENT stores, their magnets were boring and BLAH!

Well then I figured this could just be another super quick and easy DIY project. When I started looking around for NEW magnet INSPIRATION, I came across these CORK die-cut Alphabet Letters in the "BARGAIN" section @ Michaels Stores. They also have bamboo options and I have seen chipboard/cardboard letters in craft stores that would probably work just as well. Being a GRAPHIC DESIGNER means I have a SOFT spot (a.k.a. "OBSESSION") for anything to do with TYPOGRAPHY/LETTERS. I actually DROOL over really pretty CALLIGRAPHY and LOOOVE the SMELL of freshly printed paper! How weird and "CORKY" is that? Anyway, the plain CORK letters were cool but lacked two very important DETAILS - COLOR and MODERN STYLE. That's where the COLOR-BLOCKING came into play. This project is pretty self explanatory just by looking closely at the PHOTOS of the final product but below is a DIY TUTORIAL in case you need a little more detailed info...

DIY TUTORIAL

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• CORK Alphabet Letters @ Michaels Stores 

   (NOTE:  BAMBOO option also available -OR- you might try CARDBOARD/CHIPBOARD ones.)

• Hot Glue or E6000 Glue

   [CAUTION!:  Although project is SUPER EASY, NOT recommended for kids due to type of GLUE.]

• Craft Paint or Acrylic Paint

• Small Flat Paintbrush

• Craft Magnets

   (*NOTE:   Push pin magnets like the ones I used are located in OFFICE sections. Flat round magnets or sticky magnet tape ones are located in CRAFT sections.)

DIRECTIONS:

STEP #1:  Hold the middle of each LETTER on both sides with two fingers. Using a small flat paintbrush in your other hand, carefully PAINT the outer edges of each LETTER a different COLOR. ONLY one "thick" coat of PAINT was necessary. Then let DRY completely.

STEP #2: Once the first coat of PAINT is DRY, then using two fingers hold the outer edges you just PAINTED so you can use your other hand to slowly PAINT only HALF of the top in a DIAGONAL shape across each LETTER with the same exact COLOR that matches the sides to give them a MODERN COLOR-BLOCK look. Then let DRY completely, AGAIN.

STEP #3:  Carefully place a very SMALL dot of GLUE to the back of each MAGNET, then quickly stick to the BACK of each LETTER. Then let glue DRY completely OVERNIGHT.(*NOTE:  Small round flat magnets will also work great but I chose magnets that look like push pins because I wanted the LETTERS to really stand out and have an even more 3-dimensional effect once they were on the bulletin boards.)    

STEP #4: Place your NEW fabulously CORKY COLOR-BLOCK Letter Magnets on any magnetic surface such as a Bulletin Board, Fridge, Tin Cans, Paint Buckets, etc! DIY PROJECT DONE!!! 

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