Decorated eggs can make wonderful Christmas gifts and Christmas ornaments. Even simple designs look stunning and give great pleasure creating unique decorations. To get you started, we have this beautiul Christmas Bell Goose Egg which uses the technique of enamelling filigrees ( a process of filling findings with epoxy and painting the back to give the effect of stained glass) to create beautiful embellishments with which to decorate the design.
Below are full instructions to create the Christmas Bell Goose Egg, designed by June Eccles of Eggstravaganza. The kit is available to purchase from our online shop, or can be ordered by phone, fax or post. The kit costs £7.25 (plus postage & packing).
You will need:
1 x Goose Egg, 1 x Filigree 044-205, 6 x Filigree 044-220, 6 x Filigree 044-332, 2 x Gold Neck Chain (312-200), 1 x Bell Handle (320-631), Epoxy Resin, White Pearl Paint, Red Paint, Green Paint, Blue Paint, Optional: Glitter (Aurora Polyflakes 081-010).
Step 1
Mark the egg into 6 sections vertically.
Step 2
2/3 of the way down mark two lines 7mm apart. Draw a scallop in each section. Cut the egg along the scalloped line.
TIP: If you do not have an egg drill, carefully cut along the bottom line with a junior hacksaw blade. This will give a flat bottomed bell design.
Step 3
Paint the egg with a white pearl paint, suct as Duncans White Mist (060-700) inside and out. Apply glitter to the inside of the egg if desired.
TIP: If you have left the bottom of the egg flat, you may wish to glitter and/or paint in a highlight colour (such as red or green) the areas inbetween the scallops that would have otherwise been cut out, to enhance the design.
Diagrams:
Step 4
Enamel six of each filigree No. 044-220 and 044-332 and one filigree No. 044-205 in green, red and blue as shown.
To enamel the filigrees you mst first mix a small amount of epoxy glue. With a cocktail stick, drizzle the glue over the back of the findings a small area at a time to get an even cover. You must keep it on the move rotating it so as it sets the glue goes into the holes. This is a slow process, but gives a good effect. Complete the enamel work, then when dry, paint the back of the findings so when viewed from the front it is like stained glass.
Step 5
Epoxy filigree 044-205 to the top of the egg, then epoxy the Bell Handle (320-631) on top of that, ensureing that it remains straight as it dries.
Step 6
Bend filigrees 044-220 and epoxy one to the edge of each scallop.
Step 7
From the neckchains cut lenghts of chain to size to outline each section as shown. Epoxy into place. If desired you can carefuly apply dabs of red, greem and blue paint to the chain to match the enamelled detailing.
Step 8
To finish, glue the six remaining filigrees 044-332 to the centre of each section as shown.
This is just one example of how you can decorate a bell design. You can take the basic egg bell template and create your own unique designs. We have a selection of bell handles available, and of course a vast number of items with which to decorate your bell.
