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March

• When I think of Easter, my mind wanders back to that lovely basket full of faux grass and Easter goodies that the good bunny left for us by the couch. To make one in miniature, start with a basket. This can be a purchased item (easy to find at this time of year), or you can make one by molding an appropriately shaped piece of glue soaked canvas over a plastic form (shampoo bottle, etc.), secure with an elastic band while it dries, then decorate raw edges with ribbons and bows. You can also use the central medallions of doilies in a similiar manner (either a store find or make one yourself). If you are feeling really ambitious, you can check out a basket weaving book from your local library...with the right materials and a little patience a small basket is within your reach.

• To fill the basket...well, you will need a bunny of some sort. Look in your local dollar store, etc., and sometimes they will have inexpensive little bunny earrings. If you can find a very small bunny, all you need to do then is take it off the earring, and paint it chocolate brown.These earrings are also good for bunny dolls. A fimo rabbit can be made as well. To make a flat bunny, draw an outline of Peter Cottonwhatsisname on a piece of cardstock. Cut out, and place on a rolled out fimo sheet. Cut around the template, remove cardstock, and apply bunny fur lines, cure as per manufacturers directions. Jelly beans can be made with fimo as well. Roll a very thin snake of the clay, cut into very short pieces and round the edges. Bake as usual, cool, and make a bag out of clear sandwich wrap to put them in. A nice finishing touch is to add a pretty pastel bow. Don't forget to also make little marshmallow chicks, foiled eggs, and little toys for the mini child within.

• Easter eggs are also a favorite. Buy little eggs from the craft store, or make them out of fimo, decorate with paints or leave solid colors. You might also want to search your local cosmetics counter for funky little decals/transfers that are popular for finger nail art, as they can make decorating an egg that much easier! Why not make an egg decorating scene as well? Small bowls can be made out of fimo, or a painted wood turning, then filled with different colors of glass paint. Glue bowl to a miniature paper (either can be purchased, invented on the computer, or take the local rag and have it reduced!). Have another bowl full of unpainted white eggs, and some eggs lying on the table that have been painted with glass paints. Don't forget the mini paint brush made from a painted round toothpick and hair bristles.

• Faith and Begorrah, Cead Mile Failte (A hundred thousand welcomes!) to my shamrock section. I looked and looked for scenes celebrating the good saint, but none were to be had (at least in my stocks)...therefore I made some stuff up. Leprechauns are a popular symbol of St. Patrick's day, at least in North America. You can make your own little person out of fimo, or buy a small plastic doll and dress it with bits of glued on material. Once your little person is finished, why not make a little pot of gold? Go to the local grocery store and buy a vending machine goodie, preferably one that comes in a plastic bubble. Take half this bubble, punch two holes for the cauldron handle (which can be made from a piece of black plastic covered wire), add little beads for the feet of the cauldron, paint with a matte black paint and let dry. Fill cauldron part of the way up with some batting, and the rest of the way up with "gold"...roll a snake of fimo out, cut into coins, cook, cover with a little gold foil. Fancy a trip to the local pub? Well, you can make such treats as irish coffee and beer with clear "glass" glasses (modified straws or purchased items) filled with the appropriate color glass paints. The whip cream on top of the coffee can be simulated with a little acrylic caulking. If you are not into "traditional" symbols, fill a room with green accessories...notepads, chairs, plants, chinaware, towels, blankets, etc. Throw in a few framed prints of the Emerald isle, too!

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