Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.
There is a good chance your egg usage during this month is a bit higher than other times of the year. So I’m guessing you may have a few empty egg cartons laying around. I’ve always had trouble throwing them out because, gosh, I can probably make something with them, right?! Yes! The answer is yes! The cartons make seasonally-perfect gift boxes.
Each tiny cup is a perfect spot to nestle little gifts, treats, ornaments or cascarones. And with a simple paint job, they’re super cute to boot!
The carton is a blank canvas of possibilities, calling out for cheerful stripes or dots. Let’s paint!
Supplies:
- egg cartons*
- craft paints
- brushes
-treats and trinkets to fill them
*I searched online for plain egg cartons and unless you would like to purchase 25-100+, I didn’t find any viable options. I found my flat-topped cartons in the organic section of my grocery store. I did have to peel off the labels but beyond that, they were perfect.
There aren’t real, official steps for this one. It’s a paint-as-you-wish-decorate-as-you-want kind of project. I painted the outside of each a solid color. Because there was a little writing on the inside cover, I painted it too.
After the carton was dry, I added very simple dots and stripes. For dots, you could use anything that will make a round shape — even the stick end of a paint brush!
Then, when all the paint has fully dried, fill it to the brim with the tiniest of treats or gifts. You could use toy animals, ornaments for an Easter Tree, decorated eggs, jewelry, hair bows, favorite candies — whatever you like! Tuck them into each little cup amongst some Easter grass.
Tie it up with a bow and gift it to your favorite person. These would be cute in a big Easter basket for kids, or you could fill a carton with fine chocolates for a friend. They are just so happy and spring-like! I’m sure they will bring a smile to whomever receives them.
Happy making. And happy Easter!
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What an excellent alternative to a traditional easter basket. Easy to transport and great to mail.
Oh my gosh! You people are brilliant. I love this! :)
Love these :) Something maybe to do with the little jelly bean eggs!
This is adorable! I might have to borrow some kids and play along!
This is the best Easter idea ever! This is on my list of must do’s now!
on the website shopsweetlulu, they have plain egg cartons for sale on their own. some are plain, and some are printed to look vintage…unfortunately, they are only 1/2 dozen cartons, not the full twelve. but imo, the little square boxes are even cuter!
my bad, guys – they’re sold in groups of ten. i misread the info! sorry!
These look fantastic. I have a nearly empty carton in the fridge and I will definitely give this a try with my son.
This is a nice, simple alternative to all that crazy commercial stuff they have out right now. When did bigger become so much better? Totally making these for my girls this Easter.**
**though I will still likely cave and buy my daughter the chocolate Spongebob here little heart desires.
I’ve seen egg cartons used for gifts before, but never painted. They look fantastic.
Thank you for this lovely idea! I too can’t help but hang on to these useful vessels…so now I have another idea for what to do with them! :-)
I’m making these to hold our dyed eggs in the fridge. It will add a little punch and polish to our egg hunt Easter morning!
Fantastic idea and how creative, I am wondering what type of paint you have used is it acrylic or water based painting Gabrielle
Sisu – I used acrylic paint but water-based would work too!