"Forget-Me-Not" Cloisonné Painted Egg

Materials:

4" goose egg
pencil
egg holding device (metal skewer)
thermal hardening enamel paints
tube of gold thermal hardening enamel paint
fine metal tip
paintbrush
oven
high-speed drill that runs off an air compressor
pysanky egg dye mixed in a container
water
cloth towel
furniture polish
latex gloves

1. Draw a design freehand on the goose egg with a pencil (figure A). The drawing featured is forget-me-not flowers and leaves.

2. Outline the drawing with gold dimensional thermal hardening enamel paint (figure B). Affix a fine metal tip to the tube of paint for application.

3. Drill a small hole in the bottom of the egg so that a skewer can be inserted to hold the egg while painting.

4. Fill in the gold outline with color, two colors of green for the leaves (figure C) and two colors of blue for the flowers (figure D). Let dry for 24 hours.

5. Fire the egg in the oven 160- 250-degree for 45 minutes to an hour to harden the enamel. The oven temperature and length of firing time will depend on the size of the egg.

6. Cut out the negative space using a high-speed drill similar to dental drill (figure E).

7. Mix the pysanky dye according to manufacturer’s directions. Dip the egg into the dye bath (figure F). The dye resists the color and dyes the inside. Rinse in a container of water.

8. Dry with a cloth towel. Touch up the paint as needed.

9. Polish your Forget-Me-Not cloisonne painted egg with spray furniture wax.

Website: www.paulahare.com