Easter Craft: Caviar Beaded Bunny

Today’s post is an Easter craft, using a wooden bunny from Target, and caviar beads from Amazon.

Background

I know what you’re thinking.  Why is an Easter craft posted in May?  Simply put, I didn’t have the website up in time for Easter, but I still wanted to share the project.  I figure this project can be saved for next year, or the same process could be applied to some other type of wooden base instead of a bunny.

Now, when it comes to holiday crafting, I’m often using Target’s Mondo Llama wood bases.  While I think the brand is meant for kids, adults can use them for craft projects too!

In today’s post, I’m walking through the steps it took to go from a basic, plain, wood base, to a pretty bunny covered in white caviar beads.

Materials & Supplies:

• Wood base (e.g., Mondo Llama Bunny, not available at time of writing)

• No hole micro beads in white

• No hole micro beads in pink (optional)

• Mod Podge Hi Shine Spray

• Mod Podge Gloss

• White paint (e.g., Amy Howard One Step Paint in Bauhaus Buff)

• Light pink paint (e.g., Amy Howard One Step Paint in Palmer Pink)

• Craft paint brushes (for paint and mod podge)

• Pink ribbon 3/8" wide

• Scissors to cut ribbon

• Glitter tray*

NOTE: While I do own this glitter tray*, I didn't use it for this project, but I definitely should have, in order to catch the beads in Step 3.

Process:

Step 1:  Paint the wood base.

I used paint that I had readily available, which was Amy Howard One Step Paint in Bauhaus Buff and Amy Howard One Step Paint in Palmer Pink.  Inexpensive craft paint would work just fine too.  I first painted the whole base white with a craft brush.  Then, I painted the ears two coats of pink with a smaller craft brush.  Finally, I put a second coat of the white on the remainder of the base.  It dried pretty quickly.

Step 2:  Apply thin layer of Mod Podge Gloss.

Over the dried wood base, I applied a thin layer of Mod Podge Gloss using a craft paint brush.  I quickly moved onto Step 3 before the Mod Podge Gloss dried.

Step 3:  Sprinkle the no hole micro beads in white.

Before doing this step, I had scrapbook paper ready to catch the bead fallout.  Then, while the Mod Podge Gloss was still wet, I sprinkled the beads over the wood base, trying to get as even of a coat as possible.  I let the first layer dry, knocked off the excess beads, then repeated the process to achieve the desired look.  (I initially wanted just a single, thin layer of caviar beads on my bunny, but plans changed when the first layer came out very patchy.  As I repeated this step, the bead layers increased.)

Optional:  Once the white beaded area dried, I chose to add pink beads to the ears.  I thought the bunny looked good with and without the pink beads.

Step 4:  Seal with final coats of mod podge.

Once the bunny was fully dry after Step 3, I applied a final coat of the Mod Podge Gloss.  Once that coat was dry, I then used Mod Podge Hi Shine Spray as the very last coat.

Step 5:  Add finishing touches.

I considered adding accessories like a tail (i.e., a pom pom cut in half) and flowers, but ultimately chose to add a ribbon only.

And that’s it.  It’s a pretty simple craft, but it does require some patience to get the beads applied evenly (which I didn't do successfully).  I enjoy doing these types of crafts with other people.  I think it’s fun for each person to work on their individual bunny, adding different accessories, so each one comes out a little different.

Example With Tail

Final Result Without Tail

What do you think?

Have you done something similar?  If you’ve got any other tips on doing this craft without beads flying everywhere, do share!