Guide

Painting not your thing? No problem. All you need for these Easter eggs are serviettes

18/3/2026

Translation: Elicia Payne

Say goodbye to Easter eggs that look like something straight out of elementary school. I’ll show you how to make dainty Easter decorations using a napkin and some varnish.

Find art fiddly because you don’t have a steady hand? Then the napkin technique is made for you. You can use it to decorate Easter eggs quickly and easily. All you need are [napkins]( with small designs, varnish, a paintbrush and, of course, eggs.

Because I use fresh eggs, I blow out and wash them first and remove the markings with a dirt eraser. With plastic eggs you save yourself the effort and possible frustration.

The wet eraser makes the markings on the eggs disappear.

Blowing out involves risks. This eggshell didn’t survive the puncture. — The wet eraser makes the markings on the eggs disappear.

I keep the single eggshell that cracks for my first attempts with the crafting technique. Then I get down to business: I cut out the flower motifs that fit on the egg and carefully peel off the top layer of the napkin. I keep the border around the motifs small to prevent too much paper from ending up on the egg and distorting the motif.

I only leave as much space around the motifs as necessary.

Just the top layer of the napkin comes off, the rest can go in the bin. — I only leave as much space around the motifs as necessary.

I vary the size of the motifs when cutting them out, as this gives me more flexibility when arranging them on the egg. Before I stick on the first motif, I pick out the space and paint varnish on to the exact spot on the egg. Before it dries, I carefully place the napkin on the sticky area and paint over it again, this time more carefully, from the centre of the motif outwards.

The smaller the motifs, the more of a variety you can fit on one egg.

I mustn’t apply the first coat of varnish too thickly, otherwise the napkin will curl.

Once the motif is in the right place, I apply a generous amount of varnish over it. — I mustn’t apply the first coat of varnish too thickly, otherwise the napkin will curl.

If small wrinkles appear in the napkin, I paint over them with a brush and varnish until they disappear.

While the varnish dries on one egg, I decorate the next one. After about a quarter of an hour, I can get back to work on the first shell and embellish the back. The next day, the eggshells are completely dry. And the best thing about it? The hardened varnish makes them even more robust.

Looks like it’s been professionally painted.

I pop them in a pink egg box when they’re done. Alternatively, I could put hanging eyelets into the blow-out holes and hang them on an Easter tree.

Fancy some Easter eggs? Careful, these aren’t edible!

Fancy more DIY inspo that’s easier than it looks? Then follow me and I promise your Easter decorations will stand out from the crowd.

Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler

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Stefanie Lechthaler

Editor

Stefanie.Lechthaler@digitecgalaxus.ch

Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.

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