Habitat TV

Put bad news to good use with this simple Easter-themed DIY where kids can turn old newspaper into a chain of cute and colourful carrots.

You will need:  

• Newspaper 
• Masking tape 
• Green crepe or tissue paper, or paint some newspaper green
• String or floss 
• Scissors 
• Hot glue 
• Resene testpots in your choice of colours – we used Resene Mai Tai, Resene Pirate Gold, Resene Crail and Resene Gold Drop 

Step 1 Disassemble then cut or tear your newspaper into similarly sized pieces. Approximately half a standard page should do the trick. You will need as many pieces as you want carrots on your garland. 

Step 2 Crumple up each sheet of newspaper separately into elongated balls, making them as ‘carrot-shaped’ as possible. 

Step 3 Wrap your crumpled newspaper in masking tape, adding more pressure to taper one end to form the root of your carrot. 

Step 4 Cut your green crepe or tissue paper into long strips. Stack one on top of another, then roll up the two strips together. Using your scissors, insert one blade inside the end of the rolled up tube and clip approximately halfway down six or more times. Holding the bottom of the tube together firmly with one hand, fluff and pull apart the cut end of the crepe paper so that it resembles leafy greens. 

Step 5 Using hot glue, attach the bottom of your leafy crepe paper to the top of your carrot. Use additional masking tape to close the gap and make sure it is securely attached. 

Step 6 Using a testpot brush, paint the masking tape portion of each carrot with a Resene testpot in a colour of your choice. We wanted a variegated look that resembled heirloom carrots so we used a variety of oranges and yellows for ours, including Resene Mai Tai, Resene Pirate Gold, Resene Crail and Resene Gold Drop. For best results, paint two coats and allow the first to dry completely before moving on to the second. To speed up the drying process, use a hair dryer. 

Step 7 Once your carrots are dry, cut string to the length you wish your garland to be. Then, wrap the string around the top of each carrot where the masking tape meets the crepe paper. Double knot it to keep the carrot in place. Repeat at even intervals along the length of your string.

Have you or your kids made any egg-cellent creations using Resene paint? Send some snaps to [email protected].

Background in Resene Cashmere, carrots in Resene Mai Tai, Resene Pirate Gold, Resene Crail and Resene Gold Drop. 

project and images Laura Lynn Johnston 

video Ben Whorwood