Before we go any further I need to let you know I do not like Easter decorating. Easter decorations are cute. I generally don't do cute. Or pastels. What I do like however, are Peeps. Not to eat mind you, just to look at. I find them sickeningly sweet. Like most Easter decorations.
Today's project reminds me of something out of "Karen's Kraft Korner!". You know, the kind of crafts I'm talking about. The ones that involve that dry, dusty feeling construction paper and children's scissors. That distinct sound of the scissors cutting the paper is unforgettable.
These Peep Place cards don't actually contain any of those materials, but they do evoke that certain, old time, crafty feeling. That's code for tacky.
But I don't care, I love them.
And for the boys ...
Easter Place Cards
Materials
Package of Peeps
Wood skewers
Moss
Base material (I've used a slice of wood which I got in a box from Dollarama ... you could also use a small rock, square of wood or whatever)
Hot glue gun
Index card (cut it super-small, fold it in half and write person's name on it)
Instructions
1. Cut/break the skewer to 3 or 4 inches. If you're doing a bunch, it'd be fun to do them all different lengths so your Peeps are all at different heights.
2. Shove the pointy end of the skewer up the Peep's butt.
3. Squeeze a glob of hot glue onto your base surface.
4. Stick the end of the skewer into the blob of glue. Add a bit more glue around the base of the skewer.
5. While it's still hot, shove a tiny bit of moss around the glue to cover it up. Plus it kindda looks like a nest.
6. If you're doing the "boy" Peep, cut some of the skewer up, run a line of hot glue along the Peep's head and stick the bits of skewer on. Don't try to stick the skewers into his head. You'll just mush his head and make it look like he was in a bad accident.
7. Run a line of hot glue where you want the "name" to go and stick it on.
8. Don't forget to breathe.
9. You're done.
If you have these on your table will it be screaming "Classy affair! Classy affair!". No. It will not. Will it scream "You're sitting at the table of a super-cool, hipster". Definitely not. It will scream cute however. Not having Easter dinner? Not a problem. I did a little grouping of these at all different heights on a table and it looked GREAT.
Just so you're forewarned (don't you hate it when people don't forewarn you of things?) Peeps are all attached together when you buy them. So when you pull them apart, all of the middle Peeps won't have any wings! They're horrible, mutant looking things. The only useable Peeps are the ones on the end. And even those peeps only have one wing! So every package of Peeps only has 2 useable Peeps, unless you'd like to construct Peep wings out of construction paper. The dry, dusty type that kindegarden.
Click below to hear the sweet song of a real Easter chick!
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I have never seen those Peeps....
The only ones I have seen here are the fluffy type, but this would work perfectly as well. Although I couldn't microwave them if they gave me trouble!
Hmmmm.....nice project for the people I support, they'll love it!
Thanks, (again!)
I have been wondering what do do with some tiny grapevine wreaths I have. I am going to sit a peep in one with some grass. I have a meeting tomorrow with my secretarial girls and I'm going to put one with each folder. :D Thank You KraftyKaren!
Put the rest of the peeps in the microwave and watch them PUFF WAY UP!
Adorable!! I love how you made the rooster!!! =)
Melanie's Randomness
Thanks Melanie! ~ karen
Karen,
To make it more realistic but not quite as festive, you could do the peeps on newspaper with icing suger poo underneath.
Christal
Christal ~ Wow! Um. Sure! You really are taking these to a whole 'nother classy level aren't you? LOL. ~ karen
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/23/AR2011022303426.html
Check out the ultimate in peep crafting.
These are so cute they make me want to have a dinner party . . . I suppose I'd have to actually buy dining room chairs first though right? Darn:(
Michelle - You could fashion some out of Peep! Just let them get stale and firm first (obviously!). ~ karen
Lady...you are seriously crazy! LMAO!!!!!!!!
I think the "real Easter chick" may have a smoking problem...
OMG that "peep" wave file is hilarious.
Karen,
Have you seen the Peeps diorama contest held each year by the Washington Post? I have a childhood friend that participates each year -- it's amazing! And kind of crazy...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/magazine/peeps2010/index.html
My cat wanted to eat the computer speakers to work out where the freaky "peeps" were coming from...I suspect she thinks she can take on anything...
Hah! They're lovely sounding those Peeps aren't they? ~ karen
The middle peeps would be great for toasting! Stick one of those skewers up the middle peep's butt then hold it over the flame on your stovetop until the peep begins to turn a little brown. Yum!!!
Hey, don't knock the mutant peeps stuck in the middle!! With some silver fondant wings and red cinnamon eyes they'd make awesome killer cyborg chicken placecards for Halloween.
Excuse me because I am British but what on earth is a peep?
Candy
Candy - A Peep is a marshmallow treat shaped (sort of) like a baby chick. They're covered in some sort of sugary coating. They're disgustingly sweet and in my opinion aren't actually fit for human consumption. But that's just me. I'm a chips/crisps gal. :) ~ karen
AND, there are violently differing opinions on whether or not you should eat a Peep fresh, or let it go stale. My husband always swore that they were best if you open the package, put them in a drawer, and forget about them for a month, and THEN eat them. But I have a sneaking suspicion that he only took that position so he could claim he left that open package of Peeps in that drawer on purpose.
JennyM - LOL! I can only imagine Peeps are better when stale. 'Cause they're pretty gross fresh. Blech. Soooooo sweet. I'll stick some in a drawer and get back to you. ~ karen
So...I don't know how to ask this, so I'll just take a deep breath, ignore that voice in my head that says don't publicly ask a question that everyone in the world knows the answer to except you, and just ask: what is a peep? I mean, I see that it is an object vaguely shaped like a baby chick, but...is it edible? Do you eat a peep?
Janelle - Peeps are marshmallow chicks that come stuck together in packs of 5. OOps. I thought everyone knew what Peeps were! Sorry! ~ karen
I think I heard somewhere that Peeps are an important part of the Crossfit diet.
Looks like part of this craft includes eating the middle peeps.
Laura - As you wish. ~ karen
The Easter chick in that audio clip sounds like she might wear a leather motorcycle jacket and be the girlfriend of "Norm."
These are adorable.
But first let me say that that easter chick sounds... cute. And that I'm still laughing.
Seriously, this is an amazing idea, the only thing about it is that I don't know how I would keep my family from eating them.
Also, I really need to open a dollar store here. Every time I think, 'Oh, that's cute, I wonder where Karen got it?' it's invariably the damn dollar store.
And Karen? If you like, you're welcome to count to 100 now. You can be first. We'll all listen. :D
:) Thank you Connor. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 ,15 ... Ouff.. Nevermind. ~ karen
Adorable! My step-mom will flip over these. :)