The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-04-11
EASTER GIFTS.

In this nineteenth century the Obser-
vance OF all holidays, and giving of little
gifts to commemorate the day, has be-
come universal practice. And as each
year brings + ister Sunday, we try to
find something pretty and suitable to the
occasion.
Although card is but trife. it is
many times priz ID far above its intrinsic
value, on account of the association, and
the work being done by the hand of the
giver, with kind wishes attending it.
Those who can paint have unlimited re-
sources, if they have original ideas to
carry out. Spring flowers, butter flies,
eggs, crosses, and even landscapes can
he used with artistic results, and make
lovely Easter cards. There are many
novel shapes and designs for these cards,
tie used for them.
Heavy water-color paper, rice paper
parchment, celluloid. and the ragged
edged cards are all used with good effect
Cut the water color paper into square
card and make the edges ragged and
giId them. Cut another card from the
celluloid, tie it at the corner to the paper
with tiny ribbon bow. Bring the cor
ner of the larger card over and tie to the
corner of the celluloid card with the
same ribbon. The paper must not be
pressed down but allowed to roll over.
On the celluloid paint an Easter design,
and an Easter motto in fancy lettering
on the paper card,
There are several fancy shapes in
which these cards can be folded, but |
cannot tell you how to fold them with
out an illustration.
A pretty celluloid card is made by
cutting a piece four or five inches long
and two or three wide, then cutting a
slit in each end and drawing ribbon
through, and fringing both ends of the
ribbon paint a spray of flowers en- the
card and motto on the RIBBON. These
are pretty for book marks. Another
style is a spray of pansies across card
to come above and below the card cut
out all around the flowers and card, put
the motto on the card. Needle-books
and pen wipers are made in the shape of
an egg, the covers being of celluloid, the
leaves of chamois skin, or white flannel
a spray of flowers and motto is painted
on the outside Tie the leaves together
with a ribbon. A cute little card is cul
IN the shape CT an egg Cut in this a
little slit, then cut chickens head and
put up through the slit. Paint the head
as much like a chicken as possible, anC
you have dainty little Easter egg. A
whole chicken may he cut from celluloid
painted and tied to a velvet or satin caro-
by a tiny ribbon around its neck, and il
you wish sOmything very nice you car
add broken egg shell cut from the Gel
uloid. Little birds mounted on branch
es are very pretty to paint on Easter
cards also butteItl es.
A birds nest and eggs painted on pOr-
celain or ground glass, with branches Of
pussy willows is very pretty and ttf=c
i've.
A card may be made in the shape of {
doves wing and painted to represen
one on the outside, and inside may b'
tied several leaves on which il Eas.e
poetry.
Little landscapes painted IN mono
chrome on celluloid are very soft anC
effective if rightly done. To paint il
this wav mix turpentlne with the paint
use any color you choose, Sepia, raw
umber, burnt lumber, caedOnIan brOwI
for brown, light red for red, and ant.
werp blue for the blue monochrome
these are also done in deep green and il
black and white. Mix very tie colol
with white and put it on very thin anC
smooth, using very little lurpentiue
The sky is painted with clouds the sam,
color and the rest left without any paint
The distant parts OF the landscape shoulC
be very light in color, growing stronger
as the foreground objects, These little
landscape cards can be mounted in var
ous ways, on drawing paper, cards
panels, and on ribbon for book marks
Several of them may be tied together il
the form Of booklet, the outside beinl
an Easter design and motto, or a covel
may be made of chamois skin and dec
GRATED in an appropriate manner.
This material is very soft and pretty
for de, Grated work, it comes in differen
tints. There are some ten or twelv,
shades, it is called the velvet chamou
and is sold for Sl.00a skin. II makes
lovely photograph case, handkercbie
and g'Ove cases, tobacco bags, bu tor
and iswel bags, sofa pillows and chai
cushions. and table scarves are ais,
made from it. 1t takes paint beautifully
all these articles may be made and uset
for Easter gifts. In painting on tn,
chamois use turpentine with the paints
Leather IS very popular now in all kind
of decorative work and ooze leather /
another new material that can be useC
effectively. but il is quite expensive be
ing 80 cents per square foot by the skins
which come in different sizes as marked
by the manufacturer.
Little banners made by combining Gel
luoid boiling cloth and satin, or cellu
loid and satin chamois are very pretty
and there are many other ways IN whlcl
these two materials may be used togeth
er to make useful as well as Ornamental
articles for home decoration. Any on
with taste and original ideas can worl
out many pretty souvenirs for Easter
birthdays and other holidays.
There is a water-cOlor gliding that i
very useful in lettering these Elste
cards aud souvenirs. 1t comes in littl
pans put up in boxes of six colors each
II any one wishing to procure this o
other materials mentioned here vii
> send stamp. will tell them where the.
b can get them. Should any of the read
. ers wish to see some Of the Easter nov
elites | have men ioned, or decoratiy
designs suitable for such, have fey
of them will rent to copy from. Sem
stamp and | will send a printed list o
studies. Address
Mrs ALICE NJ CROCKETT.
From v. r. Edrmcr.