The sun., 1898-03-27
With Art Linen, Silk Cardboard and In.
genuity There Is No End to the Pretty
Things That May be Prepared For
Easter Testimonials.
copyright. 1893. by the Author.l
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N EASTER gift is
m a t Q r i ed
friendship or atfec.
tion. 1t is not a

ing, such as is often made on Christmas
and natal days. 1t comes when nature
is spontaneously, joyously spreading her
sweets for oil mankind, when the world
is responding to the great Christ love.
when human hearts are throbbing in
unison with both and sending out
thoughts that are happy, loving and
true. 1t is therefore precious because it
is a real heart token, and doubly pre-
cious when the fingers that penned the
greeting formed the gift. To suggest
such gifts-those to be made by the
senders-is the object Of this article.
Expensive Easter gifts are not "good
FORM" 1t is the sentiment that is ap-
preciated, not the value, and there are
many trihes easily made that far out.
value the costliest gift when considered
from the sentiment" point of view.
Cards usually take precedence over
all other gifts unless it be flowers, and
many and clever are the specimens seen.
Hand painting is the decoration of the
most original cards, though now and
then there is one which shows the mark
of genius in other directions. The
violet is the flower most in use as a
subject; next comes the Easter lily, then
the hyacinth, tulip and daffodil. Vio-
let's, single and in clusters, are careless
ly and gracefully depicted, according to
the idea of the artist, either over an en-
tire card or across one corner, and the
inscription is written in the space that
remains, sometimes winding in and out
among tho blossoms. Envelope sachets
are similarly decorated, and so are tiny
sachet bags of satin or silk in white,
lavender and yellow, the ever prevail
ing Easter colors. Some of the cards are
single, some fold once in sort of book
let, and some three times, and all of
them are made of water color paper,
which is heavy or pliable, as required.
On some Of the cards are tied, instead
of painted sprays Of artificial violets,
bits Of mignonette or real pussy willow
sprigs, the ribbon used being No. or
No. 2, as desired.
Photograph frames of water color pa.
per are also made or may be bought
ready made and hand painted in floral
designs. There are other gifts, however,
less conventional.
Butterfly and four leaf clover book.
marks are pretty, original and simply
made. The plan is the same for both
and is as follows: A butterfly or clover
Of ordinary shape is traced upon linen
back paper, procurable at art stores,
and is colored to as closely resemble the
natural object as possible. Then the
paper is folded so that the fold will
cross the tips of the lower wings of the
insect or the edges of two Of the clover
petals, and the object is cut out, but
the fold at the tips and edges mentioned
is not cut, but left just as shoulders are
left in cutting out garments for paper
dolls. a word or two of love may be
written on the inside, and the mark is
ready to slip over the corner of a page.
1t il not necessary to make these marks
double. A strap of paper may be pasted
(at the ends only) across the back Of a
single insect or leaf to take the place Of
the shoulders mentioned. Photogra-
piers paste is the best to use for such
work.
Another pretty bookmark is made
from the corner Ct a fine, heavy Ell.
velope, or such a corner could be used
as pattern for making hookmar!;s from
various colored papers. 1t is cut irregu-
larly and diagonalIy across, and these
edges are gilaed or tinted. A cluster of
violets is painted across one corner, and
it also bears this inscription: Servant
to Your Page
Some dainty little pin trays were
made from halves of scallop shells dec
orated with hand painted blossoms eNd
the inscription "Easter, lS0s.' AT the