Royal Frosting

ADD IN ORDER GIVEN: BEAT WITH MIXER: 
  6 tb warm water 
  3 tb Meringue powder * 
  1/4 teas CLEAR Almond extract * 
ADD GRADUALLY: 
  1 lb Confectioners' sugar 
  Combine warm water, meringue powder and almond extract. Beat on medium speed until the meringue powder/ water mixture resembles frothy egg whites and meringue powder is all dissolved. Add confectioners' sugar gradually, beating on low-medium speed until icing is light, fluffy and holds its shape. It should stand in peaks and have a dull appearance. This can take up to 15 minutes. 

1 pound blue coating chocolate
Egg chocolate mold that is 
3D back and front about 3 1/2"
cavities #90-2340 recommended

1/2 pound green coating chocolate
1/2 pound pink coating chocolate

Nuts, raisins or gifts, optional

Decorating bags
#2 writing tip
#67 leaf tip tip: if leaf slpits, 
pry it open more

Royal icing
Royal icing tiny icing flowers

Recipe assumes basic knowledge of molding cadies - or help is here.

In a double boiler, melt blue candy coating chocolate. Spoon melted candy coating into all 4 molds in the plastic sheet mold, coating the sides but not filling the molds. Be sure candy coating reaches to the top edges all around to ensure the finished egg will not have gaps on the sides. Chill the filled egg molds in the freezer until the piece releases from the mold, about 5-10 minutes. Coat inside edges with a second layer of candy coating, again being sure candy reaches to the top edges. Chill another 5 minutes or until firmly set. Remove eggs from molds turning  out  onto  a folded  towel  to cushion eggs  as they drop. Repeat with green  and  pink candy coating. Eggs can be filled  with nuts, raisins or marshmallows. They can also be filled with candy or small gifts or surprises.

After filling the eggs, place a small amount of blue melted candy coating in a decorating bag. With a No. 2 writing tip, pipe a line of candy coating around the edges of 2 blue front egg halves. Align egg pieces, press the blue backs onto the fronts. Remove the tip from the bag and pipe two 2-inch filled circles onto a waxed paper-covered cookie sheet. Press an assembled egg into each candy-coating circle and hold in place for 1 or 2 minutes until the egg and the base are firmly joined. Repeat with green and pink candy coating and egg halves.

Using a decorating bag and candy coating of a contrasting color, pipe borders and leaves; see photo. While borders and leaves are still soft, press on Royal Frosting drop flowers as desired. Makes 6 candy eggs.

You will need pine in the following sizes: one 1/2 x 12 x 24-inch piece, one 1/4 x 3/4 x 24-inch casing, and one 1/2 x 1 x 24-inch casing. Also, you will need a saw, a jig saw, sandpaper, wood glue, 36 small finishing nails, wood sealer, white, orange, light green and dark green acrylic paints, 1 black fine-tip permanent marker and 3/4 yard of  3/8 inch-wide blue grosgrain ribbon.

Cut 5 back pieces 1 3/4 x 13 1/2 inches long from the 1/2-inch pine.
Using pattern and jig saw, cut top ends of each back piece. Cut a 4 x 10 1/2-inch seat piece from the 1/2-inch pine. Cut 2 support pieces 10 1/2 inches long from the 1/4-inch casing. Cut 2 arm pieces 5 1/2 inches long and 2 leg pieces 4 1/2 inches long from the 1/2-inch casing. Sand all pieces.

Place back pieces on flat surface and mark horizontally 2 3/4 inches and 4 3/4 inches from bottom (unshaped) ends. 

Place back pieces 3/4 inch apart with one 10 1/2-inch support above 2 1/2-inch line; glue and nail. Repeat with second 10 1/2-inch support on 4 1/4-inch line. 

Place seat piece on lower support; glue and nail securely from back side of bench. Place arm pieces on upper support, aligning edges; glue and nail from back side. From front of bench, put legs in place; glue and nail to seat. With bench upright, nail arms to legs. Coat bench with wood sealer.

Paint seat, arms, legs and supports light green. Wrap masking tape around first, third and fifth back pieces 4 inches below shaped ends. Paint tops dark green. Paint bottoms orange. Paint 2 remaining back pieces white.

Transfer carrot top, carrot stalk and rabbit face patterns to back pieces with pen. Paint orange noses on rabbits. Use finger to paint orange cheeks. Cut ribbon into 2 equal pieces. Tie like necktie and slide over top of wood piece; tighten.

From the book: Great Little Sweet Treats, Crafts from your kitchen
available here, one left