Bright colors and geometric designs make modern-looking eggs. Here, we've displayed a trio of square-patterned eggs in a graceful vintage wirework holder.

To create the pattern, pieces of electrical tape are shifted slightly between two dips in dye. For chicken eggs, we used 1/2-inch squares; for goose eggs, slightly larger squares as well as rectangles. When layering hues, start with the paler one and move on to the darker one.

Learn How to Make Shapes Using Electrical Tape

Martha chats about the creation of her latest book, "Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts."

A comprehensive visual reference for beginners and experienced sewers alike, the book covers the basics of sewing by hand or machine, along with five other time-honored crafts techniques, and step-by-step instructions for more than 150 projects.

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Get a sneak peek at a selection of fun projects from the book.

This unusual pairing features two items with similar budlike shapes: creamy-white roses and emerald-green ornamental kale.

Basket How-To
If your basket has gaps in its sides, weave a ribbon through the rungs. Next, tuck a plastic liner inside, and then trim a block of floral foam to fit. Soak the foam in water and set it in the liner. Push the kale and rose stems into it. Do the same with sprigs of pine around the edges. Finish by wrapping branches of pine around the handle, securing them with floral wire. The display will stay fresh for several days.

All we did to transform a mere 7-year-old boy to a mighty magician was use a fabric marker to draw a tie and collar onto a white T-shirt, affix a fake carnation to his lapel, and tie a black-and-red satin cape around his neck. And lo and behold: a levitating maestro ready to make piles of candy disappear.

Cape How-To
This unadorned cape falls just above the knee. You will need black satin and red satin fabric and two 14-inch pieces of red satin ribbon for ties. Make the cape following the basic directions. Stitch the ribbons securely to either side of the neck.

Embellish holiday parcels with mistletoe made from felt leaves.