Make pretty surprise eggs for Easter using real eggs and common kitchen ingredients.
You can make Easter Eggs full of beautiful crystals with this a fun Easter craft that could double as a fun science project.
Supplies
- clean eggshells
- water
- a variety of soluble solids: table salt, rock salt, sugar, baking soda, Epsom salts, sea salt, borax, or cream of tartar
- small heat proof containers (coffee cups work well)
- spoons
- food coloring
- egg cartons and wax paper or mini-muffin tins
Instructions
Note: Photos of some eggs from this project can be seen at the bottom of the page.
- When cracking eggs to save for this project, try to crack them near the narrow end so the opening is smaller and the most possible shell is saved.
- To clean the eggshells, use hot water and run your finger around the inside of the egg. The hot water will ‘cook’ the lining of the eggshell and you can pull the ‘skin’ out with your fingers. Note: It is important to remove all of the egg membrane from the shell, if you do not your crystals may grow mold and turn black.
- Allow the shells to completely dry.
- Place eggshells in an egg carton lined with wax paper or in mini-muffin tins to hold them upright.
- In a saucepan, heat water to boiling.
- In small heatproof container pour .5-1 cup of water. Add about half the volume of solid to the water, stirring until it dissolves. Continue adding small amounts of solid until the water is super-saturated, which means water has absorbed as much solid as it is able and the solid will no longer dissolve.
- Add food coloring.
- Fill each eggshell with as much of the solution as it will hold without tipping or over-flowing.
- Place the shells in a safe dry place to allow the water to evaporate. As the water evaporates, crystals will form inside the eggs.
General Information, Ideas, and Suggestions
- Try making up a variety of solutions; use a different colored dye in each solution.
- Research your solubles to find tips about how to make the best solutions. Some solubles work better if the water is boiled and some work better with very hot water that hasn't boiled.
- Make a table to keep track of how different solutions respond to the process of evaporation and note how the crystals made from different solids are different.
- Some solutions such as sea salt will actually pass through the shell (a process known as osmosis) and form crystals on the outside of the shell as well.
- Make individual baskets to showcase these special eggs. Applesauce cups can be painted to make pretty little baskets. Drill holes to insert chenille stems to use as a handle. Line the baskets with a bit of Easter grass and place your egg inside.
- Using a funnel may make it easier to pour the solution into the eggshells.
More Eggshell Crafts
Copyright Melissa Howard. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Melissa Howard - I am a stay-at-home Mom. My college education was in English and History and my last job was as a Technical Writer. Now that I ...
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