Ingredients
- 6 clean eggshell halves, approximately 2 to 2.5 inches long each
- 2 fluid ounces of acrylic craft paint in a base color
- 1 fluid ounce of acrylic craft paint in a darker or contrasting color
- 1 fluid ounce of acrylic craft paint in a light accent color
- 1 tablespoon of clear water-based craft sealer or decoupage medium
- 1 tablespoon of white craft glue, such as Elmer's, for securing decorations
- 2 tablespoons of fine decorative material, such as mica flakes, fine glitter, crushed eggshell, tiny beads, or paper scraps
- 1 small paintbrush, about 1/4 inch wide
- 1 fine detail paintbrush, about 1/8 inch wide
- 1 plastic or paper mixing cup, 3 fluid ounces
- 1 wooden skewer or toothpick, 4 inches long, for arranging small pieces
- 1 sheet of fine sandpaper, 220 grit, optional for smoothing sharp shell edges
- 1 disposable table covering, at least 24 by 36 inches
- 1 pair of nitrile or household gloves, optional but useful for glue and sealer
- 1 shallow tray or plate, at least 8 inches wide, to hold the shells while they dry
- 6 small squares of wax paper, each about 4 by 4 inches, to keep shells from sticking
Instructions
- Rinse the 6 eggshell halves with warm water and let them air dry completely. If any edge feels sharp, smooth it gently with 220 grit sandpaper.
- Place the dry shells opening-side down on wax paper in the shallow tray.
- Paint the outside of each shell with a thin coat of the base-color acrylic paint. Leave the opening unpainted for now.
- Let the first coat dry for about 30 minutes, then add a second thin coat.
- Turn the shells opening-side up. With the detail brush, paint the inside rim and a narrow area just below it with the darker paint.
- Add small touches of the light accent paint along the rim or on a few raised areas of the shell.
- Mix the white craft glue with a teaspoon of water in the mixing cup. Brush a thin layer around the inside opening.
- Use the wooden skewer to place the decorative material into the wet glue, starting with the largest pieces at the rim and filling the center with smaller pieces.
- Press the decorations lightly with the clean end of the skewer. Adjust if necessary while the glue remains wet.
- Let the decorated shells dry in the tray for at least 2 hours. Once dry, brush a thin layer of the craft sealer over the painted outside and decorative center.
- Allow the finished geodes to dry for 12 to 24 hours before moving or wrapping them.
Notes
You can substitute school glue for the white craft glue. Clean paper confetti works as well as purchased glitter. Handle eggshells carefully as they can be fragile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
