Ingredients
- 1 hollow plaster or ceramic egg, about 3 inches tall by 2 inches wide, with a finished geode opening
- 2 fluid ounces of pale pink acrylic craft paint
- 1 fluid ounce of medium pink acrylic craft paint
- 1 tablespoon of white acrylic craft paint for highlights
- 1 ounce of small faux crystal chips or clear decorative stones
- 1 tablespoon of clear-drying craft glue
- 1 small flat paintbrush, about 1/2 inch wide
- 1 small round paintbrush, size 4 or similar
- 1 dry, stiff-bristled brush, about 1/4 inch wide, for dry brushing
- 1 small paper plate or paint palette
- 1 cup of water for rinsing brushes
- 4 paper towels
- 1 sheet of 120 grit sandpaper, cut into a 3 inch square, optional for rough edges
- 1 sheet of 220 grit sandpaper, cut into a 3 inch square, optional for smoothing
- 1 plastic or silicone table covering, about 2 feet by 3 feet
- 1 pair of disposable nitrile or vinyl gloves, optional for glue and paint
- 1 small cardboard box or 6 inch by 6 inch piece of scrap cardboard for drying
- 1 soft lint-free cloth, about 8 inches by 8 inches, for final dusting
Instructions
- Cover your surface first with the table covering to protect against stray paint and glue.
- Inspect the egg and smooth any rough edge around the geode opening with 120 grit sandpaper, followed by 220 grit sandpaper.
- Wipe away sanding dust with the lint-free cloth.
- Use the flat brush to apply a thin coat of pale pink paint over the outside of the egg, including the rim around the opening.
- Paint the inside edge of the opening with the small round brush, then set the egg on the cardboard.
- Let the first coat dry for about 45 minutes.
- Apply a second thin coat of pale pink paint to the outside and the visible rim.
- Allow this coat to dry for about 1 hour.
- Load the stiff dry brush with medium pink paint, wipe most of it onto a paper towel, and lightly skim the brush over the raised surface of the egg.
- Deepen the area immediately around the geode opening with the small round brush.
- Mix a tiny amount of white paint with pale pink on the palette and highlight the upper ridges with the dry brush.
- Arrange the crystal chips inside the opening before adding glue.
- Apply a small bead of clear-drying craft glue to the back of each crystal chip, one at a time, and press it into place.
- Leave the egg on the cardboard for 4 hours while the paint dries, then let the glue cure for 12 hours.
Notes
Keep this project away from food preparation while you work, and supervise children around small crystal pieces because they can become a choking hazard.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
