How to Etch Egg Shells
Egg art is a craft for the patient and careful. An etched eggshell involves drawing on the surface, then cutting away layers of the shell to add different textures, depth and highlights. Emu eggs are preferred to other eggs because they combine hardness and size, but technically any eggshell may be used for this art. Etching requires a lot of practice, but renders superb results when mastered. Egg decorations are well-suited for Easter, Christmas or any collection.
Things You'll Need
- Syringe
- Emu egg
- Towel
- Stable surface
- Pencil
- Dremel tool
- Wide Dremel tip
- Small Dremel tip
Instructions
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1
Make a small hole with a pin on the egg. Make it as close to size of the syringe as possible.
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2
Insert the syringe into the hole. Push the plunger down and pull back. Remove all the insides of the egg by repeating this step as many times as needed.
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3
Rinse the egg with water through the small hole you made to ensure that all of the insides are removed. Allow the egg to dry completely.
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4
Place a towel on a stable surface and position the egg on the towel. With a pencil, sketch out the design you want on the egg shell.
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5
Turn on the Dremel tool and press the tip onto the egg. Apply a little pressure to see the mint green layer coming through.
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6
Move carefully along the outline of your drawing and over any other spots you wish to be mint green.
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7
Decide where you want to add more depth to your design. Mark these areas with pencil.
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8
Switch to a finer Dremel tip. Press the Dremel on the areas you want to make white.
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9
Sweep away any shell dust from the outside of the egg with the paint brush.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When using the pencil or the Dremel against the egg make sure you do it with utmost caution. Any rupture will ruin your work and make you start all over again.
Use the wider tip of the Dremel to make the first drawings and change it to a smaller one to add detail.
Remember to only press as hard as you need to in order to reach the layer you want.
