Sweet Little Eggshell Vases and Planters
A few years ago, I painted some eggshells black as part of my Haunted Hatchlings Halloween scene. They looked really good and, because of a little trick I had discovered, they were also crack and shatter resistant.
So I decided to try a variation of those eggshells to make tiny little planters and vases for Easter using the shells of the brown eggs that I had on hand. I wanted them to be crack resistant and stand upright. But it was easy.
Here is how I did it:
- Cracking the Eggs
For a couple of mornings, when making breakfast, I saved the eggshells. I placed each egg in a shot glass and cracked it carefully around the top with a knife so most of the shell would be left intact but I could still lift off the top and empty the egg easily.
I didn’t worry too much about getting a very straight break since the uneven, broken edges added charm.
I carefully cleaned the shells and let them dry.
- Coloring the Shells
I used a gel food coloring to color the eggshells. Since I was using brown eggshells, the color did not turn out as clear and bright as they would have with white eggs, but that didn’t matter because this was just the base coat. The interior of the shells turned out bright and pretty. To add to the variety, I left a few of the brown shells undyed.
- Adding Some Sparkle
I wanted my tiny vases to have some elegance and polish so they could be used even after Easter. So I thinly coated the exterior of each shell with metallic craft paint, and then I squirted them lightly with water from a spray bottle. I let the water run down the sides of the shells to create a mottled finish.
- Reinforcing the Shells
To make the shells crack resistant, I painted two coats of Mod Podge on the outside of each shell and one coat on the inside. Although the shells were noticeably more stable after this, I still had to use care when working with them.
- Making the Shells Stand Upright
Now I wanted the shells to stand upright. So far I had only used materials that I already had around the house, so I wanted to continue doing that.
I am a bit of a vintage button weirdo, and for some strange reason I tend to hoard them. So I glued vintage buttons to the bottom of each shell as a base. I made sure the buttons I used were wide enough to provide an adequate base.
- Adding Flowers and Tiny Plants
I used a small teaspoon to fill some of the shells with pre-moistened soil, and then I carefully planted tiny succulents.
Other shells became vases for tiny flowers from my garden: Primroses and violets. Of course I knocked a vase over by accident. It didn’t break, but I did discover that the food coloring does bleed into the vase water, so just a warning about that.
I used them as decor for my Easter dinner table, and then guests could take them home with them.
For a completely different look, try different craft paints and/or use white egg shells instead of brown.
A few cautions: Although the Mod Podge helped the shells to be more crack resistant, they were not indestructible. So I still had to be a bit careful with them. And, as I mentioned above, the food coloring did leach a little into the water I used with the flowers. But this project is a couple of years old for me now, and I still have some of these eggshell vases completely intact.
I had virtually everything I needed for this project already onhand, so it is difficult to estimate the cost. I am estimating $15 for the craft paint and the Mod Podge. My time estimate does not include drying time for the glue, paint, and Mod Podge. And of course actual time will vary depending on how many eggshells you are working with.
For another cute project using eggshells, check out my Basil in Eggs post.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
How do you color the eggs dip them in water with the food coloring