How to do IT: Colored Egg Bud Vases

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While making brunch one day we got this fabulous idea for adorable bud vases made from egg shells.  They’re a cinch to make and you can coordinate them to any color scheme.

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What you’ll need:

- A dozen jumbo white eggs (or as many as you wish)

- Food Coloring

- White vinegar

- Hot water

- A dressmakers pin

- 2 large bowls

- Hot glue gun and glue

- Waxed paper

- Fresh cut flowers

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Step 1: Hold an egg in one hand and pierce the larger end of the egg with the dressmakers pin.  Move the pin around gently to create a hole a couple of millimetres wide.  Then flip the egg over and repeat on the pointy side of the egg.  Then, use the tip of the pin to chip away at the hole to create an opening approximately 3/4″ in diameter.  Don’t worry about getting the opening into a perfect circle as it will be mostly covered by the flowers, and a rustic, handcrafted look adds to the charm.

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Step 2: This is the fun part.  Holding the egg carefully over a large bowl, point the end with the large opening downward and press your lips against the small opening.  Then blow into the small hole to push the contents of the egg into the bowl.  Once the egg has been mostly emptied by this method gently rinse out the inside of the egg using cold water (don’t use hot or the egg will cook inside the shell and you’ll never get it out).  Place the empty egg shell into the second large bowl and repeat the process with the rest of them.

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Step 3: Once all the emptied eggs are in the bowl, fill it with a solution of warm water, white vinegar (one tablespoon for every 3/4 cup of water used), and food coloring in any color or combination that you wish.  Use enough solution to completely cover all the eggs (you may have to push them under the water a few times until the air comes out and they stay submerged).  Let the eggs stay in the solution for at least 10 minutes (rotate and push down any eggs that pop up to the surface).  Pull one out with a spoon and check the color.  When they have reached the desired color remove all eggs from the solution (draining out the excess liquid) and place them back into the egg carton with the large hole pointing downward to dry.

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Step 4: Preheat your hot glue gun until the glue is suitably melted, then place a large dollop on the end of the egg that is pointing upward (the end with the small hole).  Try to center the glue as close to the middle as possible.  Then, while the glue is still wet, quickly flip the egg over onto a sheet of waxed paper, making sure to hold it perfectly upright.  Continue to hold the egg upright until the glue starts to harden and the egg stands up by itself.  Repeat this with all the eggs.

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Step 5: Once the glue has had sufficient time to harden, gently peel the eggs off the waxed paper, making sure the glue dollop stays attached to the egg as this will form its base.  Use a knife or pastry blade if necessary to separate the egg from the paper.  Place the eggs onto a plate or platter.  Using a funnel, fill each egg 2/3 full with cold water.  Then, cut your flowers so the stems are 1-1/2″ to 2″ long and arrange them in each of the egg vases.  The eggs can then be displayed all together on a large platter, or individually in front of each place setting.

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SIMPLY FABULOUS!

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For more fun projects and DIY tips check out our TOOLS page!

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Tagged as: DIY, eggs, vases