Fab Faux Geode Easter Eggs
There are no rules when combining media… What happens when you mix the faux concrete geode with the crazy carved eggs? Well, obviously Fab Faux Geode Easter Eggs! So cool…
Amazingly real-looking Eggs:
I am generally not a big fan of plastic stuff but these eggs are so convincing! I used them when I designed the carved eggs last year and was quite impressed at how strong they are. I did also just discover the amazing traits of Alcohol ink.
The Amazing Colours:
Alcohol ink uses isopropyl as a diluent; that makes for some quick drying and there fore some amazing edge details. Letting the ink run and dry gives the edges of each colour some extra definition. By diluting the ink with the isopropyl it gives much more details in the layers and it can be wetted out again and again. As a painter I have always marvelled at the wonderful ways that watercolour would dry sometimes and this is what makes alcohol ink so wonderful. Keeping the tones on the neutral side will make for more realism in geode design.
The natural texture on these faux eggs is quite matt (dull) so they do need a coat of gloss finish (this is my favourite) which makes the colours ‘pop’ even more!
Hot stuff!
Go grab the hot knife and make some holes… Some geode-like holes.
I see tons of geodes all over the place nowadays but I often cringe at how fake they look. Take some inspiration from nature; it’s not perfect or evenly shaped! Smaller and larger and odd shapes will add the expected variety. Squiggle as you cut…
When I first started making the concrete geodes I was set on ‘making’ my own glass ‘crystals’ from glass since they were hard to source. In this case you can use whatever you like, even plastic since they will be safe inside the eggs. I tend to keep at eye out whenever I shop – as a girl can never have enough sparkly things! ‘Same goes for sparkles.
Bring on the Bling:
In Nature the geodes tend to have the largest shapes of crystal in the middle of the void and smaller towards the outer wall so that is where the smaller sparkles or sand should be added with clear acrylic medium. There is no rule as to when it has to be added, before or after the crystals.
At first I was filling the entire egg with crystals which became a problem wit the heat from the hot glue gun. Poor eggs were melting from the amount of heat! Instead, filling with scrunched up pieces of aluminum foil helps fill the void and also gives some reflective sparkle. Tack the tin foil in place with ‘a bit’ of hot glue to keep it in place easily.
It’s already starting to look mysteriously sparkly in there.
Squeeze some hot glue into the void and then throw in some of the glass or plastic crystals, mix and match as you like. The ones that may not stick to the glue can be shaken out easily. A few strategic ones help near the opening will give that nice focal point.
Can you believe it?! Oh my! Such sweet colour but not too bright at all.
Do I have to put them away after Easter?! I am completely enthralled by the way the layers of colours are formed…
Do avoid that cliche oval shape, I see it in cakes too often!
Using the colours of indigo and brown, mixed and diluted to such wonderful tones.
They feel totally at home with the real geode slice and in some simple white grass nest.
I wish you all the best Easter Greetings and enjoyable times with family and friends! I can’t wait to be making eggs with my new cutie-pie-grandbaby!
OMG OMG OMG 😆 Those Eggs are simply stunning Barb. U truly are amazing. Thanku so much for another fab tutorial 😆
Hello Barb,
You always go beyond the box so much that I think you live there. This is an amazing project.
What I am not sure about it the eggs. I have gotten eggs that are very mute in colour almost pastel like, but they have solid foam in them. The only ones I can think of that are hollow are the kids plastic egg that open for goodies. Are these the kind?
Thanks for all your inspiration.
I have found them in the major department stores like Walmart and dollar stores. Amazon does not seem to carry them. They are usually cheaper than real eggs. The ones that open are so fake looking and I don’t like the line. The foam ones may work if you carve out the void with the hot knife; then no foil needed! There’s always a way; my mother said… as she did quilting with one arm! Happy easter!
Thank you Barb, I will check out Walmart and see what I can find. I too don’t like the plastic ones with the lines. Happy Easter to you and your family.
Hobby Lobby did not have the white eggs but they did have a shimmery net bag of very light pastel eggs. And so far they are working very nicely.
Great! I’m glad. There are always changes to what is available. End of season clearances are great too!
These are wonderful, can’t wait to make them. Always looking for more ways to use alcohol inks. 🙂 and of course sparkly is nice too. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks! I’m a bit obsessed and see them in all kinds of forms! Enjoy!
You’ve done it again! I have cartons of these eggs in my basement, got them to color with my daughters but realized they wouldn’t take color well at all so they’ve just sat there waiting for inspiration. THIS IS IT!
Funny how those things happen! You may also love these At least you will have plenty of time. Good luck!
These are Beautiful ,can’t wait to make them . Thank for your inspiration .
Anything that is geode inspired is fun… ‘Might be hard to get the eggs during the off-season. Have fun!
I used the plastic eggs simply because i had some in my craft box to use up. To get the line to disappear, I sanded the around the seam with very fine sand paper and light roughed up the rest of the egg. Then I tore up some tissue paper and used some watered down elmers glue and put several layers around the egg (that way the alcohol ink had something to absorb into and made some pretty cool designs). Then used my dremel to cut ragged holes in them. The tissue paper being 3 or 4 layers thick helped to keep the plastic egg together but also made the egg look a but bigger.
Good adaptation! I bet the hot knife would cut them too! Check back soon… More eggs to come!
These eggs are beautiful! They look so real. My father did lapidary and we also participate in the rock club in our town. It was always such fun to see what was in the inside of the geodes.
Thanks so much. I would love to get into that art form too! I ran into someone selling my concrete geodes at a Gem show! ‘Love geodes!
I am in AWE. They are totally Amazing. Thank You so for sharing. I’ve not worked with inks before, but going to give it a try. Peace, Love and Happiness.
I bet they would also be adaptable to make Christmas ornaments! Darn! I just thought of this now! OK, ok, next year!!! (if it stays in my mind!)
Barb, can I ask what kind of eggs you used here?
They are faux eggs that are sold during the Easter season (often at dollar stores) I like the ones that meant to paint as they are more matt finish.