You just collected your first egg and it’s spectacular. You’re not really going to bash its shell on the counter, are you? ~gasp!~ Eggshells can be preserved for years of enjoyment by blowing out the contents and cleaning them. Looking for a fun craft project that makes a great gift? Decorate them for the holidays! EGG BLOWING 101 & Egg Decorating instructions

How to blow out egg shells by a variety of methods

Egg blowing is not difficult, it just takes a little patience and practice. I don’t recommend practicing on a special or favorite egg as beginning attempts tend to result in breakage. The three basic steps to blowing an egg are: 1. Put hole(s) in egg, 2, Empty contents 3. Clean inside of egg.   Using room temperature eggs makes emptying the egg much easier than with a cold egg.

Blown eggs, decorated for display
A blown, decorated egg on my Christmas Egg Tree.

STEP 1 MAKE HOLE(s) IN EGG

To blow an egg’s contents out of the shell, two holes are ordinarily required, one in the narrow end and one on the wide end (where the air cell is located). For beginners, marking the desired hole location on the egg with a pencil is helpful.  There are many ways to get a hole in an egg. I have tried push pins, thumb tacks, the Blas-fix® egg blower tool and a Dremel drill. I do not recommend push pins, tacks or paper clips- they make jagged holes that often cause the shell to crack and the holes are so small that they make blowing difficult. The little tool that comes with the Blas-fix® egg blower was my preferred method until I was clued into the Dremel. It is far and away the best method I have used, hands down.  The Dremel makes cleaner, more uniform holes much more quickly than other methods.

Blas-fix Egg Blower

The Blas-fix egg blower tool. The Blas-fix tool works by twisting the tool back and forth, filing tiny bits of shell away and requires only one hole in the egg to empty it.

The Blas-fix egg blower tool. The Blas-fix tool works by twisting the tool back and forth, filing tiny bits of shell away and requires only one hole in the egg to empty it
Nice, uniform hole that won't crack the egg.
Nice, uniform hole that won’t crack the egg.
This is the Dremel attachment I use.

This is the Dremel attachment I use. Two holes are needed when blowing eggs with lung power or an aspirator.

This is the Dremel attachment I use.
Chicken eggs for blowing and decorating

STEP 2- EMPTY CONTENTS

Using either Lung power, Blas-fix® or Aspirator.  After drilling holes, the yolk should then be broken by inserting a toothpick, open paperclip or a large gauge needle into the holes and carefully stirring so as not to enlarge the hole or chip the shell.

If you hoped for a video at this juncture, I’m sorry to disappoint; egg blowing with lung power is simply not a spectator sport.  On second thought…when someone else is doing the blowing, it’s pretty funny. My step-daughter graciously “volunteered” to demonstrate the technique. ☺

 

After the yolk is scrambled, air is blown into one hole with pursed lips sealed around the hole. Cheeks should remain inflated like a trumpet player’s to maintain steady pressure. Chalza (the white stringy anchors inside the egg) may clog the hole, but can be dislodged by pulling gently with a piece of paper towel. Oh yes, this process is glamorous.

If using the Blas-fix, insert needle into hole and pump air in with the bellows. Ideally, the egg should stream out the hole, but it doesn’t always work. The bellows wear out very quickly, eventually cracking, resulting in a lack of sufficient pressure to get the egg out of the shell. It works great initially, but doesn’t last long enough to blow more than a dozen eggs. Lung power or an aspirator are more efficient and reliable than the Blas-fix.
If using an aspirator, the open end is inserted over the hole and air squeezed in, forcing the egg contents out the other hole.

I dry the eggs in the microwave to ensure sanitation, heating 12 second intervals, four to six times.

STEP 3- CLEAN INSIDE OF EGG

Submerge eggshells in a bowl full of water and partially fill shell with water. Cover both ends of the egg with thumb and forefinger, shake, then blown water out. This step should be repeated until water runs clear.  I dry the eggs in the microwave to ensure sanitation, heating 12 second intervals, four to six times.

How to blow, clean and dry egg shells

DECORATING BLOWN EGGS

Now that the eggs are empty and clean, it’s time to decorate them.
I made a Christmas Egg Tree and an Easter Egg tree last year. Dying the Easter eggs can be done the same way as with hard-cooked eggs.

DIY Egg Ornaments via The Chicken Chick®
Easter Egg tree made with blown, colored eggs
My Easter Egg tree, April 2011.
Blown and decorated egg
Rub on stickers or self-adhesive stickers for decorating blown eggs

I use rub-ons or stickers from my local craft store or online.They’re easy to use and look pretty.

Stickers on blown egg shells
These are eggs with stickers before finishing with decoupage.
Modge Podge decoupage for finishing blown egg shells
Decorated egg with decoupage to seal on top of shell and rub-on sticker
bead caps seal the holes of the blown eggs decoratively

I use Modge Podge to seal my eggs after embellishing them. Just paint it on in a thin, even coat and let it dry. It adds some strength to the shell.
This is a rub-on that has decoupage over the top. I seal the holes in my blown eggs with bead caps and super glue gel.  Bead caps are inexpensive and available at craft stores and online.

bead caps finish off blown, decorated eggs simply and elegantly
The bead caps finish off the egg simply and elegantly.

To hang my blown eggs, I use either bead caps with ribbon , elastic cord or, my preferred method: ornament caps. After I have foraged through last year’s ornament box for orphaned ornament tops and exhausted that supply, I buy miniature ornaments inexpensively and pirate them for use on my decorated eggs. No glue is necessary as the pressure from the little wires keeps them in place.

Christmas ornament caps can be inserted in the holes on the end of blown, decorated eggs

Elastic cord,  ribbon or a wire ornament hanger can be used for hanging. Here are some of my favorite creations.

elastic cording can be used to hang blown, decorated eggshells

These marbleized blown eggs are super simple and fun to make. DIY instructions here.

Marbelized eggs made form blown eggs

DIY instructions for this egg topiary with blown eggs can be found on my blog here.

Blown egg topiary DIY instructions
blown, decorated eggs turned into Christmas tree ornaments
blown, decorated eggs adorn Christmas tree
DIY Christmas wreath using blown eggs and homemade cinnamon ornaments
My Christmas egg wreath with cinnamon ornaments.
blown, decorated egg
EGG BLOWING 101 & Egg Decorating instructions
Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick®

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

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You just collected your first egg and it’s spectacular. You’re not really going to bash its shell on the counter, are you? ~gasp!~ Eggshells can be preserved for years of enjoyment by blowing out the contents and cleaning them. Looking for a fun craft project that makes a great gift? Decorate them for the holidays! EGG BLOWING 101 & Egg Decorating instructions

How to blow out egg shells by a variety of methods

Egg blowing is not difficult, it just takes a little patience and practice. I don’t recommend practicing on a special or favorite egg as beginning attempts tend to result in breakage. The three basic steps to blowing an egg are: 1. Put hole(s) in egg, 2, Empty contents 3. Clean inside of egg.   Using room temperature eggs makes emptying the egg much easier than with a cold egg.

Blown eggs, decorated for display
A blown, decorated egg on my Christmas Egg Tree.

STEP 1 MAKE HOLE(s) IN EGG

To blow an egg’s contents out of the shell, two holes are ordinarily required, one in the narrow end and one on the wide end (where the air cell is located). For beginners, marking the desired hole location on the egg with a pencil is helpful.  There are many ways to get a hole in an egg. I have tried push pins, thumb tacks, the Blas-fix® egg blower tool and a Dremel drill. I do not recommend push pins, tacks or paper clips- they make jagged holes that often cause the shell to crack and the holes are so small that they make blowing difficult. The little tool that comes with the Blas-fix® egg blower was my preferred method until I was clued into the Dremel. It is far and away the best method I have used, hands down.  The Dremel makes cleaner, more uniform holes much more quickly than other methods.

Blas-fix Egg Blower

The Blas-fix egg blower tool. The Blas-fix tool works by twisting the tool back and forth, filing tiny bits of shell away and requires only one hole in the egg to empty it.

The Blas-fix egg blower tool. The Blas-fix tool works by twisting the tool back and forth, filing tiny bits of shell away and requires only one hole in the egg to empty it
Nice, uniform hole that won't crack the egg.
Nice, uniform hole that won’t crack the egg.
This is the Dremel attachment I use.

This is the Dremel attachment I use. Two holes are needed when blowing eggs with lung power or an aspirator.

This is the Dremel attachment I use.
Chicken eggs for blowing and decorating

STEP 2- EMPTY CONTENTS

Using either Lung power, Blas-fix® or Aspirator.  After drilling holes, the yolk should then be broken by inserting a toothpick, open paperclip or a large gauge needle into the holes and carefully stirring so as not to enlarge the hole or chip the shell.

If you hoped for a video at this juncture, I’m sorry to disappoint; egg blowing with lung power is simply not a spectator sport.  On second thought…when someone else is doing the blowing, it’s pretty funny. My step-daughter graciously “volunteered” to demonstrate the technique. ☺

 

After the yolk is scrambled, air is blown into one hole with pursed lips sealed around the hole. Cheeks should remain inflated like a trumpet player’s to maintain steady pressure. Chalza (the white stringy anchors inside the egg) may clog the hole, but can be dislodged by pulling gently with a piece of paper towel. Oh yes, this process is glamorous.

If using the Blas-fix, insert needle into hole and pump air in with the bellows. Ideally, the egg should stream out the hole, but it doesn’t always work. The bellows wear out very quickly, eventually cracking, resulting in a lack of sufficient pressure to get the egg out of the shell. It works great initially, but doesn’t last long enough to blow more than a dozen eggs. Lung power or an aspirator are more efficient and reliable than the Blas-fix.
If using an aspirator, the open end is inserted over the hole and air squeezed in, forcing the egg contents out the other hole.

I dry the eggs in the microwave to ensure sanitation, heating 12 second intervals, four to six times.

STEP 3- CLEAN INSIDE OF EGG

Submerge eggshells in a bowl full of water and partially fill shell with water. Cover both ends of the egg with thumb and forefinger, shake, then blown water out. This step should be repeated until water runs clear.  I dry the eggs in the microwave to ensure sanitation, heating 12 second intervals, four to six times.

How to blow, clean and dry egg shells

DECORATING BLOWN EGGS

Now that the eggs are empty and clean, it’s time to decorate them.
I made a Christmas Egg Tree and an Easter Egg tree last year. Dying the Easter eggs can be done the same way as with hard-cooked eggs.

DIY Egg Ornaments via The Chicken Chick®
Easter Egg tree made with blown, colored eggs
My Easter Egg tree, April 2011.
Blown and decorated egg
Rub on stickers or self-adhesive stickers for decorating blown eggs

I use rub-ons or stickers from my local craft store or online.They’re easy to use and look pretty.

Stickers on blown egg shells
These are eggs with stickers before finishing with decoupage.
Modge Podge decoupage for finishing blown egg shells
Decorated egg with decoupage to seal on top of shell and rub-on sticker
bead caps seal the holes of the blown eggs decoratively

I use Modge Podge to seal my eggs after embellishing them. Just paint it on in a thin, even coat and let it dry. It adds some strength to the shell.
This is a rub-on that has decoupage over the top. I seal the holes in my blown eggs with bead caps and super glue gel.  Bead caps are inexpensive and available at craft stores and online.

bead caps finish off blown, decorated eggs simply and elegantly
The bead caps finish off the egg simply and elegantly.

To hang my blown eggs, I use either bead caps with ribbon , elastic cord or, my preferred method: ornament caps. After I have foraged through last year’s ornament box for orphaned ornament tops and exhausted that supply, I buy miniature ornaments inexpensively and pirate them for use on my decorated eggs. No glue is necessary as the pressure from the little wires keeps them in place.

Christmas ornament caps can be inserted in the holes on the end of blown, decorated eggs

Elastic cord,  ribbon or a wire ornament hanger can be used for hanging. Here are some of my favorite creations.

elastic cording can be used to hang blown, decorated eggshells

These marbleized blown eggs are super simple and fun to make. DIY instructions here.

Marbelized eggs made form blown eggs

DIY instructions for this egg topiary with blown eggs can be found on my blog here.

Blown egg topiary DIY instructions
blown, decorated eggs turned into Christmas tree ornaments
blown, decorated eggs adorn Christmas tree
DIY Christmas wreath using blown eggs and homemade cinnamon ornaments
My Christmas egg wreath with cinnamon ornaments.
blown, decorated egg
EGG BLOWING 101 & Egg Decorating instructions
Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick®
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mkoster007
mkoster007
10 years ago

just got our first egg today!!!! now to learn this art and keep this wonderful little masterpiece!

Tammy Davis
Tammy Davis
10 years ago

Can anyone tell me what I should do about my baby chick welsumers are pecking there eyes,the rooster is not doing it just my pullers;only 2days old.

P Gale Perry
P Gale Perry
10 years ago

Sorry, Kathy, I was looking at your reply to Robin and I used the wrong name.

P Gale Perry
P Gale Perry
10 years ago

Robin: You may like this link for scrambling an egg inside the shell without making a hole:
http://m.instructables.com/id/Scrambled-Eggs-still-in-the-Shell-/step5/Now-what/

P Gale Perry
P Gale Perry
10 years ago

Will large hypodermic syringes and needles from the wholesale veterinary supply work to make the hole and suck or blow out the contents? I used to have a Ronco inside the egg scrambler that made a hole, inserted a bent needle and wisked the contents. It's back to the internet to find another one! I prefer the Ronco version, but a cheap one is available for $.99 cents at the dollar store:http://www.amazon.com/Clever-Egg-Cracker-Scrambler/dp/B0044TIT4MThere are VERY HELPFUL instructions for egg blowing tips in the Customer Reviews. Invert your egg, pointy end up 24 hours before and unrefridgerate the carton of eggs to… Read more »