Carving eggs can be a lot of fun, if you get good at it and enjoy this kind of art work.

MATERIALS: be creative!
For this project I used
Goose egg, blown and cleaned- eBay
Faux silk cloth- Joan's fabrics- $7.50
Enamel paints(these work best in my opinion)-2.00
Craft hinges- Michael's- 1.50
Chain- the kind for beading/necklaces
Some kind of edging if you want
TOOLS:
I use a Dremel, but any high-speed rotary tool will work
Various cutting/engraving bits
Charcoal or soft lead pencils
Gum eraser

This is my first instructable so help is welcome!

Step 1: Choose Your Egg

Choosing an egg will decide exactly how much you can do. For this project I used a goose egg for the size and to help keep costs down. But you can use whichever kind you want, it's up to you!

Step 2: Plan

I don't have any pictures of this step because I just carved as I saw fit, but planning out what you want to do is always important. Some questions you should ask yourself:
Who/what is it for?
What do I want it to look like in the end?
Functional or pretty to look at?
Does it matter if it doesn't look exactly as planned?
If you plan on hinging your egg, now is the time to figure that out. Place the hinge where you want it, and pencil in the holes where the screws go. Using a drill bit, create holes to fill with hot glue later.

Step 3: Cutting

This step requires a lot of patience and delicacy, and the pieces will be incredibly fragile.
Following the lines that you have drawn onto the egg, use the Dremel and a cutting disk at the highest speed possible to limit the vibration. Do this very slowly, and I have found that turning the egg while holding the Dremel in one place, you have a little more control over the speed that way. As you get to the corners or the ends of your cut be even more careful, these spots are the most likely to break.

Step 4: Cleaning Up the Edges

This step is optional, but is nice for making hinged boxes.
Using the top or bottom flat side of the cutting disk, even out the edges where you cut.

Step 5: Line the Inside!

For this part you will need patience and speed together. Take your egg pieces and cut a square of fabric about a half inch larger all the way around. Then, with your glue gun zig zag glue on the lowest part of the piece you're working on, then quickly and gently place the fabric in and press it so there are no wrinkles. Do the same to attach it to the edges doing small areas at a time. Trim the excess as close as you can with scissors, and then either glue the rest inside or use a lighter to very carefully melt it to the edge.

Step 6: Hinging

Those holes that you drilled for the hinges earlier, they come in to play now. Taking the moving piece first, in my case one side of the top, place two blobs of hot glue over the holes on the egg and connect them, then place the hinge down so the holes line up. Hold for a couple seconds to let the glue set and then be sure that it moves. Once you have that side done, bend the hinge to the angle it will be when open and do repeat on the base/other half.

Step 7: Edging

You're almost done!!
Now if you want to add any edging to your creation, it takes some time to get it right, but you only have one shot to get it.
Measure first, and cut the length you need one at a time. Dab hot glue on the where the end will be, place and let dry. Then run a line the length you can press before it cools and repeat until you're satisfied. You only have one shot to get it though, the edges are too fragile to pull anything off of once it sets so be careful!

Step 8: Final Touches!

This is where you can really make the egg yours. Carve it more, paint it, do both! Add lights, take your pick and let your imagination run wild!

Some ways to keep it a little less fragile: use a sealant and do multiple coats at the end, glue it to a base, or don't put too much weight on.

Step 9: Extra Hints!

If you plan on hinging and doing edging to hide the gap, do not place it right on the cut edge as the halves will not close unless you plan for the extra width. Also, bending the hinges slightly to fit the curve of the egg will help with a smooth look!

Thanks for reading and any tips or questions can be left in the comments! Good luck!!!