Introduction: Hidden Message Egg (wine Glass Magnifying Lens)
For many years my family makes and displays Easter eggs. I try to do something different every year.
This year I wanted to combine a hidden message inside the egg; readable with an attached homemade glass magnifying lens.
I got the idea from micro-pictures put inside walking canes, rings, lockets which are only visible by either a Stanhope or Dagron lens.
I cut down a wine glass for the lens material and create a modified Plano-convex lens.
Step 1: Items Used
Items used
1. Egg – white chicken egg
2. Glue gun
3. .005 fine black marker
4. Wine glass
5. Bamboo sticks – for grinding the glass to make lens
6. Wet grinders or paper 100,220,400,600,1000,3000
7. Polishing compound – cerium powder mixed with water
8. Diamond cutting wheel
9. Large metal paperclip
10. Household scissors
11. 20 pound white paper
12. Tweezers – I used a plastic jaw for handling the lense and a small jaw for putting the message in the egg
13. Color markers – to decorate outside of egg
14. Egg holder - I used a large spring clamp
15. Safety gear
Always remember shop safety - wear your protective items
Step 2: Make the Magnifying Lens (This Lens Is Called Plano-convex)
I started by cutting a wine glass into little pieces ( I used a wet diamond saw).
I then mounted the broken glass onto pieces of bamboo (to work on the grinders)
Using wet grinders, I worked from 100, 220, 400, 600, 1000 to 3000 grit; to shape and polish the lens.
I used cerium polish to put on the final finish on the lens.
I created a lens with one of the surfaces flat, and the other curved out.
This (wine glass magnifying lens) lens is called plano-convex
Step 3: Prepare the Egg
Poking a big hole and a little hole in an egg.
It was blown in the little hole - blowing out the contents thru the big hole.
I let it dry for a few days.
Step 4: Write Message, Put Message in Egg and Mount Lens to Egg
Write the message
I used my .005 marking pen (the picture shows my writing on rice kit) and wrote my message on 20 pound white paper.
I then cut the message out using household scissors (around the message - about 1/2 inch in diameter).
Put message in egg
Using small tweezers I put the message inside the egg (using a slight roll of the paper and then through the big hole).
I bent out (straighten) a large paperclip to use as a push rod.
With the straight paper clip put through the little hole – I put pressure on the cut out message over the big hole.
Note: the message is to point towards the little hole.
Tricky part: holding the message with paper clip in one hand - I held it upright (with the big hole pointing down)
Using the glue gun, I applied hot glue over the hole - to hold the message in place.
Letting it cool for a minute or two before pulling out the paper clip.
Add lens to egg
Egg holder - I used a large spring clamp to cradle the egg; I position the egg for the little hole to face up.
Using the hot glue gun, I put small dots of glue around the little hole.
Using the plastic jaw tweezers - I then placed the lens (flat side against the egg over the little hole)
I was not quick enough for great adhesion, so I put four small dots of glue – on the edge of the lens to create a better bond of lens to the egg.
Step 5: Decorate the Egg
I used paint markers to put the decoration on.
All done.
I like how it came out.
It is not just a hidden message inside the egg, it is also a secret.
Step 6: Years Past Eggs
I wanted to share some of our decorated eggs from years past.
The first picture shows an easter egg tray painted by my mother.