In this tutorial, I will be creating eggs with random lines running through them.

The process is quite simple, and I will provide detailed, step-by-step instructions.

However, since I already made these, and it is after all of the egg-dying is finished, to save eggs and time, I will not be providing pictures. Please contact me either privately or on the forum post if you are having trouble with the project and need further help, then I will create the eggs again and post pictures.

Chinese Tea eggs originated in China, of course. They used an interesting method in dying the eggs, and used a traditional tea bag. This project is supposed to give off that same look, however, without using tea, and without the eggs needing to sit for seven hours.

**UPDATE** These eggs, if used for Easter eggs, are best made on the day before Easter.**

Step 1: Preparing the Eggs and Materials

The materials you will need for this project are:
Eggs (You can make as many as you like)
Egg Dye or Food Coloring
Spoon
Dipping Utensil

To prepare the Materials and Eggs, You need to:

Hard Boil the Eggs
Prepare the Dying Formula (If using the dye. If you are using Food Coloring, add about 5 drops into water)
Set up Your Space. Nobody likes staining counters, so set up newspapers and paper towels under the dying area.
Make sure you have all the materials you need, and all steps are complete.

NOW, LET'S GET TO WORK!!

Step 2: Crack the Egg

Yep, you heard me.

To create the random lines, you will need to make cracks in the shell of the egg.

To do this,

Take the spoon, (it should be metal, and not plastic) and gently pat on the surface of the egg. If cracks do not form, them tap harder. Cracks should form on the shell of the egg. Make sure that there are cracks on all parts of the egg. e.g. top, left, right, bottom.

Step 3: Dip the Egg

Dip the Egg into the dye, (or food coloring mixture) using your dipping utensil. You should leave it in for 15-30 minutes if using dye, and 30-60 minutes if using food coloring. The longer the egg is left in the dye, the stronger and better the color of the lines will be. If you leave the egg in for a couple of hours, the results will be even better!

Step 4: Dry Off the Egg

After you retrieve your egg from the dye, pat it dry with a paper towel. The color should look strong on the shell. Make sure the egg is thoroughly dry.

Step 5: Peel Off the Shell

Carefully peel off the shell of the egg by either starting from a already formed crack and pulling it up, or by semi-forcefully tapping your finger on the egg to make a large crack, and then peeling the shell off.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Now, put the eggs in the fridge so they don't go bad, or, you can let the egg rest in Vinegar. This will give it a rubbery feel, and might make it last longer. You can also use the decorative and colorful shells for other projects, too!

Step 7: Tips and Warnings

Tips:

Leave the Egg in even longer for a more complete and strong color
Egg Dye colors the egg white faster than Food Coloring, or it did for me, so keep that in mind as you color the eggs.

Warnings: