Beginner-Friendly Tips for Creating Your First Eggshell Mosaic

With the price of eggs these days, I feel like I should be locking them up with my valuables. If you’re in the same boat, then we might as well get crafty with the remnants to create a gorgeous eggshell mosaic.

Create a stunning DIY eggshell mosaic-perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. This step-by-step guide shows you how to paint, seal, and arrange eggshell fragments into beautiful upcycled home décor. No grout or special tools needed. Try this easy mosaic craft and add a touch of whimsy to your space.

I repurposed mine to make this tiny cactus, but honestly, you can go wild. Use your leftover shells to create abstract wall art, frames, jewelry boxes, or a pretty pendant. There’s only one downside: they’re not suitable for functional mosaics like tabletops, stepping-stones, or floors. The eggshells are too fragile unless you add copious amounts of resin to protect them.

And trust me, you don’t need to be an artist (or a millionaire) to pull this one off. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how I made this quirky little cactus and share my beginner-friendly tips for making an eggshell mosaic.

So go raid your recycling bin, channel your inner Strati, and let’s turn breakfast scraps into something special.

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What you need

Clean empty eggshells
Nail scissors or clippers
Toothpick
Craft paint and paintbrush
Clear gel nail polish
UV light
Permanent marker (optional)
Clear adhesive
Substrate (frame, wooden jewelry box, scrap wood, clay cactus, etc.)

What you need to make an eggshell mosaic

How to use eggshells to make a mosaic

Just a heads-up: those fragile little leftovers are about to become your new favorite art supply and get you making mosaics. Before we get into how to use eggshells to make a mosaic, paint your substrate. Whatever color you choose will become the grout color when we’re done.

Paint the substrate or object in a solid color to mimic grout

Turning the shells into tiles/tesserae

Unlike traditional mosaics, where you need to find small pieces of stone, glass, or broken plates in the right color, we can make our shells any color we want using craft paint. I would strongly suggest painting the shell first, before cutting it into tiles. It’s less fiddly and easier to manage.

Paint the whole eggshells in a color of your choice

You can even add a little mica powder to give that extra sparkle.

For added shine, rub a little mica powder over the eggshell.

Eggshells are brittle and tend to crumble when cutting, so I always apply 2-3 coats of clear gel topcoat first. Gel nail polish is inexpensive and cures under a UV light to form a pretty hard protective layer.

Add 2-3 layers of clear gel nail polish, curing between each application.

Plus, it adds a gorgeous, glassy shine to the shells, which makes them look more like traditional tiles.

A comparison of the eggshells with a layer of clear gel nail polish (or resin) vs an uncoated shell

The next step is optional. Color the edges of the eggshell with a permanent marker or a little bit of paint. I used black to match my grout and hide those white, cut edges against the dark background.

Color the edges of the shells to tone in with the grout.

Cutting the eggshell tiles

I find it easier to cut the shells with sharp nail scissors. The curved blades kinda mimic the curve of the shell, and my cuts are cleaner. Save the cut pieces in a small, sealable bowl.

Cut the eggshells with nail scissors

Gluing the eggshell tiles

To glue the tiles down, use a clear adhesive and apply a small amount to the back of the tile or onto your substrate. I used B7000. It’s got a fine application tip that makes it easier to get the glue in the right spot.

Glue the eggshells on

And that’s it. Once the glue dries, your eggshell mosaic is ready.

FAQ and Top Tips

Will any eggshells work?

Any hard eggshells will work. Chicken eggs are the easiest to find (obviously), but I’ve seen some amazing mosaics done with ostrich eggs. Oh, and crocodile eggs, but I’d be too worried about the mama croc chasing me.

A collection of empty eggshells

Make sure the shells are clean and there’s no residual egg white or yolk. I soak mine in hot soapy water before gently peeling away the inner membrane. You can leave them to drip dry once you’re done.

I don’t eat eggs. Where can I get shells?

I totally get it. Not everyone eats eggs, but that shouldn’t hold you back from making an eggshell mosaic. You can ask friends or family to save their shells for you. They’re probably tossing them out anyway.

Don’t toss those eggshells-transform them. Beginner guide to durable, eye-catching mosaics with no grout or fancy tools needed."

Asking local restaurants, bakers, or cafes is another option. Many of them whip up delicious dishes with eggs, and they probably have a stash of discarded shells just waiting to be repurposed. A quick chat with the staff could score you some for free.

Do you grout eggshell mosaics?

There’s no need to grout an eggshell mosaic. Just paint whatever you’re using as a substrate, or base, to mimic grout. (hate to grout. I love my black grout, so that’s what I used for the cactus.

The clay cactus was painted black to mimic grout

What’s the best way to color the eggshells?

I’ve tried a few different ways. Alcohol inks are lovely but can be messy, and the colors are not that easy to control. It dries too quickly. You can also mix food coloring, water, and vinegar and leave the shells in the mixture for a few minutes. Personally, I prefer using craft paints. They’re inexpensive and come in a variety of colors.

The eggshells after painting.

How do you stop the eggshells from breaking?

You can apply a resin, clear gel nail polish, or a hard varnish after painting to protect the eggshells. You can also use Mod Podge.

Cure the gel nail polish or 2-minute resin under a UV light.

What tools do you need?

As weird as it may sound, all you need is a nail manicure set. The scissors are perfect for detailed cuts, and a straight-edged nail clipper does a great job of cutting…. Well, straight edges.

Cut the eggshells with nail scissors

Tweezers come in very handy for picking up the eggshells, and cuticle push-back sticks can be used to apply small dots of glue. You can also use toothpicks.

What substrates can I use?

Canvas, wood, clay, glass, plastic, and basically anything glue will stick to.

A close up of view of the eggshell tilesor tesserae

You can even use this tutorial to make a substrate with folds and apply the eggshells to that.

What glue do I use?

For my cactus, I used B7000, but E6000 will work too. You can apply the glue with a toothpick to minimize the mess. You can also use Tacky Glue or any glue that dries clear and will stick to the substrate you’re using.

Do you need to seal the eggshell mosaic?

Yes. A clear spray varnish helps protect and seal all your hard work. I didn’t seal my cactus since I apply resin or clear gel nail polish after painting, which acts as a sealant and hardener. Plus, it gives the shell tiles a glassy look, which I love.

Anything else that I should know?

Yup, be careful with the glue. Adding a layer of resin to the shells first does make it easier to clean off any gluey oopsies, but it’s a pain in the bottom. So, try to keep the glue mess to a minimum.

I think that’s about it. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

If you like the idea of making eggshell mosaics, don’t forget to pin it for later.

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Oh, and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry, it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you.

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