Easter is around the corner, so I wanted to revisit these surprise eggs I made a couple years ago. I used them as placecards for an Easter lunch. These were inspired by Megan of not martha, and they are real eggs, hollowed out and stuffed with treats. The truly surprising thing, though, is that they were actually really, really easy.

These surprise eggs are actually quite easy to make. You slice a hole in the bottom of a raw egg, and clean it out and sterilize it. You can dye the eggs, or leave them white or brown (I like the rustic look). Then fill them with tiny candies or other little treats, and close up the bottoms with glued-on mini cupcake wrappers.

These aren't just for Easter, though. I loved making them, and the guests loved cracking them. (It's fun to tell guests to crack them on each other's eggs, or on each other's heads!) It would be fun to use these again for a spring party, or a baby shower. You could fill them with confetti, for the traditional Mexican cascarone often found at weddings. Or you could not fill them at all, and just write guests' names in gold pen like I did and use them as simple placecards. They're the perfect little placecard for a brunch party!

Did you try dyeing eggs, making sugar eggs, or another Easter project this year?

• Get instructions: Easter Surprise Eggs (the easy version) at not martha

Related: How To Make Diorama Sugar Eggs

(Originally published April 5, 2010)

(Images: Faith Durand)