How To Make Hidden Treasure Dinosaur Eggs craft

Although you bake them at low temperature in the oven...(just to dry it all out, not to actually bake them) even the kids can make them! In the triple digit heat wave we just had out here in California...I made them and then put them on a cookie sheet and set the cookie sheet out in the sun and triple digit heat for 2 days and nights and they were perfect for cracking and poking the third day! Come winter time...just pop them into your toaster oven and dry them out. No need for the big oven!

INGREDIENTS ARE "KID FRIENDLY"
Other than a minor bit of craft sand, these eggs are made with all edible ingredients. Used coffee grounds, flour, salt etc. The 1/4 cup of craft sand of course is not edible, but generally speaking it is a safe recipe for kids to be able to make themselves and roll the trinkets into a ball and then when dry, dig and crack open.

WHERE TO GET INGREDIENTS:
COFFEE GROUNDS: Save your used coffee grounds. If youI don't drink coffee, check the local coffee cafes. I go to Starbucks and ask for their used grounds...tons of them available. Take your own trash bag or they give them to me in one they have. Then spread out the coffee grounds onto cookie sheets or trays and let them thoroughly dry.

CRAFT SAND is at most any craft store. With the grounds so dark, I get a lighter colored sand just for the sake of coloration, but plan on giving a colored sand a try and see how they look. One small bag of sand goes a long as you only need 1/4 cup per recipe and that makes 6 eggs.

Hidden Treasure Eggs/Dinosaur Eggs

1 cup flour
1 cup dried coffee grounds
1/2 cup (table) salt
1/4 cup craft sand
3/4 cup water

Combine dry ingredients one at a time. Mix thoroughly after each addition. It is important to make sure all ingredients are mixed together or the ability to make the "ball" stay together is compromised. Use a whisk to mix the dry ingredients together. Then add water. Using a spoon, start working the "dough". It will become moist and start sticking together. If using an oven, heat to 170*. Continue to follow instructions below

PREPERATION TIPS:
After making these dinosaur eggs, I have learned a few "tricks of the trade" to make the balls/eggs best possible. Although this is talking about eggs the size of 1/2 cup of the "dough", you can use a 1 cup measuring cup to make them larger if you want to use a larger "hidden treasure" item.

1. When combining the ingredients... stir together each ingredient as you add it. To the coffee grounds, add the flour and, with a whisk, blend completely. Then add the salt and blend completely etc. The reason is...the "dough" rolls and sticks and makes a nice and firm circle if the ingredients are blended together smoothly as possible. And nearly no mess!

2. Using a 1/2 measure cup, fill half full, add the trinket and fill the rest of the way. Then, with your fingers, lightly press down into the cup and pull the "dough" from the side a little (to help it fall out of the cup better). Then turn the cup over into your hand and knock the dough out into your cupped hand. Now start molding.

TRINKETS INSIDE:
They are the size you want, however this recipe makes 6 1/2 cup size balls. Double the recipe if you want to make more or make them larger. The trinket you use determines the size you need. Fill them with trinkets of your choice or theme. Watch the craft stores now... mini ornaments and tiny decorations are all coming for the holidays and those make GREAT "inside surprises" for these eggs. Plastic jewelry, party favors, tiny plastic animals are also good trinkets. Check the "dollar stores" for little party favors.

Press your thumb into the center of the cup of coffee mixture. Put a trinket in the groove. Fill the measuring cup to the top with more "dough".Then continue with forming and drying as stated below.

TO MOLD and DRY THE EGGS
With the moist "dough" in your two cupped hands, just press, squeeze and form. Just keep rolling the ball of dough in your hands, squeezing it into a ball and pressing very firmly ... all as you keep rolling the ball in your hands. Doesn't take long but you want to press and squeeze good to get the ingredients packed together good so when dry, it gives a little bit of fun-time of poking, jabbing and digging for the child to get to the hidden treasure inside.
Lay them out on a cookie sheet. They don't rise so you can place them as close as you want to. Place them in an oven at 170* for about 2-3 hours. You are not baking the balls, just drying them out so that they harden. You can even put them outside in the heat to dry. Last summer we had triple digit heat days, so I sat them on the patio table in the sun for 3 days and they hardened perfectly and I didn't have to turn the oven on! Or you could use a toaster oven.

When the balls/eggs are dry, you are ready to make the kids happy! Use them as party favors or just for a fun day. Hide the eggs / balls in the yard and let the kids go on a search! Once found, give each child a spoon, stick or whatever you have for them to cut, stab, poke and scratch at the egg until they break it open to find their SURPRISE!!!