The Easter egg. To some the symbol of life and rebirth, to others luxury and craftsmanship, but to us parents come Easter, it means plastic and sugar rushes. It’s a shame that the all-American Easter egg has become synonymous with artificial food coloring and low grade chocolate. Don’t you and your kiddos deserve better? As a remedy, we’ve been searching for eggs that transcend the traditional, store-bought Easter egg. From the DIY to diamond encrusted, here are the coolest, cutest, most special eggs we found for Easter 2013.

Peacock Egg - The Great Goose Egg Auction
This pretty eggie was submitted by Li Shen to an auction at Open Fields School in New Hampshire. It was definitely one of the prettiest eggs submitted and the proceeds went towards a good cause–education.

Pysanka Egg - Katy David
This is a beautiful, traditional example of Pysanka, a Ukrainian art form of decorating hollowed eggs with beeswax. Not surprisingly, this one already sold on Katy’s Etsy shop, but we can still gawk at how cool it was. Kudos to Katy!

Chocolate Eggs - Raspberri Cupcakes
We’ve all had our share of chocolate eggs on Easter, but these ones really take the cake–cheesecake that is. Do we have your attention now? Looking very reminiscent of the sickenly sweet Cadbury eggs, these double as a DIY and baking project for the fancy Easter enthusiast. Steph, an intrepid baker from Sydney, gives instructions with no shortage of pictures on how to make these confections at home.

Cute Crochet Eggs - Easy Makes Me Happy
If you don’t know how to crochet, these would be a great project to learn due to the quick and easy pattern. It may even inspire your kiddos to try a new hobby. As a bonus, you can stuff them with whatever you want (cotton, fabric, beads, etc). You can even throw in some catnip and make a cat toy. The finished, adorable eggies in the photo are decorated via needle felting, another cool craft to learn.

Henna Burnt Egg - Pockets of Art on Etsy
Made via pyrography (a fancy word for burning wood), the pattern on this wooden egg looks similar to a mehndi henna design. The simple style makes it a perfect year-round decoration.

Colorful Nesting Eggs - That’s Happy 
Many are familiar with Russian nesting dolls and these have the same purpose. For Easter they’re excellent for hiding toys and candies from large to small. Way prettier than plastic eggs and more environmentally friendly. 

Cascarones - Gracie’s Eggies
These little babies are a tradition in Mexico and while beautifully decorated on the outside, it’s what’s inside that counts. Filled with confetti or glitter, they’re cracked (gently) onto people’s heads for good luck at celebrations. You can make DIY versions at home or buy them from Gracie on Etsy. 

Swarovski Rhinestone Egg - The Glittered Squirrel
Can you say bling? This is the story of a little egg who gets a big makeover. It’s silver leafed and covered in real Swarovski crystals.

Polymer Clay Egg - Jeanie Wolen 
This gorgeous egg gets it’s color not from paint or paper, but clay. Jeanie covers blown goose eggs in super colorful polymer clay in a marbled pattern, perfect for an Easter centerpiece. 

Ukrainian Egg Ornaments - Ukranian Easter Eggs
Egg ornaments make a beautiful display in trees on Easter and these ones are definitely top notch. Etsy shop owner Katya paints all of the ornaments herself in Pysanka style–gorgeous!  

Geode Eggs - Fun Family Crafts
Remember when geodes were the most amazing thing ever? Well now they’re even more amazing because you can make them in your own home. If your kiddo has a science project coming up we highly recommend making these!

Glitter Eggs - Sew and the City
Here are some DIY eggs you can keep on display year round. Bling never gets old does it? All you need is Mod Podge (or Elmer’s glue) and glitter. Get those little fingers messy!

Carved Lace Egg - The Nest at Windy Corner
This craft is super impressive. Shop owner Beth Ann carves all these little eggs by hand using a dremel drill. Check out her creative process in a nutshell (or eggshell?) on Youtube.

Huichol Beaded Eggs - Huichol Arte
These are a relatively new art form of western central Mexico–and truly unique. Each bead is applied to the egg with beeswax into colorful symbols of the Huichol people.

Felted Eggs - Astashtoy
These sweet eggs are created by the even sweeter Etsy shop owner, Asta. She creates all the adorable, nature-inspired patterns by hand. Asta will even fill them with French lavender if you so desire–oo la la!

Silk Dyed Eggs - Dabbled
Here’s another DIY project the kiddos can enjoy with you. The pattern from a silk necktie comes off onto the egg while boiling in vinegar water. Who would have thought crazy neckties could create something so beautiful.

Naturally Dyed Eggs - Big Sis Lil Sis
We give these ones props for being healthy and pretty at the same time. Gorgeous colors are created using dyes from natural ingredients like cabbage, onion skin, and cranberries.  And instead of the obligatory stickers or those plastic thingies that shrink an image onto your eggie, how about imprints from freshly cut flowers and leaves from the garden?

Faberge Imperial Eggs - Exquisite
When it come to eggs, it doesn’t get more luxury than Faberge and this one is especially sweet. The Imperial Lillies of the Valley Egg was a gift from Czar Nicholas to his wife (imagine that for an anniversary gift). Of course it’s decorated with diamonds and pearls, but the sweetest thing on this egg are the framed photos of himself and their two eldest daughters, Olga and Tatiana, that rise from the top.

Pretty Package Eggs - Amy Powers
These gems are a fun and inexpensive way to make Easter even prettier. Although these are made with the plastic eggs, the treasures are put on the outside.

Mini Egg Cakelet - Cupcake Envy
Another incredible, edible egg, but so pretty you may want to lock it up in a jewel case. It’s one of the many masterfully crafted cakes from Cupcake Envy in North Carolina and they take online orders–bonus!

Which eggstra special eggie is your fave?

–Katie Garcia