Walnut help needed!

I hope someone can help me! I need to open about 15 walnuts and keep the shells intact so they can be used for craft projects. So far, S and I have tried about 15, with only 1 being possibly salvagable if I glue the pieces back together.

We've tried the squeezy thing, going up and down the side seams. He's tried scoring the side seams with a knife; tapping with a hammer, prying apart from the top. I'm beginning to think that we have particularly fragile walnuts, or else we just don't know the secret!

I need to open these then spray paint them, stick a bell on a string inside, and hot glue them back together. By Monday. At this rate, we're going to be knee-deep in failed walnut residue for a long time!

Can anyone give suggestions for what to try? Thanks a bunch!!!

Comments

[Sarah]

Sounds like you are making similar little gifts as our girls get at school. I've found that old walnuts are easier than fresh ones. I've opened them by wedging a knife into the crack and holding my breath.....

[heidi]

ooooo. wish i could help. max looks awesome in that hat. famous boy!

[carabeth]

bake'em!!!!

[Anamaria]

Hmmm. I halved walnuts for the Columbus Day boats we made last year, and it's tricky, but you should be able to manage it. Maybe you do have fragile walnuts! I squeeze around the middle of the walnut with a supermarket-style nutcracker, and when it starts to open a little, I stick the tip of a knife in there and loosen from the inside. Will try aging and baking them next time myself! Fun project, too!