Mix the dyes in wide mouthed jars - remember you have to get an egg on a spoon into them gently . Be sure to protect your working area with newspaper covered in paper towels. Have lots of paper towels handy while you work. The oils on your hands may inhibit the shell from taking the dyes so touch the eggs with bare hands as little as possible. I have found dental finger cots to be a wonderful help in keeping my eggs from smudging.
Most traditional designs call for dividing the egg into equal sections.
Light marks can be made with a pencil, but do not try to erase them as the erased areas will not take dye properly. Also be aware that if the pencil marks are in areas that will be left white they may show on the finished egg. Despite these caveats, such marks can be very helpful in charting your design. Continue through each color needed ending up in a dark color such as black, navy blue or red. An interesting fact is that green dyes should be applied with q-tips rather than by immersion if only a small area is to be green.