Dying and decorating Easter eggs is a fun activity for the whole family! Read ahead for dye recipes, tips for dying eggs, and unique ideas for decorations.
DIY Dyes
Mother Nature has already provided us with ingredients to make an array of colorful dyes! Check the chart below for some ideas, but remember, you can also experiment with the items in your own kitchen or mix different dyes together to create more colors.
Red: Raspberries, cranberries
Orange: Yellow onion skin, carrot tops
Yellow: Ground turmeric, ground cumin, orange peels, lemon peels
Green: Spinach leaves
Blue: Blueberries
Purple: Beets, purple onion skin
Brown: Coffee, tea
Put several raw eggs in a pan, and cover the eggs with cold water. Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar, and mix the vinegar into the water. Then, add the ingredient that will make the dye. Simmer the eggs in the dye for about 15 minutes. If after 15 minutes, you still want the eggs to be darker, place the eggs in a bowl, pour the dye mixture over them, and leave them in the refrigerator for several hours (overnight might be necessary).
You can also try simmering each item alone in the water/vinegar mixture to make dyes ahead of time. After 15 to 20 minutes of simmering, strain off the substance, leaving just the dye. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
If you want more intense color than that provided by natural dyes, then mix your own dyes with food coloring. For each color, mix together 1/4 teaspoon of food coloring, 3/4 cup hot water, and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
Dying Perfect Eggs
Begin by hard boiling your eggs. Place the eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 8 to 9 minutes. Carefully pour the eggs into a strainer, and run cold water over the eggs until they are cool enough to handle. Do not attempt to decorate or dye the eggs until they are completely cooled.
Then, prepare the dye according to your kit or per our instructions. The dye must be hot! Pour each color of dye into a separate container, which should be large enough for the egg to fit easily. Carefully slide the egg into the container, and then let it sit in the dye for several minutes. The longer the egg sits in the dye, the darker it will be. When you are satisfied with the color, use a slotted spoon to remove the egg, pat it dry with a paper towel, and set it carefully in an egg carton or holder.
Beyond the Basics
-Tape Designs. Wrap strips of duct or electrical tape around your hard-boiled egg before dying, or cut out designs and stick to the egg. The tape will resist the dye, leaving behind your design. When you peel off the tape, you can then dip the egg in another dye color or leave as is.
-Swirling. Place the hard-boiled egg in a dish. Take a spoonful of dye and dribble it over the egg. Try holding the egg and turning it under the spoon as you dribble the dye. Layers the dribbles with different colors!
-Rubber Bands. Simply wrap rubber bands around your hard-boiled egg before dying. The rubber bands will resist the dye, making a criss-crossing design of bands and lines.
-Wax Writing or Dripping. Try drawing on your eggs with crayons before dipping in dye. You can also drip melted wax from a lit candle onto the egg, or try drawing designs on the egg with a straight pin and melted wax.
-Hand Painting. Use small paintbrushes and acrylic paints or concentrated food coloring to paint directly on the surface of the hard-boiled egg. You can also try sponge painting the eggs for an interesting, textured effect.
-Get Crafty! Dye your eggs solid colors, then decorate each egg with bits of found objects, like paper, ribbon, doll's hair, yarn, sequins, tinsel, tassels, google eyes, glitter, tiny buttons, or beads. Use white school glue to attach paper, glitter, and light objects; low-temp hot glue or rubber cement might work best for heavier items like buttons. Stuck for ideas? Try making a series of animals or portraits of your family members.
