EASTER EGG DECORATING

What would be Easter without decorating and coloring eggs? Here are are some homemade dyes you can use and some different decorating ideas:

The eggs

The first thing you need is either hard boiled or blown eggs. If you use hard boiled eggs hey must be kept refrigerated if you intend to eat them Do not eat if they have been left our or painted with acrylic paints. If you want to keep your decorated eggs it is best to use blown eggs. However, blown eggs are much more fragile and harder for young kids to handle.

To make a blown egg poke a small hole in each end of the egg with a large needle. Push needle into egg and twist around to break yoke. Hold the egg over a bowl and blow hard through th hole until the shell is empty. Rinse eggshells well and allow to dry. (save the raw eggs and scramble for breakfast).

Natural dye

Various food and plant items
Sauce pans for each color
Slotted spoon
strainer
cooking oil
soft cloth

Pour 1/2 cup water in each sauce pan. Add cut-up fruit, vegetables or plants (carrots, blueberries, grass, coffee all work well). Bring to a boil and simmer until water turns color you like. Remove from heat and strain reserving water. When water is cool add boiled or blown eggs. Let sit until they turn the desired color. Remove with slotted spoon and allow to dry. Polish with small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.

Crepe paper dye

Different color crepe paper
hot water
small bowls or cups
slotted spoon
cooking oil
soft cloth

Soak crepe paper in hot water in individual bowls or cups for each color. Add eggs and allow to sit in water until he desired color is achieved. Remove with slotted spoon and allow to dry. Polish with small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.

Food coloring dye

Food coloring
hot water
white vinegar
small bowls or cups
slotted spoon
cooking oil
soft cloth

For each color measure 1/4 tsp. food coloring in small bowl. Add 3/4 cup hot water and 1 tbsp. white vinegar to each color. Add eggs and allow to sit until they are the desired color. Remove with slotted spoon. Polish dry eggs with small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.

Waxed eggs

Wax crayons
paper towels
egg dyes in different colors
slotted spoon
cooking oil
soft cloth

Draw a heavy crayon patter on hard boiled egg. Dip egg in egg dye preferably a dark color. Leave in dye until desired color is reached. Remove with slotted spoon and place in 200 degree F oven for a few minutes until wax is melted. Wipe with paper towel and dip again in lighter dye to fill in pattern where wax was. Polish finished eggs with cooking oil and soft cloth.

Dip and dye eggs

Masking tape
Different color egg dye
slotted spoon
cooking oil
soft cloth

Stick a pattern of masking tap on plain hard boiled egg. Dip egg in egg dye and leave until desired color is reached. Remove with slotted spoon and air dry. Remove masking ape when dry. Leave masked areas white or dip again in another lighter dye. Polish finished egg with cooking oil and soft cloth.

Marble eggs

Large glass jar
Crayon stubs
Vegetable grater
Hot water
Waxed paper or newspaper
Empty egg carton
Clear acrylic spray (optional)

Grate peeled crayons over waxed paper. Fill jar with very hot water. Drop bits of grated crayon into water. Add hard boiled or blown egg as soon as crayon begins to melt. Twirl egg in water with spoon. the wax should make a design on the egg. Carefully remove egg and set upside-down in egg carton to dry. Once dry spray with clear acrylic to seal.

Sponge painted eggs

Liquid tempra paint
paper cups (for each color)
small pieces of foam or sponge
clothes pins (for each color)
egg cups
clear acrylic spray

Place hard boiled or blown eggs in egg cups. Partially fill paper cups with different colors of paint. Clip a piece of sponge to a clothes pin and dip into paper cups, use the clothes pin as a handle. Lightly dab the sponge over the top half of the egg. Let dry. Turn egg over and repeat procedure. Let the egg dry completely. If using blown eggs, spray with acrylic spray for a permanent finish.

Commercial shrink wraps

Most retailers now sell plastic shrink wraps for egg decorating. All you do is cut out the wraps. Slip over a hard boiled egg and dip in boiling water. Wrap will shrink onto the eggs. There are several designs available on the market.

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