If you haven’t dyed Easter eggs since your children were little or even since your own childhood, a world of new egg trends awaits you! While the simple, single-colored tablet dye kits and even fancier versions exist, there are many ways to get more creative with Easter egg coloring. Here are a few ways to jazz up your Easter baskets this year, keeping in mind any cutting or overly messy steps are best for grownups to handle. (Of course, you don’t need children to dye eggs — grownups are allowed to enjoy these ideas all on their own!)
Tie-dyed Easter Eggs
Supplies: Cookie sheet or plastic tray, paper towels, rubber gloves, food coloring, white vinegar, water, small spray bottle, hard-boiled eggs, rubber bands and plastic bags
Instructions: Cover a cookie sheet or plastic tray with a layer of paper towels. Wearing gloves, drop spots of food coloring atop the paper towel, covering the towel as much as you wish while making sure various colors can be seen around the towel.
Mix 3-4 teaspoons of vinegar with water in your spray bottle. Then evenly spray the paper towel entirely (covered but not soaking wet). Center an egg on the paper towel, and wrap the towel around the egg tightly, securing it with a rubber band. Place the egg inside the plastic bag and secure again with a rubber band.
Leave the eggs sitting in the paper towels for several minutes before removing to reveal your “tie-dye” designs. Alternate approach: Wrap the eggs in the paper towels first, then drop the food coloring around the egg and spray with vinegar/water. This is potentially messier, but it may allow more control of the overall design. Either way, allow the eggs to dry completely before handling.
Melted Crayon Easter Eggs
Supplies: Crayons, cheese grater (that you do not wish to use for cheese ever again!), napkins/paper towels or small paper plates, hard-boiled eggs (please note, the eggs must be hot as you decorate them in order for the crayons to melt atop them), plastic bottle caps
Instructions: Peel the labels from the crayons, and cut crayon shavings with the cheese grater. It is probably best to shave each color onto its own napkin or small plate. With a hot hard-boiled egg in one hand, sprinkle the crayon shavings on top to the design of your choice. You can press the shavings around the egg, but use caution as the egg is hot! Alternate approach: You can roll the hot eggs in the crayon shavings instead of sprinkling them on to achieve a different look. Add as many colors as you want before the egg cools.
Stand the egg in a bottle cap to allow the shavings to continue to drip and melt as the egg cools. After a few minutes, brush away any unmelted shavings with a napkin.
Volcano-dyed Easter Eggs
Supplies: Rubber gloves, several small bowls or cups, 1 tablespoon baking soda, 2-3 teaspoons water, food coloring, hard-boiled eggs, cookie sheet or plastic tray, paint brushes (and cup of water for rinsing brushes between eggs), deep bowl, vinegar
Instructions: While wearing rubber gloves, take the bowls/cups and mix the baking soda, water and food coloring (mixing each color separately) to create paste paints. Paint the hard-boiled eggs to your liking (they need not be smooth; excess baking soda will enhance the volcanic effect to come). Holding the egg over a cookie sheet/tray, drip splashes of food coloring atop the painted eggs (using a dropper can help contain the mess).
Place the egg in the deep bowl, and slowly pour the vinegar on top to create a “volcanic” reaction. Once the reaction settles, pat off the excess vinegar. Set aside to dry while making your remaining eggs “erupt” in style.
Marbled Easter Eggs
Supplies: Rubber gloves, muffin/cupcake tin or small bowls, shaving cream, food coloring, hard-boiled eggs cooled to room temperature, paper towels
Instructions: While wearing rubber gloves, fill the tins/bowls with shaving cream. Drop 5-7 drops of food coloring in each container. Lightly swirl the coloring into the cream without blending it entirely — one or two stirs only, as you want lots of the white shaving cream to remain seen.
Carefully twirl the eggs, one at a time, through the shaving cream/food coloring mixture until the entire surface is covered. Quickly remove the egg. Wipe the excess mixture from its surface. No need to rinse, just set aside to dry.
A few supplies that you may already have at home can result in a variety of creatively colored Easter eggs. As with any children’s crafts, some assistance will be needed with the messier steps and with sharp or hot objects. Whether you’re involving the kids or getting in touch with your inner child, may these ideas reignite the joy of Easter egg crafting!
Sources:
1. https://buggyandbuddy.com/9-unique-ways-to-decorate-easter-eggs/.
2. https://www.clumsycrafter.com/easter-eggs-using-melted-crayon/.
3. https://www.clumsycrafter.com/diy-marbled-easter-eggs/.
Written by Angel Morris
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