Kiddipedia
Dyeing Easter Eggs undoubtedly is one of the most fun activities you can share with your kids during the Easter holiday. It’s a cheap craft activity, which can be make into an annual tradition, that gives you a great opportunity to connect and create some life long memories.
Why not make some time for super fun craft together in the kitchen, you’ll all end up with stained finger tips but hey that’s all part of the fun.
One good thing about dyeing Easter Eggs is that you most probably have all the ingredients in your cupboards and draws already. Also, there are so many fun decorative craft ideas you can create when decorating them.
Here are just a few easy ideas to get you inspired:
Age Guideline: 3 Years and Up
Egg Dyeing Time: 30 minutes (not including drying time)
You’ll need:
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- 3 deep bowls (that will allow the eggs to submerge one at a time)
- 3 cups of boiling water
- Large spoon
- White Vinegar
- Food colouring
- Flowers or Leaves
- String or Ribbon
- Baking Paper
- Sticky tape
- Ribbon
- Gold Paint
- Small paintbrush/s
- Egg Cup holder
Method:
- Add 1 cup of boiling water to each bowl along with 2 tsp of white vinegar
- Add roughly 20 drops of food colouring to each bowl until you reach your desired colour.
- Using the large spoon gently lower each hardboiled egg into the water until completely submerged in the coloured water.
- Leave each egg in the water for 1-2 minutes, be sure to gently move the egg around to ensure the colouring is even throughout.
- When you are happy with the colouring achieved use the spoon again lift the egg out of the water and gently place on a piece of baking paper. NB: the colouring will intensify when drying.
1- String Eggs
Before the colouring wrap each egg with either string or rope to make the desired pattern and or shape on the egg. Gently tie a knot to secure it.
Follow the dyeing instructions
Unwind the string from the eggs to reveal the pattern.
2- Speckled Eggs:
After you have completed the dyeing and the eggs have dried use a paint brush to flick gold paint onto the eggs.
3- Pressed Flower Easter Eggs:
- Before you colour the eggs take a pair of stockings
- Cut into 4-inch squares.
- Lay your flower or leaf down on the middle of the fabric
- Lay your egg on top of the leaf then cover with the hose. Make sure it is tight!
- Then use your twist tie to secure.
- Make sure your leaf is tight on the egg, if not, the dye will seep into the spots and bleed colour where your leaf print should be.
- Lower your eggs into the dye and let sit for at least 30-45 minutes – or longer if you want darker colours.
- Place eggs on baking paper
- NB: This is a crucial step: Make sure you let your eggs dry before taking off the stocking. If they are still wet, they may drip into the imprinted spot. Being wrapped in the hose longer also makes them darker.
- Make sure the eggs don’t dry for too long or it will pick up imperfections from where they are laying.
- Make sure the leaf side isn’t touching anything when drying.
- Dry the egg for about 45 minutes up to an hour. Unless they are super wet and in that case, try an hour and a half. Don’t make my mistake and let them sit overnight.
- Once you take the hose off, you’ll want to make sure the rest of the egg is dry before pulling off the leaf. This only takes 10-15 minutes – unless your egg is completely dry already.
- After everything is dry, gently pull off the leaf and see your imprint!
4- Sticky Tape Eggs
Before you colour the eggs cut the sticky tape into small squares and press them onto the egg.
Follow the dyeing instructions.
Once Eggs are dry peel off the tape to reveal the pattern.
5- Freehand paint
When all else fails, and there isn’t enough time for any of the fancy-smanshy decorating ideas above, you can always simply grab a paintbrush, let your inner artist free and creativity take over to paint freehand.
Simply dye and dry the eggs as per the above instructions.
To ensure your paintings don’t ruin place the dyed eggs into a cup or holder so to enable easy handling.
For more fun Easter Ideas visit Top 10 ‘Egg-cellent Easter Egg Hunt Ideas
You might also like to read:
Top 10 ‘Egg-cellent Easter Egg Hunt’ Ideas
