How to Make Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Natural Easter egg dyes have been around for a lot longer than those crumbly tablets you buy at the supermarket. You don't have to spend a lot of money on fancy Easter egg kits to color Easter eggs. You can easily make natural Easter egg dyes with things you have in your own kitchen - most of which you'd probably just throw away anyway! Here's how to make natural Easter egg dyes for beautiful colored Easter eggs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• white eggs
• vegetable peels
• fruit peels
• flower petals
• saucepan
• water
• vinegar
• small bowls

1. Collect materials you can use for natural Easter egg dye.
   
   Many foods can be used to make dyes. Fruit peels, vegetables and whole berries generally work the best. Flower petals from various flowers also make great natural Easter egg dyes. Check the Tips section below for ideas on making various colors.

2. Make your dyes.
   
   In a saucepan, add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to 2 cups of water. Add your natural Easter egg dye material. You'll need to make each dye color separately.

3. Color the Easter eggs - Method 1.
   
   The quickest way to color Easter eggs with natural dye is to boil the eggs in the dye as you're making it. That means using several pans or dyeing the eggs one color at a time. Simply add the eggs to the water when you add the dye to it, and boil for 10-12 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. Remove the eggs from the dye and refrigerate.

4. Color Easter eggs with natural dye - Method 2.
   
   Bring the Easter egg dye to a boil over high heat and allow to boil for 5-10 minutes. Put eggs in a single layer in a small bowl. Strain dye through cheesecloth or a wire strainer into the bowl to cover the eggs. Allow eggs to remain in dye till you get the color that you want. You may need to cover them and put them in the refrigerator overnight.

5. Deepen the color of your natural dyed Easter eggs by combining the two methods. Boil the eggs along with the dye material for 10-12 minutes. Remove the eggs and strain the dye into a bowl. Place the eggs in the bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight or until the eggs reach the color that you want.

Tips & Warnings

• For lavender natural Easter egg dye, use a few tablespoons of purple grape juice or a handful of violet petals with a teaspoon of lemon juice.
• For purple natural Easter egg dye, use about 1/2 cup of red onion skins.
• For blue natural Easter egg dye, use canned or fresh blueberries.
• To make green dye, use 1/2 cup minced spinach leaves.
• To make pale green dye for natural Easter eggs, use the skins from 3 Granny Smith apples.
• Yellow and orange can be made with orange peels, carrots, lemon peels, turmeric or cumin.
• Yellow onion skins make orange natural Easter egg dye.
• Make brown Easter eggs with strong black coffee.
• Make pink natural Easter egg dye with cranberries or cranberry juice, fresh or frozen strawberries or red grape juice.
• For red Easter eggs, use two or three times the red onion skins you use for purple.
• Supervise children closely when working with boiling water.
• Wear old clothes. Remember, these things stain cloth as nicely as they do Easter eggs.

[prism]

on 4/7/2009 I wanted to do something like this with my son this year. I love your handy materials list! Adding to my favorites for easy reference this weekend. Thanks for sharing!

[dlcass]

on 3/21/2009 Great ideas for natural dyes. Loads of fun in the kitchen with the kids too.

[copperhill]

on 3/14/2009 This is a wonderful article and perfect for easter. I am emailing to my wife as we speak. This is a great learning and fun activity for our 3 year old.