Ideas for Decorating Hard Boiled Eggs
Decorating hard boiled eggs for Easter is an activity enjoyed by both children and adults. Although it may be tempting to decorate hard boiled eggs using a convenient kit, think twice and add some variety to your Easter egg hunt. Many techniques and coloring methods require few materials, and directions are easy to follow.
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Homemade Egg Dye
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Mix 20 drops of food coloring and 1 tbsp. vinegar in 1 cup of hot water for each color (jars with openings large enough to submerge the eggs or heatproof containers work well). Using tongs to handle the eggs, submerse them in the dye five minutes for light colors and 10 minutes or longer for darker shades. Let the eggs dry for 15 minutes on a cooling rack or paper towels.
Marbled Eggs
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To create a marble effect, combine 2 tbsp. vinegar, 3 cups warm water and a few drops of food coloring in a small mixing bowl. Submerge the egg in the mixture for five minutes (or 10 minutes for a darker shade). Remove the egg and place it on a paper towel. Prepare another color dye in a shallow, wide bowl. Liquid should be 1/2 inch deep. Add 1 tbsp. olive oil. Swirl the oil with a fork on top of the surface. Dip and roll the egg, until the egg picks up colored streaks and curlicues. Remove and air-dry on paper towels.
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Tie-Dyed Eggs
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Place several hard boiled eggs in a colander. Set the colander in your kitchen sink and splash the eggs with vinegar (this sets the dye). Drip one drop of yellow food coloring onto each egg and gently spin the colander to spread the color. Allow to set for one minute. Continue with one or two more colors, adding one drop of food coloring per egg. Gently spin the colander and allow to set for one minute. After the last color, lightly rinse the eggs with water and allow them to drain for two minutes. Remove the eggs and air-dry on paper towels.
Sparkle Eggs
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Add embellishments to your dyed or natural hard boiled egg by gluing your choice of glitter, small beads and sequins. Apply craft glue with a cotton swab to apply the embellishments one by one. If you'd like to make a glitter egg, apply a thin layer of glue to the egg with a small paintbrush and roll in glitter until the whole egg is covered. Allow to dry for two hours.
Rubber Band Eggs
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Create striped eggs when using homemade egg dye. Before placing the eggs in the dye, carefully place five or more rubber bands on the hard boiled egg. Dye and allow to completely dry on paper towels. Remove the bands to reveal the stripes.
Ribbon Eggs
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Add a formal look by adding ribbon to your hard boiled eggs. Ribbon between 1/2 inch to 1 inch wide works best. Begin by dying the eggs one color. After drying, wrap the ribbon around the midsection of the egg and attach by using double-sided tape.
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References
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