Stuck in someone else's frames? break free! Easter with Spike and Jamie - this page contains information about decorating Easter Eggs.
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Easter Eggs - Decorating |
DECORATING EASTER EGGS NATURALLY
MAKE YOUR EASTER EGGSTRA SPECIAL
DECORATING EASTER EGGS NATURALLY Back to Top
You could just walk down to the corner store and pick up a prepackaged Easter egg kit, but you'd be missing out on half the fun of making Easter Eggs -- the opportunity to let your creativity go wild! It's possible to come up with a great number of colors using natural ingredients that can easily be found in almost any kitchen. Here are some ideas. Usually, the more of the natural ingredient you use and the longer the egg soaks (maybe even overnight) the darker the color will be. We've gathered a few of our favorite egg-dyeing techniques and decorating tips that'll help you make this year's Easter eggs the best yet!
If you are a nature-enthusiast, or just looking to experiment with some ingredients, natural egg-dyeing is exactly the technique for you. Almost any natural ingredient that you can think of (that has a vibrant color that will release in hot water) will work perfectly. When using natural dyes, it is a good idea to use distilled water (or water filtered of chlorine). Chlorine and other chemicals are commonly put into tap water to keep it safe to drink, but the chlorine will also work against the dye, making it less intense. You can buy distilled water or filter it yourself.
Working with natural dyes may take longer than working with the store-bought kind, depending on how intense you want the colors of your eggs to be. In order to get the natural dyes to stain the eggs a dark color, you will need to let the eggs sit in the dyes overnight in the refrigerator. If you let the eggs sit in the natural dyes for only a few hours, they will turn out a pastel color, which is also quite beautiful.
This Easter why not turn to Mother Nature to color your eggs. It is possible to create some really stunning colors using natural ingredients that can easily be found in almost any kitchen. Please note: this activtiy works best with white eggs.
You will need: a pan with a lid, vinegar, white eggs and natural colorings (see below)
EASTER EGGS DECORATNG TIP
If you are going to eat decorated hard-cooked eggs:
Refrigerate hard-cooked eggs whenever you're not working with them. Put them in their cartons if you won't be decorating them right after cooking. Refrigerate them again right after dyeing or decorating them.
Make sure the eggs you color aren't cracked. If any crack during dyeing or decorating, throw them away. Also throw away any eggs that have been out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.
Use food coloring or specially-made, food-grade egg dyes. Dissolve the dye in
water that is warmer than the eggs. Be sure the label says nontoxic on any
crayons, pens, paints
or other art materials you use. Or, use edible decorations like herbs.
Blue
Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves
Blue
1/2 head red cabbage, chopped
1 cup water
Simmer the cabbage and water in a covered enamel or glass pan until the cabbage turns dark green and is just tender. Strain the juice, which will be blue.
Beige to brown
Strong brewed coffee
Brown
To a cup of hot water, add 1 Tablespoon of instant coffee, and 1/2 teaspoon
vinegar.
Brown:
1 cup coffee grounds or 10 tea bags
1 cup water
Cover coffee grounds with water or add tea bags to water. Simmer, uncovered, in an enamel or a glass pan for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid.
Green:
Outer skins of 5 red onions
1 cup water
Boil the outer skins of the onions in the water in a covered enamel or glass pan for 10 minutes. Strain the juice.
Pale green
Spinach leaves
Green-gold
Yellow Delicious apple peels
Golden Tan
Save the skins from yellow onions. Add them to the water when you hard-boil your
eggs.
Lavender
Soak your hardboiled eggs in grape juice, or, add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to
the Violet Blue water to lighten the color.
Orange
Yellow onion skins
Pink
Soak your hardboiled eggs in cranberry juice or the juice from pickled beets.
Pink : fresh beetroots or cranberries, frozen raspberries
Pretty Pastels
You can rub blueberries and cranberries right on the shells for soft blues and
pink. Blend them for another pretty result.
Purple
1 (15-ounce) can sliced beets; or 1/2 cup grape juice concentrate
Purple
1/2 cup frozen blackberries
Allow the frozen blackberries to soften at room temperature for 30 minutes, then blend for 30 seconds.
Purple : a small amount of red onion skins or grape juice
Red
Save the skins from red onions and boil with the eggs for 1/2 to 1 hour.
Remember the more skins you use and the longer you soak the darker the color
will be. A smaller amount of skins will produce a nice lavender.
Red
1 cup cranberries
Cover cranberries with water and boil for 2 hours, mashing the cranberries as they
soften. Strain liquid.
Pale Red
Fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries or strawberries
Red
1 cup canned cherries (with syrup)
Violet Blue
Soak your hardboiled eggs overnight in hot water to which you have added violet
blossoms.
Violet Blue
You can also soak your eggs in liquid chlorophyll. (Buy it at the pet store or
drug store.)
Yellow
To a cup of hot water, add 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons of tumeric and 1/2 teaspoon
vinegar.
Yellow
1/4 cup ground safflower; or 1/4 cup ground turmeric
Yellow
Outer skins of 5 yellow onions
1 cup water
Boil the dark, dry outer skins of yellow onions in a covered glass or enamel pan for 10 minutes, or until the liquid is dark yellow. Strain the juice.
Light yellow
Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin
To dye the perfect Easter eggs the natural way, here's what to do:
1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are
covered.
2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.
3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be.
(The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)
4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl. If you
want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand
overnight in the refrigerator.
An egg tree can be made with the decorated eggs by placing a tree branch into a bucket of sand and attaching the decorated eggs on with pipe cleaners or ribbon.
MAKE YOUR EASTER EGGSTRA SPECIAL Back to Top
In pagan times, eggs were a symbol of the return of spring, while Christians embraced the egg as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus and likened it to the tomb from which he rose. Throughout the world, eggs are dyed, painted, dribbled in beeswax, rolled, hidden, hard-boiled or blown empty with straws. Decorating eggs with children is an entertaining way to expand their knowledge and understanding of the world.
Easter Eggs Decorating Tip
If you are going to eat decorated hard-cooked eggs:
Refrigerate hard-cooked eggs whenever you're not working with them. Put them in their cartons if you won't be decorating them right after cooking. Refrigerate them again right after dyeing or decorating them.
Make sure the eggs you color aren't cracked. If any crack during dyeing or decorating, throw them away. Also throw away any eggs that have been out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.
Use food coloring or specially-made, food-grade egg dyes. Dissolve the dye in
water that is warmer than the eggs. Be sure the label says nontoxic on any
crayons, pens, paints or other art materials you use. Or, use edible decorations
like herbs.
Food-Coloring Dyes
If you haven't the patience to experiment with natural dyes, but want to make
Easter egg dye from scratch, dyes made with food coloring are a super simple and
fun way. To make food-coloring dye: Drip (liquid, paste or gel) food coloring
into bowls of water, and stir until the water reaches your desired hue. Try
combining different colors to make original colors! Place the hard-cooked eggs
into the colored water and let them sit until the eggs reach the hue you like.
Remove the eggs from the dye and let them air-dry.
The Perfect Hard Boiled Egg Back to Top
1 dozen eggs
1 teaspoon salt
Boiling the perfect egg isn't difficult, but it does take patience. Cooking
the eggs at a low simmer will make them easier to peel and help prevent cracks.
Cool immediately after cooking to eliminate the unattractive grayish green
circle that can form around the yolk. These hard-boiled eggs can be used
immediately, or dyed and decorated and featured first in your Easter egg hunt
and later as deviled eggs.
Place the eggs in a single layer, without crowding, in a 2- or 3-quart saucepan.
Add water to cover by 2 inches and then the salt. Bring to a boil over high
heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Immediately remove the eggs from the hot water and plunge them into a basin of
very cold water to cool down, or rinse under cold running water for about 5
minutes.
To peel, roll the large end of the egg on a countertop to crack the shell. Hold
the egg under cold running water, and peel away the shell. Store unpeeled
hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Blowing The Contents Out Of Eggs
Pierce the fat end of a raw egg with a large needle, such as a quilting needle. Wiggle the needle to create a slightly larger hole. Pierce a hole in the opposite end of the egg. Insert the needle to pierce the yolk; this makes it easier to remove the egg. Use a baby's nose aspirator to "blow" the contents of the egg into a large bowl. When the egg is empty, run water into the eggshell, shake it to rinse the insides well, and pour it out.
Decoupage Eggs
Paint blown eggs a plain color, then glue on tiny paper cut-outs. Cut small pictures from wrapping paper or paper napkins. Thin paper works best. Brush the back of the cut-out and the egg with diluted PVA glue, then place the cut-out on the egg, smoothing out any wrinkles with your fingertips. Another coating of diluted PVA will give a shiny finish.
Dyeing Eggs
1/8 teaspoon paste food coloring
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1 cup boiling water
To make each dye bath, stir together the paste food coloring and vinegar in a
small bowl or nonporous coffee cup. Add the boiling water and stir to dissolve
the food coloring fully. Add 1 egg to each dye bath. A blown egg will float at
first, but as you gently press it into the dye bath with a spoon, it will take
on liquid and begin to sink. Allow the egg to sit in the dye bath for about 10
minutes for the most intense color. Remove the egg (drain any liquid inside the
egg back into the dye bath). Repeat this process with the remaining eggs. Allow
to dry completely before decorating.
Fancy Egg Designs
If simply-colored eggs just aren't fun enough for you, you can pull out your bag
of egg-decorating tricks and start the ball rolling.
Onion Skin Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Onion Skins
Gather lots of onion skins; the dry outer layers. Try to get a good variety
of colors - yellow, plain brown or red. Gently wrap them around raw eggs and
hold them in place with rubber bands. Hard boil the eggs like usual. Unwrap them
and discover the beautiful colors and designs! You may polish with vegetable oil
for a nice gloss. This is a natural dye and the eggs are still quite edible!
Wax Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Crayons
Egg Dye
Vinegar
It's fun to write something on the egg with a light colored crayon - white is
the most fun. The dye doesn't stick to the wax crayoned letters and they appear
white (or brown if it's a brown egg) after the egg is dyed.
Crayon Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Colored Crayons
Egg Dye
Vinegar
Perhaps the simplest technique of all is the color-with-crayons method. Using a
crayon, simply draw a design onto your eggs and then dye as you would any other
Easter egg. Your crayon design will be accentuated by your choice of dye!
Rubber Band Wraps
Boiled Eggs
Egg dye (For an extra bright color use food coloring paste, available at party supply shops. Dissolve a dab of paste or 6 drops of regular liquid food coloring in a cup of hot water. Stir in 1/4 cup of vinegar)
Rubber bands (various length widths long enough go around the egg several times)
Wrap rubber bands around the egg, one at a time. Make sure to leave some of
the egg shell exposed so it can be dyed. When you dip the covered egg, the dye
will seep under the bands in some areas and be blocked out in other areas.
Remove from the dye when the color is bright enough. Blot dry with paper towels
and remove the rubber bands. If you wish, repeat with more bands and a new
color. (If the rubber bands pop off the egg, try using thicker ones.
Marbleized eggs
Boiled Eggs
Egg dye (see above)
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
Vinegar
Lightly stir the oil into a bowl of egg dye. Immediately dip the egg into the liquid. Or stand the egg in a small cup and slowly spoon the oil-water mixture over it. When the egg dries, repeat the steps with another color for an interesting color combining effect. TIP: For cleanup, wash all dipping containers in hot soapy water and rinse with vinegar to get rid of oil.
Marbled Eggs
Crumple some cling film (film food-wrap) and pour on a few drops of food coloring. Hard boil the eggs and, while still warm, roll the egg over the cling film: the creases in the film will create an uneven coating of color. Stand the egg in an egg box until dry, then repeat with a different color. Eggs dyed in this way can be eaten.
Finger paint eggs
Boiled Eggs
Paper plates
Tempera paint
Put a few colors of paint on the paper plate. Hold the egg in the ends with
your thumb and finger so you can rotate it while you're stamping. Dip your
finger in the paint, dab off the excess on a paper towel, then gently press your
finger onto the egg.
Painted Eggs
Blown eggs can be painted with poster paints or acrylics. Place the egg in an egg holder. For spotted eggs, dip the end of a pencil in paint and use as a mini stamper.
Crepe Paper Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Tissue Paper or Crepe Paper
Wet the egg and place pieces of colored tissue paper on it. Set it aside to
dry. When the egg dries the tissue paper falls off and the colors stay behind.
Polka Dot Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Yellow Egg Dye
Paper and hole-puncher
Glue
Dip a boiled egg in yellow dye. When dry glue on hole punched dots.
Tie-Dye Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Egg Dye
Vinegar
Pieces of cloth
Rubber Gloves
Make up several colored dyes with food coloring or egg dye. Be sure they are
strong solutions (about 2 Tablespoons of water to a tablet of dye). Add two or
three drops of vinegar to each color for staying power. Now, dampen a piece of
cloth with water and wrap it around the egg. With an eye dropper, drop spots of
different colors of dye on the cloth. Twist the cloth tightly around the egg so
the colors blend together. Gently unwrap the egg and let it dry.
Easy Batik Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Egg Bye
Vinegar
Masking Tape
Cut out designs from masking tape and stick them onto your egg. Dip the eggs into dye. When they are dry remove the masking tape. You can repeat the process by sticking on new cutouts and re-dipping the egg. You can overlap some of the colors for variety. Be sure to start with the lightest dye and work your way to the darker ones. If you want to keep an area a particular color, cover it with masking tape.
You can use a white crayon (actually any color you want) or hard paraffin wax
to draw on designs which will resist the dye.
Abstract Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Egg Dye
Vinegar
Rubber cement
The only other material you'll need to make these fancy eggs is strong glue
like Rubber Cement. Once the eggs have been hard-cooked and dried, hold one egg
in your hand and drip glue onto the egg's surface. You can drip the glue
carefully to make a particular pattern, or you can let the glue drip freely for
an abstract effect. Place the egg on a stand that will allow the glue to dry
without getting too smudged (an egg carton will work). Once the glue has dried,
place the eggs in your prepared dye mixtures. Once the eggs have become tinted
to your liking, remove them from the water and rub the glue off of the eggs
completely. The glue will peel off with a little effort, leaving the white of
the egg shining through.
Etched Designs
Boiled Eggs
Egg Dye
Vinegar
Paraffin
Here is a good method to use if you want to make a design made up of fine lines. Because it requires the use of melted paraffin wax, be sure you get help from an adult. No kidding. You could end up badly burned or.... a burn down house!
Before you melt your wax, be sure an adult is nearby to supervise. Always melt your wax very slowly in a double boiler. Never, ever, ever melt wax over direct heat. Do not try to melt wax in a microwave oven. The only safe way to melt wax is over water very slowly and never taking your eyes off it. As soon as it is melted, remove it from the heat.
First dye your egg any color you wish. This will be your background color. After it is dry, dip it into melted paraffin wax. After the wax is dry, etch your design by scratching through the wax with a darning needle. Then dip the egg into another color of dye. Because of the wax coating, only the lines you scratched will pick up the new color. Remove the wax by heating the egg slightly in hot water, and polish the surface by rubbing in any remaining wax.
Engraved Eggs
Hard boil the eggs then, while still warm, immerse them in a cup of hot water to which you have added a teaspoon of food coloring and a dash of vinegar. Leave for 5 to 10 minutes, then dry with kitchen paper. You can leave the eggs plain, or scratch a design using a darning needle or simmilar metal object. These eggs can also be eaten.
Other Decorating Tricks
Affixing stickers to the eggs before dyeing them, and then removing the
stickers once the colors have set; dyeing the eggs a light color, and then using
any of the techniques we've explained to layer more colors; or making a
paste-like paint out of your food color (with a small amount of water), and then
painting a decoration on the eggs before dying them completely again in another
color!
Stringy "Eggs"
Balloons
Colored String or crochet thread or yarn
Liquid starch or white glue
Paint brush
Wrap colored yarn or thread around a balloon to make these giant eggs. You can vary the size of each egg by varying the size of the balloon you use. You can use all one color of yarn or a different color for each layer. Decide what you like best. The results are delicate, so handle the eggs carefully.
You will need a round rubber-type balloon, yarn, crochet thread, or colored string (Easter colors), liquid starch or white glue, and a 1-inch paint brush.
Blow up the balloon and tie a 2-foot piece of yarn or string from the knot end. This will be used to hang the competed project to dry. Carefully brush the whole surface of the balloon with the liquid starch or watered down white glue.
Now you will need to work quickly before the glue dries. Wrap the yarn, crochet thread, or string (what ever you are using) around the balloon in one direction leaving small gaps of about 1/2-inch wide so that the surface isn't completely covered. You won't be able to do a perfect job of wrapping but try to keep it somewhat even.
Brush on another layer of starch or glue right over the layer you just did and wrap another layer but this time go in a different direction. For instance, if the first layer was wrapped from the bottom to the top, this time wrap it around at right angles to it. Brush on glue and wrap one more time, varying the direction again. The balloon should be pretty well covered but you should be able to see gaps, sort of like lace.
Hang the covered balloon from the 2-foot string to dry for about 24 hours. When it is absolutely and completely dry, pop the balloon and very gently and carefully pull it out through one of the gaps. And there you have it! Make a dozen of them and hang them all over.
If you want the egg to stand up (for a centerpiece, perhaps) flatten it very
gently on one end.
Eggshell Mosaics
Save all those colored shells from your Easter Eggs to make a pretty mosaic picture. Use a dark colored paper for a striking effect.
Break the colored shells into small pieces. You will want to make them small enough that they will lie flat but not so small that they are too difficult to handle. If you like, you can separate the colors by categories onto different plates.
Use a fine marker to outline a design on a piece of tagboard or thin cardboard (the back of a writing tablet is great). Keep the design fairly simple without too many very small areas. Spread white glue in one area of the design and fill it in with eggshell bits, leaving a small gap between the pieces. Continue until your design is filled. Be sure not to cover up your outline. Keep the mosaic flat while it dries overnight.
Cover with another coat of glue to seal the design. Allow to dry.
EGG COLORING SAFETY TIPS Back to
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Thoroughly wash hands before all stages of egg handling cooking, cooling, dyeing and hiding.
If eggs cannot be colored right away, store them in their carton in the refrigerator until they can be properly colored.
Do Not Color, Hide or Eat Cracked Eggs
Use water warmer than the eggs when coloring the eggs.
Store cooled, colored, dry eggs in their cartons in the refrigerator until hiding, eating or displaying.
DO NOT eat eggs which have been out of refrigeration for more than two hours.
Carefully consider hiding places. Avoid areas where eggs might come into contact with pets, wild animals, birds,
reptiles, insects or lawn chemicals.
After eggs have been hidden and found, keep them refrigerated. DO NOT eat cracked eggs.
If you plan to use colored eggs as decorations or center pieces where eggs will remain out of refrigeration for many
hours or even days, prepare extra eggs for eating and discard the display eggs when they have served their purpose.
SPICY DEVILED EGGS Back to
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12 hard-cooked eggs
2/3 cup mayonnaise
OR
2/3 cup salad dressing
1/3 cup finely shredded smoked Cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
Pimiento strips
Shell eggs; cut in half. Remove yolks; set whites aside. Mash yolks well
in medium bowl; beat in all remaining ingredients except pimiento
strips until fluffy. Using a pastry bag, pipe yolk mixture back into
whites. Cover and chill. Before serving, garnish eggs with two
strips of pimiento criss-crossed atop.
DEVILED EGG ROLL UPS Back to
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6 hard cooked eggs, peeled
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons minced pimiento
1/2 teaspoon minced dill
OR
1/2 teaspoon minced chives
12 phyllo dough sheets
1 egg white -- lightly beaten
Cut eggs in half lengthwise and carefully remove yolks. Set white aside.
Mash yolks and mix with remaining ingredients, except phyllo dough and
egg white. Fill cooked egg whites with mixture; cover and chill. Cut each
filled half egg in half lengthwise to make 24 pieces.
Working quickly, fold 1 sheet of phyllo dough into quarters; cut in half.
Place one deviled egg piece at one end. Brush sides with lightly beaten
egg whites. Roll phyllo strip to enclose egg. Twist ends to close. Keep
dough and wrapped eggs covered with plastic or a damp cloth as you
work. Deep fry 2 wrapped eggs at a time for 2 minutes.
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SHALOM FROM SPIKE & JAMIE |
