| |
If you have been disappointed in the depth of the color of your Easter eggs the last several years, don’t think you have done something wrong. The manufacturers have lessened the intensity of the dyes. I find I can no longer get truly beautiful, intense colors, only pale pastels. I found that even when I bought as many as six Easter egg kits and used six tablets of dye for each color, the results were still disappointing. I know that when I was a kid, and when mykids were little, the colors were far more intense. Now they are pathetically weak, and they don’t seem to cover evenly either. Such a disappointment for a young person. There are ways around this. |
 |
 |
A TIP:
No matter what method of dying eggs you use, it is a good idea to put a tablespoon of white vinegar in the water the eggs will be boiled in. This helps to eliminate any oils (remember, our hands leave body oil on things,) that may be on the eggs shells which may prevent even dying.
|
|
|
|
| |
Liquid Food Coloring:
Liquid food coloring will produce very intense colors on your eggs. Unfortunately it takes about 4 of the little bottles to have enough color to submerge an egg. If you have access to a restaurant supply house, you can buy very good food coloring in pint size bottles for about $8.00 a bottle. Unfortunately, the range of color is rather limited. I did find that I could pour the colors back into the bottle and reuse the them. To use food coloring, proceed as you would by using commercial Easter egg dyes; that is, boil your eggs first and then dip them in the food coloring. |
|
ATTENTION! Since the commercial food dyes are far more intense than the Easter egg dies, they can penetrate the shells, leaving color on the boiled egg inside. This does not in any way harm the eggs. Remember, these are FOOD COLORINGS. They are in almost everything you eat. |
|
|
Natural Dyes:
There are numerous ways you may obtain some pleasing effects by using natural dies.
Grape juice, red onion skins, the juice from canned blueberries, red cabbage, ground Turmeric, strong instant coffee, the water artichokes were boiled in, yellow onion skins and the juice from canned beets can all produce interesting dye effects, however they will not be intense bright colors.
To dye eggs with natural materials, you cook the eggs with the dye-stuffs. Place your eggs in a pan in a single layer. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar and whatever you are going to use to dye the eggs. Then add enough water to cover the eggs and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a rapid simmer and continue to cook for about fifteen minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the eggs to sit in the pot until cooled. The result will most likely be a bit mottled. |
|
| |
Stained Glass Eggs:
Use already boiled eggs. Cut bright colored tissue paper into approximately two-inch squares. Get the egg damp and wrap it in the squared of tissue paper. Use several colors of paper to get a nice stained glass effect. Set the eggs |
|
aside until paper dries. It will usually fall off when dry. Empty egg cartons are good for drying your died eggs. |
|
|
Rubber Band Method:
This is a simple method for putting designs on your eggs. Simply put rubber bands around the eggs in varying patterns. Then dye the eggs. When you remove the rubber bands you will have a design of muted lines in an abstract pattern. |
 |
|
| |
|
|
Stickers:
You can achieve some interesting effects on your eggs by buying simple shaped stickers; dots, stars etc. and affixing them randomly to the eggs before dying. After they are dyed remove the |
 |
stickers and you will a nice design. Where the stickers were will still be the original color of the egg. |
Shiny Eggs:
To have shiny eggs, after the eggs are died and thoroughly dry, put a drop or two of olive oil in the palm of your hand and rub it on the egg. Wipe off any excess oil. The eggs will be beautiful and shiny. |
|
| |
Natural Designs:
When using natural dyes you may achieve some interesting effects by using plant material to produce designs. Select small leaves or pieces of fern. Lay the leaf on a small square of cheese cloth and place an egg on top of it. Bring the cheese cloth up and around the egg and tie securely with a string of rubber band. Place in a pot with the dye-stuff and cook as described above. When the egg is finished, remove the cheese cloth and the image of the leaf will be in silhouette on one side of the egg. |
 |
|
|
For the most incredible Easter Eggs you’ll ever see, learn about Pysanky. |
 |
You can purchase your Pysanky supplies at the
Ukrainian Gift Shop
|
|
 |
Egg Rolling is a long standing British and European tradition that has mostly disappeared, now being practiced in only a few villages. The tradition was brought to the United States by immigrants, and is still a treasured tradition at the White House. An interesting part of the festivities at the White House is reading to the children who participate.
|
|
The first family, White House staff and even members of congress read to children during the day long festivities. More on Egg_Rolling.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
