Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Ideas for Decorating Hard Boiled Eggs

Oil and Food Coloring Marbled Eggs


What you'll need:
Eggs (hard boiled or raw)
Food coloring
Vinegar
Cooking oil
Containers for the dye mixture (mugs will work)
Paper towels
A few spoons
In each container combine one tablespoon of each of the following: oil, vinegar, and your choice of food coloring. Add enough water to make the liquid deep enough to cover an egg. Swirl the liquid with a spoon, and quickly lower and raise an egg into it. Pat dry with a paper towel, and repeat with a second color. Swirl into a third color, if desired. Some white areas can be left on the egg. Gently pat dry the completed egg, leaving a bit of the oil to give the egg a varnished look.


CRAYON EASTER EGGS


What you'll need:
Crayons
Boiled eggs
Neon food coloring and white vinegar (optional)
How to make it:
Be sure that boiled eggs are cool and dry. Place a double folded kitchen towel and place it on the table underneath child's hands so if the egg slips out it will have a soft cushion to land on. Use crayons to draw designs on the egg. Have kids hold the egg gently so they do not crack the shell.
This step is optional but adds a fun effect. If you like, mix 1 Tbsp of white vinegar into a coffee mug of water (filled ¾ full) then add several drops of food coloring. Dip the crayon colored egg into the dye and let sit for about a minute.
Remove and let dry. The dye makes the crayon look brighter, especially if you use neon food coloring!

Tips:
To boil perfect eggs, place into a shallow pan, cover with water and boil gently for three minutes. Turn off heat and cover pan with a tight fitting lid and let sit for 15 minutes. Place pan in sink, carefully drain out hot water and let cold water run over them for several minutes. Turn off water and add several ice cubes and let sit for about 5 minutes more.
Try different types of food coloring, we used neon colors!
The longer you leave the egg in the dye, the deeper the color will be.

If you like these ideas, you can find more HERE.

Here are some more ideas I have found for decorating hard boiled eggs. Enjoy and have fun creating!

Make your own food color dye - Combine 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon of food coloring with 2 tsp. vinegar in a cup that is deep enough for the eggs. Add water to about the half way point. Gently place the eggs into the cups. I use a soup spoon to place my eggs in the cups, to avoid cracking. The longer they are left in the dye, the darker the color shade. Experiment with different combinations of colors When you remove the egg from the dye, pat dry with a paper towel and place in a holder.

Rubber Band Designs - Wrap elastic bands around hard cooked eggs, then drop them in food-coloring dye. Remove eggs, pat dry with paper towel and remove rubber bands. The parts of the egg covered with rubber bands will not be colored. Once the rubber bands are removed, you can drop the egg into a different color dye.

Sponge Painted Eggs - Cut a sponge into small pieces. Pour some acrylic paint into a shallow dish or onto wax paper.Clip the sponge pieces onto clothes pins, one for each color of paint. Dip the sponge into the paint and dab the egg with it. Start with your darker colors first for the best effect. Put the egg in an egg cup to dry. *Do NOT eat eggs that have been painted!

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