Difference between revisions of "Dye Eggs for Easter"
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| − | + | Coloring hard [[Hard Boil an Egg|boiled eggs]] is an Easter tradition. The fun part is, there are so many ways to do it! You can do single coloured eggs, but an added touch never hurt anyone. You can eat these eggs, give them as gifts, or use them for decoration. | |
[[Category:Easter Crafts]] | [[Category:Easter Crafts]] | ||
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#Organise the supplies needed. There are a few things you need to do before commencing: | #Organise the supplies needed. There are a few things you need to do before commencing: | ||
#*Buy a half dozen to a dozen [[:Category:Egg Basics|eggs]] at the grocery store, or collect them fresh from your hens. | #*Buy a half dozen to a dozen [[:Category:Egg Basics|eggs]] at the grocery store, or collect them fresh from your hens. | ||
| − | #*[[Hard Boil an Egg|Hard boil]] the eggs. Do this by placing the eggs into a saucepan with a pinch of salt and covering with water. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for at least ten (10) minutes and then lift the eggs out carefully with a spoon or tongs. Place them under cold running water until they are cool enough to handle, at least a minute, and cool completely on a rack in the refrigerator before using.<ref>Fiona Hammond, ''Easter Cooking and Other Fun Stuff for Kids'', p. 24, (2011), ISBN 978-1-74248-731-1</ref> | + | #*[[Hard Boil an Egg|Hard boil]] the eggs. Do this by placing the eggs into a saucepan with a pinch of salt and covering with water. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for at least ten (10) minutes and then lift the eggs out carefully with a spoon or tongs. Place them under cold running water until they are cool enough to handle, at least a minute, and cool completely on a rack in the refrigerator before using.<ref name="rf17131">Fiona Hammond, ''Easter Cooking and Other Fun Stuff for Kids'', p. 24, (2011), ISBN 978-1-74248-731-1</ref> |
#*Buy an egg decorating kit! These usually consist of several dye pellets, colour coded cups, a special egg spoon, and, of course, directions to make the dye. Or buy a set of little bottles of food colouring, which you can use for all kinds of projects such as [[Make a Tie Dyed Cake|tie-dyed cake]]. | #*Buy an egg decorating kit! These usually consist of several dye pellets, colour coded cups, a special egg spoon, and, of course, directions to make the dye. Or buy a set of little bottles of food colouring, which you can use for all kinds of projects such as [[Make a Tie Dyed Cake|tie-dyed cake]]. | ||
#Follow the directions on the dye packaging carefully and make the dye. In most cases, you drop the pellets into water or [[Make Your Own Vinegar|vinegar]] (about 1 tablespoon of vinegar). (Liquid food colouring usually requires vinegar). Make sure to have both nearby. You can use a glass, cup, or a bowl to pour the water into, just make sure the container has enough space for the egg. A disposable plastic cup (suitable for hot liquids, if you're using them) would be perfect because staining it won't matter and it may cushion eggs dropped in a little. | #Follow the directions on the dye packaging carefully and make the dye. In most cases, you drop the pellets into water or [[Make Your Own Vinegar|vinegar]] (about 1 tablespoon of vinegar). (Liquid food colouring usually requires vinegar). Make sure to have both nearby. You can use a glass, cup, or a bowl to pour the water into, just make sure the container has enough space for the egg. A disposable plastic cup (suitable for hot liquids, if you're using them) would be perfect because staining it won't matter and it may cushion eggs dropped in a little. | ||
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#*You could dye an egg a light colour, mask off parts, and dye the rest a darker colour. | #*You could dye an egg a light colour, mask off parts, and dye the rest a darker colour. | ||
#*Naturally, you can add decorative effects ''after'' dyeing as well. It's really up to you and a good way to find out what you prefer is to try decorating both before and after dyeing the eggs. | #*Naturally, you can add decorative effects ''after'' dyeing as well. It's really up to you and a good way to find out what you prefer is to try decorating both before and after dyeing the eggs. | ||
| − | #Set the egg on the egg spoon, and lower it into the desired colour. You can either lower it in partway to dye only a certain segment of the egg, or lower it in all the way. Leave the egg in for at least 3 minutes before considering removing it.<ref | + | #Set the egg on the egg spoon, and lower it into the desired colour. You can either lower it in partway to dye only a certain segment of the egg, or lower it in all the way. Leave the egg in for at least 3 minutes before considering removing it.<ref name="rf17131" /> |
#*The egg will soak up more colour the longer you wait, so if the colour isn't what you want just yet, leave it a little longer. | #*The egg will soak up more colour the longer you wait, so if the colour isn't what you want just yet, leave it a little longer. | ||
#Place the removed egg onto a work surface that has been covered in newspaper. At this point, you can place a different drop of colouring on the egg for added colour effects and then blow through a straw to disperse the drop of dye across the egg. This will make interesting new patterns. You can also use a paintbrush to move the dye around if you like. | #Place the removed egg onto a work surface that has been covered in newspaper. At this point, you can place a different drop of colouring on the egg for added colour effects and then blow through a straw to disperse the drop of dye across the egg. This will make interesting new patterns. You can also use a paintbrush to move the dye around if you like. | ||
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=== Marbled Eggs === | === Marbled Eggs === | ||
#Prepare the egg [[Dye a Baby Chicken|dye]] according to the package or make your own using natural food colourings. If you plan to eat the eggs, make sure to use food-grade dyes. | #Prepare the egg [[Dye a Baby Chicken|dye]] according to the package or make your own using natural food colourings. If you plan to eat the eggs, make sure to use food-grade dyes. | ||
| − | #*Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to each container of dye. Note that if you want to dye some eggs normally or give them a base colour before marbling, do that first. Once the oil is in the dye, you can’t go back! Experiment by adding a bit more oil to the dyes; different amounts create different amounts of [[Create a Faux Marble Finish on Furniture|marbling]]. | + | #*Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to each container of dye. Note that if you want to dye some eggs normally or give them a base colour before marbling, do that first. Once the oil is in the dye, you can’t go back! Experiment by adding a bit more oil to the dyes; different amounts create different amounts of [[Create a Faux Marble Finish on Furniture|marbling]]. |
| − | #*Better yet, float droplets of a concentrated food coloring-vinegar (for colorfastness) mixture on a bed of [[Paint Marbled Paper Using Shaving Cream|shaving cream]] or float droplets of an oil-based immiscible food coloring on water, rake the color into a loose pattern, and dip the egg briefly to marble it as one would marble paper.<ref>http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2009/05/5-friday-paper-marbling-this-is-awesome.html</ref> You may need to dip one end or side of the egg at a time. A pair of tongs with loop-ended jaws would hold the egg securely and mask very little of its surface. If you use shaving cream, let the egg dry before rubbing off the excess foam.<ref>http://totschool.shannons.org/?p=4300</ref> With either method, be prepared for the possibility that the colour may stick to you or what you're wearing better than the egg, even after it's dry. | + | #*Better yet, float droplets of a concentrated food coloring-vinegar (for colorfastness) mixture on a bed of [[Paint Marbled Paper Using Shaving Cream|shaving cream]] or float droplets of an oil-based immiscible food coloring on water, rake the color into a loose pattern, and dip the egg briefly to marble it as one would marble paper.<ref name="rf17132">http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2009/05/5-friday-paper-marbling-this-is-awesome.html</ref> You may need to dip one end or side of the egg at a time. A pair of tongs with loop-ended jaws would hold the egg securely and mask very little of its surface. If you use shaving cream, let the egg dry before rubbing off the excess foam.<ref name="rf17133">http://totschool.shannons.org/?p=4300</ref> With either method, be prepared for the possibility that the colour may stick to you or what you're wearing better than the egg, even after it's dry. |
#Dip quickly. Using a spoon or the dipper that comes with a kit, lower the egg completely into the dye and remove it quickly. Because oil and water don’t mix, you’ll get colour on some parts of the egg, and none on others, creating a marbled effect. Keep dipping to get a brighter color. | #Dip quickly. Using a spoon or the dipper that comes with a kit, lower the egg completely into the dye and remove it quickly. Because oil and water don’t mix, you’ll get colour on some parts of the egg, and none on others, creating a marbled effect. Keep dipping to get a brighter color. | ||
#Dry the eggs on a paper towel. Lightly pat the just-dipped eggs with a paper towel, or the colour may become muddy. If you want to dip them in another colour, wait until they’re completely dry first. | #Dry the eggs on a paper towel. Lightly pat the just-dipped eggs with a paper towel, or the colour may become muddy. If you want to dip them in another colour, wait until they’re completely dry first. | ||
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#Finished. The glitter egg is now ready for displaying. | #Finished. The glitter egg is now ready for displaying. | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
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*Did you know? In 2005, Belgian chocolate maker Guylian created a 27-foot, 3-inch tall, 4,299-pound edible chocolate Easter egg out of 50,000 praline chocolate bars. | *Did you know? In 2005, Belgian chocolate maker Guylian created a 27-foot, 3-inch tall, 4,299-pound edible chocolate Easter egg out of 50,000 praline chocolate bars. | ||
* The more vinegar you put in with the dye, the more vibrant the colours will be. | * The more vinegar you put in with the dye, the more vibrant the colours will be. | ||
| − | *Why eggs? The egg is a symbol of Christ's resurrection because the egg represents new life. Various cultures around the world have traditions focused on giving dyed or decorated eggs, with some countries having very distinctive methods for dyeing eggs.<ref>Fiona Hammond, ''Easter Cooking and Other Fun Stuff for Kids'', p. 25, (2011), ISBN 978-1-74248-731-1</ref> It can be a fun thing to do with kids to look up the different styles of egg decorations from around the world; ask them which ones they'd like to try to decorate their eggs. | + | *Why eggs? The egg is a symbol of Christ's resurrection because the egg represents new life. Various cultures around the world have traditions focused on giving dyed or decorated eggs, with some countries having very distinctive methods for dyeing eggs.<ref name="rf17134">Fiona Hammond, ''Easter Cooking and Other Fun Stuff for Kids'', p. 25, (2011), ISBN 978-1-74248-731-1</ref> It can be a fun thing to do with kids to look up the different styles of egg decorations from around the world; ask them which ones they'd like to try to decorate their eggs. |
*The longer you leave an egg in the dye, the darker the colour will be. So, you can do a "quick dunk" for a lighter colour. | *The longer you leave an egg in the dye, the darker the colour will be. So, you can do a "quick dunk" for a lighter colour. | ||
*[[Blow Out Eggs|Blow out an egg]] for a hollow shell to decorate elaborately and keep for a long time. When dyeing a blown egg, it can help to leave the spoon (or whatever else was used to dip the egg in) on top of the egg, because hollow eggs float. After you take them out, make sure to have newspaper or paper towels under the eggs to catch any dye that drips from the holes. | *[[Blow Out Eggs|Blow out an egg]] for a hollow shell to decorate elaborately and keep for a long time. When dyeing a blown egg, it can help to leave the spoon (or whatever else was used to dip the egg in) on top of the egg, because hollow eggs float. After you take them out, make sure to have newspaper or paper towels under the eggs to catch any dye that drips from the holes. | ||
| − | *Hard boiled eggs will keep for 4 days in the refrigerator.<ref | + | *Hard boiled eggs will keep for 4 days in the refrigerator.<ref name="rf17131" /> |
== Warnings == | == Warnings == | ||
