Easter is just around the corner and you know what that means Easter Eggs! We can all remember dying eggs as children. Many of us used the old Paas egg dye. The Paas dyes are still available and well for coloring eggs. But if you’re looking for something more this Easter, here are some other ideas for coloring your eggs. In cups or bowls big enough to hold one and one half cups, pour six to eight ounces of water. Add one tablespoon of white vinegar to each bowl. Then get out the food coloring. With the basic red, yellow, green and blue food colors you can make a rainbow of colors for Easter eggs. For an exciting twist- get out your crayons. While the boiled eggs are still hot, a crayon will melt onto the shell. When placed in the dye, the crayon area will not accept the dye color. Be sure to take extreme caution when handling the hot eggs. For ease, place the hot egg on a towel while you draw. For a natural touch, forego the manufactured dyes and get outside. Items such as carrots, dandelion flowers, and red cabbage can all dye eggs beautiful natural colors. For this technique an old sheet or pillow case one that can be cut up is required. Pieces of material cut should be large enough to hold the egg, as well as the dying agent and still allow room for material to be tied shut, six inch square is a good place to begin, but check your eggs to make sure they will fit. You will need one square of material for each egg to be dyed. Place the square of material on a flat surface, then put the yellow of the dandelion flower all over the material (for the carrots and cabbage, grate the vegetable finely and put the gratings on the cloth). Place your eggs in the middle of the material, draw up the corners, and tie the material (a twist tie will often do the trick). Then boil the egg as usual. Once the egg is done boiling remove the entire 50cloth package from the water and allow it to cool. Then the egg can be unwrapped safely. When choosing substances to color the naturally dried eggs, be sure they are nontoxic. Fruits and vegetables are good places to begin your search for coloring agents. Naturally dyed eggs are not as bright as artificially dyed eggs, but the flowers and grated vegetables create a textured look on the eggs that is beautiful in itself.
