There are all kinds of techniques for dying Easter eggs... and it seems every year the eggs are more and more creative! I particularly love the natural look of speckled eggs and the technique is very easy to master. Here's the how-to:
Photo: Arden Photography Location: The Sonnet House Leeds, AlabamaSUPPLIES
Newspaper or something to protect the work surface
Boiled eggs or blown out eggs (I made both)
Easter egg dye- there are tons of brands. Pick one or you can use food coloring*
2 black tea bags
Plastic cups
Brown craft paint
Old toothbrush
Rubber or plastic gloves (gotta protect that manicure)
Drying rack of some sort. I used the top of a Styrofoam cooler and some toothpicks for mine. Push in 4 toothpicks and let the eggs rest on top. But you have to rotate them so they don't have a big drip mark on the bottom side. You can also use a circle of tin foil on newspaper. You can use straight pins and a foam board also.
Cover the work surface with newspaper or Kraft paper. Boil 1 cup of water and add tea bags to steep to make a strong, dark tea. While the tea is steeping, boil eggs as you normally would for dying. As they are cooling, mix dye according to package directions.
Natural looking speckled eggs look best colored pale blue, aqua, pale green, soft tan, and even violet or pale pink. (Yes, there are pink eggs, I promise! ) To achieve a natural look for tan eggs, use the tea to dye the eggs. I also used a small amount of the tea to muddy the bright color of the dye to make a more natural look. Feel free to adjust the colors until you get the dye the color you want.
Once you've dyed the eggs, allow them to dry completely. For the speckle effect: dip the toothbrush in a small amount of the brown craft paint and run your finger over the toothbrush, causing the paint to splatter onto the eggs. A random pattern looks good- but keep it very light for best results. Allow to dry and you've got natural looking speckled eggs!
I also love these bright colored and glittery eggs the kids made... so cheerful and happy! No matter which way you color your eggs, I hope you create lots of fun memories for you and your family. Happy Easter!
*Dying Eggs with Food Coloring
In a heat-proof jar (like a canning jar) mix one tablespoon vinegar, 4-5 drops food coloring, and one cup of hot water. Place the eggs into the dye for thirty seconds to one minute... the longer you leave the egg in the dye, the more intense the color will be.
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