| My favorite part of Easter when I was growing up | | | | eggs. Once you have mastered the process, feel free |
| was dyeing eggs. It was even more fun to me than | | | | to experiment with other ingredients for different |
| hunting them. I loved seeing how creative I could get | | | | colors! |
| with those five glasses of dye and that one wax | | | | - Red - A large amount of red onion skins boiled with |
| crayon! As an adult, I still love dyeing eggs with my | | | | the eggs. Using the cold method, add canned cherries |
| children, and last year, I tried to look or a way to make | | | | in their juice, pomegranate juice, or raspberries. |
| it educational as well. So when I discovered that rather | | | | - Blue - Purple grape juice or canned blueberries added |
| than purchasing your egg dye you can actually make it | | | | to the water and placed in the refrigerator, red |
| yourself, I had to try it! It was like a science and | | | | cabbage leaves placed in the water while boiling |
| chemistry lesson all rolled up in an earth-friendly craft! | | | | - Green - Spinach leaves boiled with the eggs |
| And best of all, my kids loved it! This year they want | | | | - Yellow - Any of these can be boiled with the eggs: |
| to see what else in our yard and refrigerator can be | | | | orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed, ground |
| used as natural egg dye! And although natural egg | | | | cumin, or ground turmeric. To get the same color with |
| dyes are not as vivid as artificial dyes (no real neon | | | | the cold method, add green or chamomile tea to the |
| colors found in nature!) they are every bit as beautiful. | | | | water. |
| You can make your natural egg dyes from a variety | | | | - Orange - Boiled yellow onion skins; cooked carrots, |
| of foods, flowers and plants. The dye is transferred to | | | | chili powder, and paprika will result in the desired color |
| the egg either while boiling the eggs or, as with normal | | | | in the cold method. |
| dyes, after the eggs have been hard-boiled. When | | | | - Lavender - Violet blossoms plus 2 teaspoons lemon |
| boiling the dye with eggs, be aware that you will be | | | | juice, Red Zinger tea, or a small amount of purple |
| limited to the number of colors you can do at once by | | | | grape juice |
| the number of burners your stove has (or the number | | | | - Violet blue - Small amount of red onion skins placed in |
| of pots you have!) | | | | the water while boiling, violet blossoms, hibiscus tea, or |
| All you do to dye the eggs while boiling, is place | | | | red wine |
| enough water in the pan to cover the egg (or eggs.) | | | | - Brown - Black walnut shells boiled with the eggs, or |
| Simply add the coloring ingredients to the water and | | | | you can add strong coffee, instant coffee, or black tea |
| turn on the heat to boil. You can include a teaspoon of | | | | to water in the refrigerator. |
| vinegar for deeper colors. | | | | - Pink - Use any of the following, added to water and |
| If your children are young, and you would rather dye | | | | placed in the refrigerator overnight: beets, cranberries |
| the eggs after they have been boiled, you can do that | | | | or cranberry juice, raspberries, red grape juice, or the |
| as well. This method may take a bit longer, but it is | | | | juice from pickled beets. |
| safer for smaller egg artists. Simply boil the eggs, and | | | | Once the eggs are the desired color, remove them |
| then once they have cooled, add them to a cup with | | | | from the water, place them in an egg carton, and let |
| enough water to cover the eggs (you can use a bowl | | | | them dry. If you want your naturally dyed eggs to look |
| if you want to do more than one at a time.) Add a | | | | shiny, you can rub a little vegetable oil into the egg |
| teaspoon of vinegar to the container and add the | | | | shells. Making your own natural egg dyes can become |
| dyeing ingredients. Allow the eggs to sit in the dye in | | | | a great Easter tradition for your family. You will be so |
| the refrigerator until they are the desired color. | | | | amazed at how beautiful naturally dyed eggs look - |
| Here are some suggested ingredients you can use to | | | | you may never return to commercial egg dye again! |
| create the colors you want for your naturally dyed | | | | |