Crafts: Colored Eggs
DayGlo-dyed eggs have their retro charms, but we think it’s even more fun to make your own colorings using common foods. The result is a subtler, more sophisticated palette–perfect for your holiday centerpiece. The only downside? You’ll need to soak the eggs longer–two to three hours–but natural beauty like this is well worth the wait.
Here’s how:
Create the base: Combine 4 cups water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon salt.
You’ll need:
– hard-boiled white eggs in their shells
– water
– white vinegar
– salt
– beets, ground coffee, red cabbage, ground turmeric
– knife, pots, strainer, bowls (metal, ceramic, or plastic)
Notes: Save the egg carton (you’ll use it for drying the dyed eggs). And when you transfer your dyes into bowls, don’t use your good dishes or kitchenware, as the colors may stain.
To dye the eggs: Soak until eggshells reach the desired shade (two to three hours); the longer you soak them, the deeper and richer the color will be. Using a spoon, set the eggs into their carton(s), and let them dry thoroughly. When you’re done, you’ll welcome the new season with a lovely, all-natural addition to your spring decor!
Get bonus content not published in the magazine in our premier e-mail newsletter.
Something interesting that I learned here today: That red cabbage would result in blue dye.
If you put onion skins around a raw eggs and hold the skins by putting eggs in an old nylon stocking with knots between, you can hard boil the eggs and have a lovely marbled brown color.
I love these new ideas, too.