Eco Easter: DIY Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Why should you go to the trouble of making your own natural Easter egg dyes?

Well, for one thing, it’s fun. And for another, even if you don’t eat the eggs you color for Easter, conventional dyes have chemicals that can get on kids’ hands (and all over the kitchen) during the process.

So, why mess with the fake stuff when Mother Nature makes beautiful colors all her own?

Here’s how to make your own natural Easter egg dyes

Start with hard-boiled eggs with clean shells.  No worries about exact measurements… feel free to estimate how much of each dye (see color chart below) to use.

• Except for spices, place a handful (or two or three handfuls) of a dyestuff in a saucepan.
• Add water one inch above the dye stuff, or about 1 cup of water per handful of dye stuff.
• Bring water to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Let simmer about 15 minutes to an hour (some need longer, listed below) until you like the color.
• Remove the pan from the heat.
• Pour mixture into a liquid measuring cup. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of white vinegar for each cup of strained dye liquid. Pour the mixture into a bowl or jar that is deep enough to completely cover the eggs you want to dye.
• A slotted spoon works well to lift and lower eggs into the hot liquid. Leave the eggs in the water until you like the color.
• Dyed eggs will not get as dark as the color in the pan, but the longer the eggs sit in dye, the darker they will become.

Be forewarned – green is a tough color to make. You might consider dipping an egg in yellow and blue.

Play with Textures

For a textured look, dab the still wet egg with a sponge. Eggs colored with natural dyes have a dull finish and are not glossy. After they are dry, you can rub the eggs with coconut oil to give them a soft sheen. The dyeing process is filled with opportunities to experiment and improvise.

Make it a Masterpiece

If your little ones want to show off their drawing skills, draw shapes, pictures, or inspiring words on the eggs with a crayon before dyeing. The wax won’t absorb the color so the designs will show through. Your crayon design will be accentuated by your choice of natural easter egg dyes!

Tie-Dye Fun

Rubber bands are all you need to make tie-dyed eggs. Wrap different sized rubber bands, one at a time, around the eggs. Make sure to leave some of the egg shell exposed so it can be dyed. Once the eggs are dyed to the color you like, remove them from the water and let them dry. Once dried completely, pull the rubber bands off to reveal your banded design.

Here’s how to get those gorgeous natural colors….

Reds/Pinks:

• beets
• raspberries
• pomegranate juice
• cranberries
• red grape juice
• red onion skins
• frozen cherries

Blues/Purples:

• blueberries
• red cabbage
• red onion skins
• purple grape juice
• violet blossoms plus 2 tsp. lemon juice

Yellows/Golds:

• dill seeds
• yellow/brown onion skins
• chamomile tea
• celery seed
• ground turmeric
• saffron
• green tea

Greens:

• spinach (large amount, boil 1 hour)
• fresh basil
• organic liquid chlorophyll

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Amity Hook-Sopko

Amity is the executive editor of Green Child Magazine. This role is the perfect blend of her journalism degree, background in corporate marketing, and her passion for attachment parenting and natural living. In her free time, you’ll find Amity paddleboarding on the ocean or the gorgeous Florida springs, at a baseball field with her husband and sons, volunteering at the Humane Society, or outside enjoying nature.

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