How To Make Natural Egg Dyes
Natural egg dyes are a beautiful, natural and eco-friendly way to dye your Easter eggs this season! Using just a few simple ingredients found in your kitchen, you can make natural dyes that are every color of the rainbow and safe enough for the kids to use.
Yield: 1 dye
Cost: 25
Equipment
- 1 Wooden Spoons
- 1 Fine Strainer
- 1 Paper towels or cloth rags
- 1 Quart or pint-sized mason jars
Materials
- 1 cup Natural food of your choice
- 4 cups Water
- 3 tablespoons Vinegar
- 1 piece Hard boiled eggs
Optional
- 1 piece Elastic bands
- 1 piece Cheesecloth or nylons
- 1 pieces Flowers or petals
- 1 pieces Plant leaves
Instructions
Instructions To Make Egg Dye
- In a large pot, add one part of the ingredient to four parts of water and bring it to a boil.
- Let the dye simmer for 10-30 minutes before straining off any solids into a bowl or mason jar.
- After you have removed all the solids, add 1 teaspoon of vinegar (any type will do) per cup (8 ounces) of water used as a base for the egg dye.
- Let cool completely and set aside.
Instructions To Dye The Eggs
- Prepare your egg to be dyed by wiping away any dirt or debris. If you wish to add a design to your egg, do so now.
- Slowly and gently place the egg into the dye solution in the mason jar.
- Soak eggs in the dye for a minimum of 10 minutes or until you achieve your desired color.
- Remove the egg and rinse the egg with water. Some of the dyes do leave a film or residue on the eggs so you will want to pat them dry with a paper towel or rag.
- Remove any of the elastics, nylons, or cheesecloth that you have on the eggs and let them dry completely in an empty egg carton.
- Enjoy beautiful naturally dyed Easter eggs.
Video
Notes
- Make sure that you remove any dirt or debris from your eggs before you begin dyeing them as this could affect the color of your finished product.
- Additionally, if you’re looking to achieve a specific pattern with natural dyes, consider using white or brown chicken eggs as they provide a great canvas for natural colors!
- For a fun variation or technique, try using a brush to paint on the dye.
- As soon as your dyed egg has reached its desired color, rinse it off in cold water and let it dry before displaying it!
- The dye will be darker the longer you leave the ingredient to boil in the pot of water. At a minimum, boil each food for at least 10 minutes.
- Always add vinegar to help the dye set on the eggs and to achieve a brighter color.
- The longer you leave the egg in the dye, the brighter, richer and more vibrant the color will become.
- Don't be afraid to 'double dip' your eggs to make additional fun colors.
- Add cold fruit juices to your dye for more subtle colors when dying your Easter eggs this season.