Kid's Crafts

kid’s crafts

Subscribe To Our Newsletter And Download 4 Free E-Books Including One On Digital Photography

Get Some Basic Tips For Kid Art And Craft Here

Kid's Easter Crafts

Dying Easter Eggs the Natural Way

When it comes to Easter, there's nothing much more fun for children than decorating the Easter eggs, except maybe finding them. With health concerns over artificial colorings, the popularity of natural food colorings for eggs is on the rise. There's another good reason to use natural food coloring. Creating and using natural dyes provides lessons in chemistry and opens the door to discussions about how people survived in the "old days" before there was such a thing as artificial coloring.

Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make

Before this activity it might be fun to check out Websites or library books that show how native cultures used natural dyes for clothing and ceremonial items.

Children may also be interested in learning about the history of egg decorating, which goes back centuries. In a nutshell, or should we say eggshell, the egg has symbolized both the rebirth of the Earth during spring and the rebirth of Christ and humankind.

The egg is a universal symbol for Easter, and so we have many decorating traditions, and most of those involve coloring Easter eggs. In the past, Easter eggs were colored with natural dyes. Americans didn't start using artificial colorings until the late 1940's when the chemical industry and the food industry began working together to cut costs. You can now purchase organic, natural food coloring for your eggs, but creating your own dyes will be fun, and as mentioned earlier, educational for the kids. The natural dyes will leave a soft, natural matte finish; however, if you want a shiny finish, rub the dyed and dried eggs with mineral oil.

Your Ad Here

Below are some basic tips for coloring your eggs with natural dyes, but first here is a list of colors with some of the foods that can produce them:

Blue: canned blueberries, grape juice, boiled red cabbage leaves.
Green: spinach leaves, liquid chlorophyll.
Lavender: grape juice, Red Zinger tea, violet blossoms with lemon juice.
Orange: boiled yellow onion skins, carrots, paprika.
Pink: cooked cranberries, cranberry juice, canned beets, raspberries, red grape juice.
Violet or Purple: hibiscus tea, violet blossoms, boiled red onionskins.
Yellow: boiled orange or lemon peels, saffron, celery seed, chamomile, turmeric.

Since oil can counter the absorption of the dyes, wash the raw eggs in warm, soapy water, rinse and dry.
Place the dye food in a pan with enough cold water to cover the eggs and 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar. Add the eggs.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer around 10 to 15 minutes.

Happy Easter Egg coloring!