4.22.2011

Earth Day-Easter Eggs


We dyed our Easter eggs today. In honor of Earth Day, we used all-natural dyes and created several botanical eggs.

Our dyes were made from beets (red), yellow onions skins (yellow) and purple cabbage (blue) [see this post for a list of natural egg-dying resources and recipes]. Then, we mixed the colors to create more shades.

The botanical designs were created by laying a flower or leaf face down against an egg, wrapping it in a square of pantyhose secured with a knot, then lowering it into the dye.

We wrapped a few eggs with rubber bands, and others we wrote on with a white crayon. I couldn't believe how many different colors and effects we got from just three dyes. Two dozen naturally, beautiful eggs.

*Note: This was not very time-consuming, difficult or expensive. The project held the attention of my 3 and 6 year old girls for well over an hour. They loved the idea of using natural dyes and materials from around our home and garden to color the eggs. And I love how simple and natural they turned out.

3 comments:

elizabeth ~ so wabi sabi said...

those are absolutely beautiful! we experimented a little with natural egg dying too. and discovered by accident that pressing a leave against the shell prevented the dye from getting to that part of the shell. happy Earth day and blessed Easter weekend!

6512 and growing said...

Those eggs are works of art, love all the originality in your designs and colors.

Rose said...

They are lovely! Perhaps next year we'll do this. My boy is not into dyeing eggs AT ALL, but The Girl was very into it...