Ideas for Decorating Easter Eggs

Everyone of us have found ourselves at the grocery store the day before Easter buying up all the dozens of eggs we can find. Once we get them home the fun begins. How do we do it better than last year? What can we do to have the best decorated eggs in the neighborhood? Here are few ideas that may have your egg winning the best decorated egg this Easter.

There are two ways to decorate those Easter eggs. The first is the blown egg. It’s not as hard as one might think. A blown egg if stored correctly can be kept for years. Just remember that a blown egg is very fragile and will need tender loving care when decorated and stored.

To blow an egg you need wash and dry the egg well. Use a thin needle and very carefully prick a hole into both ends of the egg. Hold the egg over a bowl and place your mouth over one end of the egg where the hole has been placed. Very gently blow into the hole. The entire egg should come out the other end hole and into the bowl. Once the egg has been removed, very carefully rinse out the inside of the egg with a cool stream of water. Allow the egg to dry before decorating it.

The second and most popular way to decorate an Easter egg is with a hard boiled egg. Fill a saucepan with enough water than when the eggs are submerged they are completely covered. Do not put the eggs into the water until after the water has come to a brisk steady boil. Once the water is boiling remove the pan from the stove and very carefully place the eggs into the boiling water. Allow the eggs to stay submerged in the water for 18 minutes. Then run them under cold water to cool. This will keep the eggs from becoming to rubbery inside.

There are many ways to decorate an Easter egg. There are kits available that contain coloring, stickers and other items that will help you decorate the perfect egg. These kits are relatively cheap and can be found in most major stores.

If you would rather do the color and decorating with your own ideas here is a list of items that you may want to have on hand. Ribbon, lace, stickers, glitter, glue, crayons, markers, sponge paint, vinegar, food coloring and boiling water.

To make your own simple dye you will need 1/2 C of boiling water, 1 t vinegar and a few drops of food coloring for each color needed. Just dip the egg into the color for about 5 minutes. The longer you leave the egg the more vibrant the color. If you want a lighter color remove the egg sooner.

You can also naturally dye your Easter eggs. You would need the boiling water, vinegar and natural items, such as grape juice, canned blueberries, spinach leaves, apple peels, onion skins or even coffee to create the colors desired.
When it comes time to decorate those eggs this Easter remember that anything goes. Whether it’s a boiled egg or a blown egg, it’s the imagination that makes the perfect decorated egg.