Hard-boiled Eggs **Easter decorations**
Traci
Hard-boiled Eggs **Easter**
This time of year, hard-boiled eggs have better things to do than languish
in a lunch box. These durable treats submerge easily in liquid, so they are
ideal candidates for dyeing. To cook, cover eggs with water in a saucepan
and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and let sit for 10
minutes.
RUBBER BAND WRAPS
Twisting rubber bands around an egg can challenge small hands, but the
result is a snazzy, colorful creation.
MATERIALS
Egg dye
Rubber bands (various widths, long enough to wrap around the egg several
times)
Wrap rubber bands around the egg, covering it completely. When you dip the
covered egg, the dye will seep under the bands in some areas and be blocked
out in other areas. Remove from the dye when the color is bright enough.
Blot dry with paper towels and remove the rubber bands. If you wish, repeat
with a new color.
TIP: If the rubber bands pop off the egg, try using thicker ones or wrap
them more loosely.
MARBLEIZED EGGS
Oil and water don't mix-and therein lies the charm of this easy design. Stir
the two together and watch the swirly, spotted patterns transfer onto a
dipped egg.
MATERIALS
Egg dye
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
Lightly stir the oil into a bowl of egg dye. Immediately dip the egg into
the liquid. Or, stand the egg in a small cup and slowly spoon the
oil-and-water mixture over it. When the egg dries, repeat the steps with
another color for an interesting color-combining effect.
TIP: For cleanup, wash all dipping containers in hot, soapy water and rinse
with vinegar to get rid of any oil (the residue can interfere with
consistent coloring for other dyeing projects).
DRIPPED-ON DESIGNS
Kids will get a kick out of letting the rubber cement gloop and dribble and
squiggle all over (the egg, that is).
MATERIALS
Egg dye
Rubber cement with applicator brush
To start, rest the egg in an empty egg-carton lid or on a section of
paper-towel tube set upright. Or, wear rubber gloves and hold the egg. Next,
using the applicator brush, dribble gobs of rubber cement over the egg. When
the cement has dried thoroughly, dip the egg into a bowl of dye. When the
color is bright enough, remove the egg and let it dry. Peel off the glue and
repeat to add additional colors, if desired.
TIP: Instead of dipping the egg in dye, you can brush on color with acrylic
paint or ink. Thin the acrylic paint with water so you can easily remove the
rubber cement.
STICKER STENCILS
These eggs are especially fun for little kids to work on (finally, there's a
use for that drawer full of dinosaur stickers).
MATERIALS
Egg dye
Stickers (paper reinforcements, store-bought stickers, or designs cut from
self-adhesive shelf paper or mailing labels)
Begin with a cooled egg and cooled dye; otherwise, the adhesive gets sticky
and difficult to remove. Cover the egg with stickers, then dip the egg until
the color is bright enough. Let the egg dry, and remove the stickers. If you
wish, you can remove only some of the stickers and dip the egg in a second
color.