More and more people are opting for organic options for just about everything in their lives. So why not extend this to the holidays? Old habits die hard, but why not pass by those egg-dyeing kits (full of chemicals and excessive packaging) at the grocery store and head to the produce section? The dyeing process has a few more steps, but you'll feel better about a healthier choice and surprised at the gorgeous results.
Rosalind Creasy shows us how to dye with beets, blueberries and onion skins. The results reminisce of pretty watercolor paintings.
The sister-team at Big Sis Lil Sis used cranberries, onion skins and purple cabbage for their dyes, but used leaves and flowers as a resist technique that produce stunning results. Each egg is a work of art! This process is a bit more time-consuming but having your kids gather the flowers and leaves is an exciting way for them to participate.
The creative folks at Curbly share this technique that produces beautiful marble effects.
I for one plan on trying these new organic methods this year. As a girl who has used many dying-kits in the past, I'm excited to try something more creative with my kids, and feel good about the materials I'm using.
Happy Dyeing!
(Images: Rosaline Creasy, Big Sis Lil Sis, Curbly)
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How fun! I am going to try this - seems like a good science experiment for the kids. I think yellow beets would work for yellow too and maybe a little less trouble than gathering so many onion skins. I'm going to have to experiment to figure out green - my son's favorite color. :)
Thanks so much for including us in your natural egg dye feature! LilSis did a great job on these eggs, and we were thrilled when they made the cover of April's Country Living magazine. Thanks again! We really appreciate you!
Green is easy when you think of it as blue and yellow. I used tumeric for yellow, then put the same egg into grape juice, which colors blue, not purple. Last year was the first year I had beautiful natural dyed green eggs!
Also, I cold dye everything (which means that I use hot or cold water, but don't boil the egg with the dye). Rather, I just put things into warm water in bowls and then experiment. Paprika for orange, tumeric for yellow, grape juice for blue, red wine or blueberries for purple, coffee for brown, cranberries for pink.
Correction, it was beets for pink, not cranberries.
Also, mint tea produces a pale yellow rather than the bright yellow of tumeric.
My Estonian great grandmother always used onion skins for her egg dying.
I just posted about coloring with natural dyes here - http://emmmylizzzy.blogspot.com/2011/04/past-project-friday-easter-edition.html
I just love the results!