Happy Easter!

 We didn't do anything crazy with the eggs this year, perhaps next year :)   This year, we just let the kids do what they wanted :)

We had a fantastic Easter, hope all you did too!  We had some fun :)

I love my kissing bunnies :)

My boys :)

Interesting Egg Dying Fun

I'm come across some interesting "natural" ways to dye eggs ... and wanted to share....   some of these would make AWESOME experiments :)

Egg Dye Techniques included in this blog are: 

• Kool-Aid
• Tie-Dye
• Crayon
• Shaving Cream
• Natural Dye (just a graphic) 
• Natural Dye (from a blog) 
• Natural Dye w/ Better Homes & Garden
• Rit Dye Eggs
• Natural Dye (Poster) 
• Natural Dye w/ Martha Stewart 

This first one is how to dye eggs with Koolaid...  and the blog where I got it did their own experiment ...  so check it out!     The Kool Egg-periment ....  she got the recipe from this blog which has amazing photos :)   HEY! Jen Renee 

This is the recipe ....

Here you can find some directions on how to make tie-dye eggs without having to buy the kit which ends up getting super messy ....   Tie-Dye Easter Eggs with Ms Not So Perfect 

CRAYON EGGS
Here is a fun decorating tip ........  While the eggs are still warm (but not too hot) ... use crayons to color on the eggs, or decorate with crayon shavings.  The wax from the crayon well melt and stick to the egg.

SHAVING CREAM EGG DYE

1. Spread cheap white shaving cream in a cookie sheet

2. Apply drops of neon food coloring across surface

3. Use toothpicks to swirl colors around

4. Roll the dried, cooled hard boiled eggs in the colorful cream

5. Allow to set for 3-4 minutes on a paper plate

6. Wipe off shaving cream with paper toweling

7. Rinse!

Here is a blog with some other natural egg dying techniques ....
Just Short of Crazy

All-Natural Easter Egg Dye Recipes from Better Homes & Garden

Use these all-natural dye recipes made from household ingredients to create Easter eggs in beautifully subdued shades. Leave eggs soaking in the dye in the refrigerator overnight for the richest colors.

Bluish-Gray

Mix 1 cup frozen blueberries with 1 cup water, bring to room temperature, and remove blueberries.

Blue

Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Let cool to room temperature and remove cabbage with a slotted spoon.

Jade Green

Peel the skin from 6 red onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Green-Yellow

Peel the skin from 6 yellow apples. Simmer in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer 4 oz. chopped fennel tops in 1-1/2 cups of water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Orange

Take the skin of 6 yellow onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Red-Orange

Stir 2 Tbsp. paprika into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Yellow

Rich yellow: Simmer 4 oz. chopped carrot tops in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Mustard-yellow: Stir 2 Tbsp. turmeric into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Various shades: Steep 4 bags of chamomile or green tea in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes.

Pale yellow: Chop 4 oz. goldenrod and simmer in 2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint yellow: Simmer the peels of 6 oranges in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. vinegar.

Brown-Gold

Simmer 2 Tbsp. dill seed in 1 cup water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Brown

Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup strong coffee.

Pink

Faint pink: Chop 4 oz. amaranth flowers and simmer in 2 cups water; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer the skins from 6 avocados in 1-1/2 cup water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Mix 1 cup pickled beet juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

Dark pink: Cut 1 medium beet into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar and let cool to room temperature; remove beets.

Lavender

Mix 1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

DYEING EGGS WITH RIT DYE .... 

From Martha Stewart ....  

Martha Stewart Living, April 1998

The tradition of dyeing eggs goes back to medieval times when people made pace eggs to celebrate spring and Pasch, the original name given to Easter or Passover.

Your kitchen is full of natural dyes. Common food items such as red cabbage, onion skins, and coffee can be used to transform plain white eggs into colorful Easter gems. Kids will especially love discovering all the different colors they can create -- let them experiment using hard-boiled eggs and bowls of cold dyes.

TOOLS AND MATERIALSNatural
dyeing agents (red cabbage, turmeric, onion skins, beets, and coffee)
3-quart pot (or larger)
White vinegar
Strainer
Small bowls
Eggs
Large metal spoon
Paper towels
Drying rack

DYE RECIPES
Select a dyeing agent, and place it in the pot using the amount listed below. Add 1 quart water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar to pot; if more water is necessary to cover ingredients, proportionally increase the amount of vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain dye into a bowl.

Red-cabbage dye: 4 cups chopped cabbage
Turmeric dye: 3 tablespoons turmeric
Onion-skin dye: 4 cups onion skins (skins of about 12 onions)
Beet dye: 4 cups chopped beets
Coffee dye: 1 quart strong black coffee (instead of water) Cold-Dipping Method

COLD-DIPPING METHOD
With this method, the eggs and the ingredients for the dye are boiled separately. Using a metal spoon, lower cooled hard-boiled eggs into a bowl of cooled dye, and let them soak for as little as 5 seconds or as long as overnight, depending on the depth of color you desire. Remove eggs with spoon, pat dry with paper towels, and let dry on a wire rack. The cold-dipping method produces subtle, translucent shades, but can result in uneven coloring unless the eggs are rotated vigilantly while in the dye. For hollow eggs that will last indefinitely, cold-dip raw eggs, then blow them out after they are dyed.

BOILED METHOD
This method involves boiling the eggs with the dye; the heat allows the dye to saturate the shells, resulting in intense, more uniform color. Set raw eggs in a pot of strained dye; bring to a boil for the amount of time specified in our color glossary (see below). Remove and dry eggs as with the cold-dipping method.

FINISH (OPTIONAL)
Natural dyes tend to fade over time, so finish any eggs you plan to keep with a matte or gloss acrylic spray varnish. To create an egg-spraying stand, stick a 6-inch length of wire into a block of Styrofoam; prop a hollow egg onto the wire through one of its holes. Spray egg with a coat of varnish in a well-ventilated area, and let dry.

COLOR GLOSSARY
Natural dyes can sometimes produce unexpected results, so don't be surprised if, for example, your red-cabbage dye yields blue eggs. Use the following guide to help you achieve the colors you desire.
Deep Gold: Boil eggs in turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
Sienna: Boil eggs in onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
Dark, Rich Brown: Boil eggs in black coffee, 30 minutes.
Pale Yellow: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
Orange: Soak eggs in room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
Light Brown: Soak eggs in room-temperature black coffee, 30 minutes.
Light Pink: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes.
Light Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 minutes.
Royal Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution overnight.
Lavender: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 seconds.
Chartreuse: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 5 seconds.
Salmon: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.

DO YOU KNOW?
The tradition of dyeing eggs goes back to medieval times when people made "pace" eggs  to celebrate spring and Pasch, the original name given to Easter or Passover.  

Bring Drawings to Life

There is a company named Child's Own Studio that will craft a real toy from a child's drawing.

This is a great idea for a homeschooler - to see their creation in 3-D.  

It's a bit expensive and she's got a waiting list .... but....  it's an amazing though...