Whether Easter is an important part of your family tradition or simply a time to stock up on chocolatey bunnies and creme-center eggs, it can’t be denied that the spring-centric crafts that come with this holiday are a joy to take part in. What is it about technicolor hard boiled eggs that makes them so much more fun to eat? Come to think of it, why don’t we dye eggs year-round for a splash of color in our lunch bags?
I think we’re on to something!
But fun and colorful as they may be, unfortunately many Easter crafts aren’t exactly as festive for the environment. With so many aspects of the holiday taking place outdoors — eggs hunts, parades, and craft-making — many of the supplies that come with these activities could end up as litter, like plastic easter grass, which poses a threat to wildlife who don’t know the difference between it and the real stuff, and stray plastic eggs left behind from egg hunts. For these reasons it’s important to choose Earth-friendly options like paper grass and eco-eggs for your egg hunt — and of course natural dyes if you plan to dye hard boiled eggs. But, like so many things, choosing the eco-friendly option for your Easter activities doesn’t have to be a drag — it can be a fun lesson in reuse for you and the whole family.
Believe it or not, the materials you need for naturally dyeing Easter eggs may already be in your fridge or compost. Using simple materials, like onion skins, beets, turmeric and white vinegar, you can achieve gorgeous natural tones of gold, purple and pink. Once you get the hang of the options below — experiment! See what happens when you use cinnamon, carrots or blueberries, for example — or try your hand at using the dyes to naturally dye fabric, like reusable cloth napkins or a springtime table runner.
The options are truly endless and a great way to use up scraps of veggies languishing in your compost bin. Ready to Get Started?
How to Naturally Dye Easter Eggs
Materials:
- 2 tbsp turmeric powder + 2 cups filtered water
- 2 cups onion peels + 2 cups filtered water
- 2 cups purple cabbage + 2 cups filtered water
- 2 cups beets, peeled and grated + 2 cups filtered water
- Organic white vinegar
- Strainer
- Enough pots for each natural dye material
- Bowls for each dye
- Hard boiled white eggs
Instructions
Step 1: Boil
Place each dye material and water in a separate pot and bring to a boil. Boil for up to an hour — the longer the material boils, the deeper the color will be.
Step 2: Strain
Turn off the heat and allow liquid to cool. Once cooled, use the strainer to strain dye into different bowls and add 1 tbsp of vinegar to the dyes.
Step 3: Soak
Place hard boiled eggs in the bowls with the dye and allow to soak until the eggs reach the color you’re looking for (you may want to put the bowls with the eggs in the fridge).
Step 4: Enjoy!
Once the eggs have reached the desired color, remove from dye and allow to dry. Done!
Do you have any Earth friendly crafts for spring? Share yours with us on Instagram or Facebook with @AvocadoMattress or #AvocadoGreenMagazine
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