DIY Natural Dyed Easter Eggs

While making natural dyes does not deliver the bright hues we have come to associate with traditional Easter eggs, it does provide its own kind of beauty and sense of accomplishment.

  • Blue- boil 1 cup of red cabbage slices in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes add 1 tbls of white vinegar
  • Green- boil 6 red onion skins in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes add 1 tbls of white vinegar
  • Yellow- boil 6 roughly chopped carrots in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes and then stir in 1 tbls ground turmeric add 1 tbls of white vinegar
  • Pinkish-purple- I used a pink brewed tea such as Tazo Passion tea add 1 tbls of white vinegar
  • Orange- stir in 2 tbls of paprika into boiling water add 1 tbls of white vinegar

Some of the dyes take longer to adhere but I wouldn't leave the eggs in longer than an hour. Otherwise the shells start to dissolve. The red onion skin dye seemed to have the strongest pigmentation (note the deep green color of the egg). The lightest color was the pink-purplish from the tea. For a deeper pink color I would try using beets. Try this activity for Easter. It'll be fun and satisfying. 

DIY by: Megan Forbes

Photos by: Christina Hussey

diyGOLDMINEDIY, Easter, HolidaysComment