Written by Contributing Writer, Kelly @ Eyes On The Source

Egg dyeing kits are a very fun and popular purchase this time of year, but how simple it is to make your own dyes using natural spices, teas, fruits and vegetables!  You can create beautiful egg displays experimenting with these natural dyes.  Plus, you don’t have to worry about what ingredients are in store bought kits.

These are some general recipes to try.  Add more or less water/vinegar to vary the colors.  So many possibilities!

The easiest way I have found to hard-boil eggs without over cooking them is this:

Add eggs to a pot with enough cool water to cover them and a splash (about a Tbsp or so) of vinegar.  Vinegar helps to clean the eggshells and aids in absorption of color.  Bring to a boil for 1 minute.  Cover, remove from heat and let sit for 15-20 minutes.  Remove with a slotted spoon and place into a bowl of ice water to cool.

To make natural colorful dyes:

Blue/Purple

Blueberries, Purple Cabbage

Boil 2 Cups of water with 1/2 cup of blueberries or 1/2 head of purple cabbage.  Add a splash of vinegar. Simmer for 20 minutes.  Cool and then soak eggs until desired color.

Yellow/Orange

Turmeric, Onion Skins

Boil 2 cups of water with 3 Tbsp of turmeric or skins from 3 onions.  Add a splash of vinegar.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Strain onion skins.  Cool and then soak eggs until desired color.

Red/Pink

Red teas, cherries, paprika, beets

Boil 2 cups of water with 2-4 tea bags, 3/4 cup cherries, 3 Tbsp paprika or 3 medium chopped beets.  Add a splash of vinegar.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Strain and cool.  Soak eggs until desired color.

Brown/Tan

Coffee, Tea

Brew 2 cups of strong tea or coffee.  Cool and soak eggs.

Soak in two or more colors to vary the results.  Another idea is to add the color while you hard boil the eggs if you want to make several small batches.

When you have finished dying the eggs, you can use the leftover dyes to make natural paints (or paint the eggs)!

Natural Paints:

• 2 Tbsp natural dye (from above recipes)
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1 Tbsp liquid dish soap

Have you tried other egg dying techniques?  What has worked well for you?

The post All Natural Egg Dyes {Plus a Paint Recipe} appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Easter is one of my favorite days of all!!  There’s nothing more exciting than knowing that Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin, death and Hell for us!  Because HE LIVES we can live also.  There is hope for us through Jesus Christ! Resurrection Eggs are one of my favorite ways to tell the “Easter” or “Resurrection Story”.

How to Make your own Resurrection Eggs:

All you need:

• 12 Easter Eggs
• Empty Egg Carton 

Then, you will need to gather a few things to put in your eggs:

Easter Egg # 1 
Crouton, small piece of bread or broken cracker to represent the “last supper”.

Easter Egg #2
Feather to represent the rooster that crowed after Peter denied Jesus those three times.

Easter Egg #3
3 Silver dimes to represent the money Judas sold, or betrayed, Jesus for.

Easter Egg #4
Thorns – talk about the thorns that Jesus’ crown was made out of and how they pierced His head for us.  {Did you know that the thorns in the middle East are HUGE compared to the ones we have here.  Anywhere from 3 -6 inches long each.}

Easter Egg #5
2 small sticks that can be held up in the shape of a cross – talk about the cross and how it was used to put common criminals to death.  The cross Jesus died on had probably been used before and would be taken down and used again.

Easter Egg #6
3 nails – obviously representing the nails that held Jesus’ hands and feet to the cross.

Easter Egg #7
Cotton ball with vinegar representing the vinegar that was offered to Jesus when he said, “I thirst”.

Easter Egg #8
Small plastic spear or tooth pick representing the spear that was shoved into the side of Jesus when water and blood ran out.  Jesus had already given His life for us at this point.  He did not need to have His legs broken as the thieves on either side of Him did.  The prophecy that not one of His bones would be broken was true…as they all are!!

Easter Egg # 9
Cotton ball with perfume or sweet smelling essential oils {or whole cloves} representing the spices, oils and perfumes that the ladies would anoint His body with before His burial.

Easter Egg #10
White cloth to represent the cloths that were wrapped around His body after His death.

Easter Egg # 11
A small rock representing the grave in the garden and the stone that was rolled away from the entrance when Jesus rose again!

Easter Egg #12
Empty Egg!!  Representing the EMPTY TOMB that the ladies found early on the morning of the third day after His death!!  Jesus wasn’t in the tomb!  He had risen!!

Now, you can tell the “Easter” or Resurrection Story as you open the eggs.  Simply talk about what’s inside each egg and how it corresponds to the story of Jesus and His death on the cross.  Because of His death and resurrection we can all spend eternity with Him in Heaven someday!!

Angela was raised a Military Brat. She is married to a pastor and mother to 4 children and 2 in heaven. Understanding how hard life can be and desiring to love other ladies, Angela took on blogging.

You can join Angela at Hidden Treasures where she blogs about the Christian life, children, whole foods, saving money and time, and living a natural life the way God intended.

The post Fun & Easy Family Activity: Resurrection Eggs appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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