How to make your own Easter eggs

31st Mar 2023 Home & Garden

Want to level up your Easter decorations? From natural dyes to unique decorating techniques, here is a head-to-toe guide on how to make your own Easter eggs

Alongside the Easter bunny, Easter eggs have become a staple for the holiday. Be it integrated into social media posts or found in your neighbourhood park, Easter eggs come in all shapes, sizes and colours. This year, instead of buying your eggs from the shop, why not put your DIY cap on?

The origins of the Easter egg

Credit: Alexander Lyakhovskiy

Easter eggs go back thousands of years to ancient civilisations such as the Persians, Egyptians and Romans, who took eggs as an emblem of fertility and rebirth. Later, the Christian church adopted the egg as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, with the egg representing the tomb from which Jesus came back to life.

"Easter eggs go back thousands of years to ancient civilisations who took eggs as an emblem of fertility and rebirth"

Over time, the decoration of eggs for Easter became more widespread and elaborate. People went beyond simply dyeing their eggs and began embellishing them with intricate designs. Today, these fun little elements have become an Easter essential, and the activity of making them together is fun for all families and communities.

Materials

You can get started with your very own batch of Easter eggs just by using materials that are already lying around in your house. You will need:

Eggs
Food colouring or
Vinegar
A pot
A bowl
Paper towels

For decorations, go crazy with what you already have! Materials can include but are not limited to stickers, paint, markers, or even wax.

"If you are doing this activity with a child, consider what materials would be suitable for their age"

If you are doing this activity with a child, consider what materials would be suitable for their age. Younger kids may find stickers easier, and they are less likely to make a mess compared to splashing paint around.

Preparing the egg

Begin by carefully placing your eggs into a pot of water and bring it to a boil
Once the water is rapidly boiling, turn off the heat, put the cover on the pot, and let the eggs simmer for 10–12 minutes
When the time is up, transfer your eggs to a bowl of cold water to cool them down
When cooled, pat dry your eggs with a paper towel

Hollowing out the egg

This step is optional, but if you would like to preserve your eggs to be reused in future Easters, then hollowing out your eggs is a great idea. Here is how you can do it fuss-free:

Pierce one end of your shell with a large needle; be sure to push the needle deep enough so the yolk breaks
Wiggle your needle around the opening to enlarge it
Pour out the contents of the egg into a bowl
Rinse and pat dry as needed

Decorating the egg

Credit: Maria Sannikova

There are many ways you can decorate your Easter eggs, here are the most popular ways:

Dyeing the eggs: Mix food colouring or dye with some vinegar in a bowl according to the package instructions. Dip the eggs in the mixture and let them sit for a few minutes to reach your desired colour, making sure to gently roll them around for an even coating. The longer you leave the eggs in the dye, the deeper the colour will be.
Painting with wax: You will need an arts and crafts wax kit for this, but this method produces the most intricate designs. To achieve the desired look, be sure to plan your steps out carefully, as areas that are covered with wax will not be dyed with any new colours.
Stickers galore: Most suitable for children of young age, bring out some sticker sheets and let your child’s creativity run wild. Bonus points if you have Easter-related stickers!
Get creative with markers: For a quick, easy and modern design, opt for markers that aren’t easily erased on eggshells.
Make a masterpiece with paint: If you don’t own a wax kit but would still like to get into the details, consider using paint instead. Acrylic paint comes highly recommended because of its bright hues, but feel free to use what you have.

What matters most is to let your creative juices churn and try out different techniques!

Easter egg activities

Credit: Asako Ishikawa

Wondering what to do with your decorated Easter eggs? Here are a couple of group-friendly activities to consider:

Egg hunt: This is a classic loved by all! Hide the eggs around your home or compound, and let everyone go on a scavenger hunt to find them. The person with the most finds wins!
Spoon race: Try balancing an egg on a spoon and making it through a homemade obstacle course.
Decorating contest: The process of decorating an Easter egg can be an activity on its own! Set different categories to be won, such as the most colourful, creative, or funniest egg.
Egg crack: Go around the room knocking your egg with another person’s and see whose egg is the last to crack.
Relay race: Level up the spoon race by dividing your guests into teams for a relay race. Keep the obstacles coming and switch up the way the eggs have to be delivered to the finish line—you could balance it on only two fingers or even a book!

Banner credit: evgenyatamanenko

Find more tips on making your own Easter eggs with How to Make Easter Eggs, available on Amazon.

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