Looking for a fun weekend project with the kids? Try making your own natural dyes using simple ingredients, foraged from nature.
Natural sources of dye come from many places including food, flowers, weeds, bark, moss, leaves, seeds, mushrooms, lichens and even minerals. Some plants make excellent dyes, while others don’t seem to have enough pigment.
For these kid friendly projects we will be using beets, spinach, onions and black walnuts, turmeric, Red Zinger tea, and purple cabbage. Make sure you wear gloves and an apron because it can be messy.
Painting with Dyes
Materials you will need:
- Paint brushes
- Paper
- 4 crock pots
- Beets (chopped by an adult wearing gloves)
- Spinach
- Dry onion skins
- Black walnuts in shells
Place beets, spinach, onion skins and black walnuts in separate crock pots and barely cover with water. Heat the crock pot on low overnight. In the morning, the crocks will have natural dye paint that you can pour into little bowls. The children will be able to create designs using the natural paint.
Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs
The dye will work best when the water is still warm, so adult supervision is recommended, and we suggest you use tongs or a slotted spoon.
Per cup of water use the following:
- 1 cup chopped (by adults) purple cabbage = blue on white eggs, green on brown eggs
- 1 cup red onion skins = lavender or red eggs
- 1 cup yellow onion skins = orange on white eggs, rusty red on brown eggs
- 1 cup shredded (by adults) beets = pink on white eggs, maroon on brown eggs
- 2 tablespoons ground turmeric = yellow eggs
- 1 bag Red Zinger tea = lavender eggs
Add one tablespoon white vinegar to every cup of strained dye liquid. For every dozen eggs, plan on using at least four cups of dye liquid.
Materials and Ingredients:
- Hard-boiled eggs, room temperature (white or brown eggs, preferably not super-fresh)
- Water
- 1 cup chopped purple cabbage per cup of water
- 1 cup red onion skins per cup of water
- 1 cup yellow onion skins per cup of water
- 1 cup shredded beets per cup of water
- 2 tablespoons ground turmeric per cup of water
- 1 bag Red Zinger tea per cup of water
- White distilled vinegar (1 tablespoon per cup of strained dye)
- Liquid neutral oil, such as vegetable or grapeseed
- Saucepan with lid
- White dish
- Fine-mesh strainer covered with cheesecloth
- A second saucepan or bowl
- Baking dish or other container
- Paper towels
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients: You can make separate batches of different colors or one large batch of a single color. Follow the ratios above given above for each ingredient to make more or less dye.
- Add water to a saucepan: Pour the amount of water you need for the dye you’re making into a saucepan.
- Start making the dye: Add the dye matter (purple cabbage, onion skins, etc.) and bring the water to a boil.
- Adjust the heat: Turn the heat down to low and simmer, covered, for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Check the color: The dye is ready when it reaches a hue a few shades darker than you want for your egg. Drip a little dye onto a white dish to check the color. When the dye is as dark as you like, remove the pan from the heat and let the dye cool to room temperature.
- Strain the dye: Pour the cooled dye through a fine-mesh strainer into a saucepan
- Add vinegar: Stir the vinegar into the dye — use 1 tablespoon of vinegar per cup of strained liquid.
- Pour the dye over the eggs: Arrange the room-temperature eggs in single layer in a baking dish or other container and carefully pour the cooled dye over them. Make sure the eggs are completely submerged.
- Put the eggs in the fridge: Transfer the eggs in the dye to the refrigerator and chill until the desired color is reached.
- Dry and oil the eggs: Carefully dry the eggs, and then massage in a little oil to each one. Polish with a paper towel. Store the eggs in the refrigerator until it is time to eat or hide them.
Notes:
- If you want your eggs to be more vibrant and less pastel, give the eggs multiple soaks in the dye, being sure to dry them between stints in the dye.
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