Decorating eggs for Easter is an annual rite of spring. But more than that, you're making memories that will last a lifetime.
It's a good time to think outside the box of prepackaged egg decorating kits.
So clear the table, spread out the newspaper and raid your craft cabinet. With a little help from some area artists, let's get creative:
Alice Tavani, an art teacher with Centerville schools, offers these suggestions:
• Brush watered-down glue on the egg and dab it with crumpled tissue paper. "The tissue paper bleeds and leaves a neat texture," she said.
• Scrub an old toothbrush in watercolor or poster paints, aim it at the egg, then strum your thumb over the bristles. "The paint will splatter a fine mist like spray paint on the eggs. Have fun layering different colors," she said.
Debbie MacPherson, events coordinator for Michael's crafts on Springboro Pike in Miamisburg, has a number of quick, easy egg-decorating tricks:
• Rubber bands: Wrap the egg in rubbers bands before dying. For multiple colors, dip the egg in a light color and, when dry, remove some of the rubber bands and repeat with a darker color.
• Bubble wrap: Coat bubble wrap with acrylic paint, then roll the egg over it. (Note: Do not eat eggs colored with acrylic paint — these ones are just for show.)
• Aluminum foil: Crumple and uncrumple a sheet of aluminum foil. Coat the foil with acrylic paint, then set the egg in the center of the foil and loosely wrap it. Gently press the foil against the egg, then remove the egg and let it dry.
• Sponge painted eggs: Place hard-boiled or blown eggs in egg cups. Partially fill paper cups with different colors of tempra paints. Clip a piece of sponge to a clothespin and dip into paper cups, using the clothespin as a handle. Lightly dab the sponge over the top half of the egg. Let dry. Turn egg over and repeat procedure. Let the egg dry completely. If using blown eggs, spray with acrylic spray for a permanent finish.
Jane Black, director of the Dayton Visual Arts Center, liked to decorate and use plastic eggs for hiding when her kids were small.
"I would assign a group of colors for each kid and glue on everything imaginable – plastic snakes, pom poms, pieces of old costume jewelry, etc. I would also write things on them in colored glue. Bonus: the colored glue is fun to peel off!"
As an easy decorating technique for young children, Black suggests using a crayon to draw designs or words on eggs, and then dip the eggs in the dye.
The crayon wax can remain on the egg, or adults can place the egg in a 200-degree oven for a few minutes, then wipe off the wax with a paper towel.
For older children, MacPherson suggests drizzling rubber cement over an egg, then dipping the egg in dye. For more than one color, dip the egg in a light-colored dye and allow it dry completely. Then drizzle with rubber cement and dip it in a darker color dye. When dry, peel off the cement.
MacPherson also suggests these alternatives to store-bought egg dyes:
• Crepe paper dye: Soak crepe paper in hot water in individual bowls or cups for each color. Add eggs and allow them to sit in water until the desired color is achieved. Remove with a slotted spoon and allow to dry. Polish with a small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.
• Food coloring dye: For each color, measure one-quarter teaspoon food coloring in a small bowl. Add three-quarters of a cup of hot water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to each color. Add eggs and allow them to sit until they are the desired color. Remove with a slotted spoon. Polish dry eggs with a small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.
Contact this writer at carol.rini@gmail.com.
