Helpful Hints for Painting/Dyeing Easter Eggs

Easter eggs for sale at a market in Vienna.

• Eggs at room temperature are easier to dye.
• Soaking empty egg shells in a vinegar and water solution will loosen the inside membrane so that it may be removed easily.
• You can rub the surface of a dyed Easter egg with vegetable oil in order to intensify the color.
• You can paint the surface of a hollow egg with any type of paint, but most folk artists prefer dyes, inks or acrylic paints.
• Designs 'in the round' are considered more aesthetic because the egg itself is round.
• Although American crafters have a preference for pastel colored eggs, the bold colors of the European/Asian folk artists are the oldest and the most traditional.
• Vinegar kills most molds, bacterias, germs etc. associated with eggs.
• Hard-cooked eggs minimizes cracking when dying edible varieties for Easter. Bring the water to a boil, then turn of the burner and allow the eggs to sit in very hot water for 12 to 18 minutes, longer if the eggs are larger.
• Fresh eggs are difficult to peal.
• Hard-cooked eggs are edible when refrigerated up to one week, if you leave them in the shell.
• If you remove the shell from a hard-cooked egg, eat it immediately.
• Eggs left in their shells are not microwavable.
• You can not cook an egg in it's shell if you try to do so above 10,000 feet. If you live in the mountains, you will need to blow out the contents of the egg before dying or painting them for Easter!
• If you should decide to craft with plastic eggs, it is best to lightly sand these before applying glue. The unaltered plastic surface is very difficult to adhere many objects to.
• Always seal surfaces of wooden or plastic painted eggs with acrylic varnish or Mod Podge in order to preserve your work.
• Real hollow eggs that are either hand-painted or carved are considered more collectable because of their fragility. 
• Some antique metal eggs with original paint are also highly sought after by collectors.
• Silk dyed eggs must be dyed in an enamel pot that you have no plans for using for any other cooking purposes. This is because silk dyes are toxic and these dyes also interact with metals in unpredictable ways. You can find enamel pots in resale stores or Goodwill outlets. These were very popular during the early 1900's.
• To achieve dark colors on your eggs, simply leave them in dying solutions longer. 
• You don't need to purchase little kits to dye your eggs. You can mix your own egg dye with one cup of boiling water, a table spoon of white vinegar and a little food color. 
• Dye your Easter eggs in deep mugs so that the eggs may be submerged completely for a uniform dyed surface.

 Spring by Anne K. Alexander
Early in the morning
When the sky is still and gray,
The robin perches on a tree
And sings a roundelay.