How to decorate Easter Eggs using wax and onion skins - 2 methods

Easter is approaching so today I will share with you two methods of decorating Easter Eggs. They are  my versions of the traditional Easter crafts from Poland. Do you remember, in January I encouraged you to collect onion skins in preparation for making a natural dye for Easter Eggs. If you haven't done so yet, there is still some time left till Easter. The more onion skins you collect, the darker the dye will be. The colors that can be achieved range from light orange to a very dark red.

I use two methods for Easter Eggs decoration. You can see the results of both methods here:

The First Method is simple. You only need Onion Skins and Eggs. Put the onion skins into a cooking pot and pour enough cold water to cover them. Then add the raw eggs into the pot and put the pot on slow fire. Boil the eggs slowly, to prevent them from cracking.

Bring the liquid to the boil and simmer for about 20-30 minutes. The longer you boil the eggs the darker in color they will be. Switch off the fire and gently remove the eggs using the spoon. Save the liquid dye, you will need it for the Second Method. When ready, the eggs should look like this:

For the Second Method you will need the liquid Dye (saved from the first method), Eggs, Candle, thin Painting Brush and something to support the eggs while you paint them. I used plastic vitamin bottle cups.

First hard boil the eggs in clear water. Then cool them down using cold water, to such a temperature that you can hold them comfortably in your hand. The eggs should be warm but not hot.

Light the candle and wait for the wax to melt. Using a thin brush, paint the patterns on the eggs with the melted wax, taking care not to touch the areas already painted. With the each egg, first paint one half of the egg, wait for the pattern to dry, then turn the egg upside down and paint the other half. You can work on several eggs like this, with each egg supported on its own stand.

This is one of the eggs, ready to be dyed:

While the pattern on the eggs is getting dried, put the pot containing the onion skins dye back on the fire. Bring the liquid to the boil. Using the strainer, pour the dye into smaller cups or glasses, half filling them:

Put the eggs into the cups filled with the hot dye, one egg into each cup:

Leave the eggs in the dye until the dye cools down, for about 20-30 min. The bits of melted wax will start to float on the surface. Carefully remove the eggs with a spoon and wipe the excess of wax with a tissue.
They should look more or less like this:

For an interesting Easter table display, join the eggs decorated with the first method with the ones decorated with the second method.

Happy decorating :)
Yolanta

How to decorate Easter Eggs using wax and onion skins - 2 methods