Coloring and decorating hard boiled eggs is a traditional Easter activity that is fun for children and parents alike. There are all sorts of ways to decorate eggs; it can be as simple as dyeing them a solid color or as complex as adorning them with fancy and intricate patterns. Plenty of resources online have information, tips and tricks that can give you fun and original new ideas for your Easter tradition.

1. Hard boil the eggs
2. Fill cups partway with warm water (1 cup per color)
3. Add 1-2 tbsp vinegar to each cup
4. Add food coloring/dye
5. Gently place egg in cup
6. The longer the egg is submerged, the darker the color
7. Remove egg from cup and let dry

Anyone can buy kits at the store to decorate their Easter eggs but decorating your own eggs can be easy and fun because you know you are doing it yourself. Ways to do this can include using items around the house such as kool-aid, glue, paint, feathers, beads, gems, felt, scrapbook paper, crayons, glitter and many many more items. The sky is the limit and the imagination is endless.

Instead of mixing sugar with your kool-aid, add the kool-aid to a little bit of water, dip you egg in two or three different colors for a dye effect. Use glue to hold objects such as the beads or feathers in place. Use a wet paper towel with tissue paper for a cool mottled look. http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/egg-dyeing-tissue-paper-technique-668358/

Things around the house that you can use to color your eggs

• Red Cabbage & vinegar
• Pickled Beet juice
• Rosehip tea
• Blackberry tea
• Turmeric
• Paprikahttp://www.allfiberarts.com/library/aa01/aa031901b.htm

1. Make sure to lay plenty of newspaper down, this is going to get messy
2. Dress the kids in play clothes some of the dye can be permanate
3. Hard boiled eggs are easier for young children to handle.
4. To keep an egg as a memento simply empty your egg and display them every year.
5. Wash hands before and after handling eggs