You know - not buy that mass produced package and expend just enough energy to drop a tablet in water.
And - it turns out, the effort level for 'do-it-yourselfers' isn't much higher. In fact 20 drops of food coloring:
One tablespoon of white vinegar
and 1/2 cup of h20 - direct from your faucet
Carefully poured by two small children (who either need haircuts desperately or a hair that all ties and clips don't slip out of)
results in this:
Hmmm...those look familiar - oh yeah - now I remember, they look identical to the result when a factory-pressed tablet is dropped into another set of unnecessary plastic cups that will just get thrown away with the equally-unnecessary scooping wand that came with it!
Look again:
But, there was a snag. For my sweet Bear became concerned that as we were wandless she wouldn't be able to put more than one color on her egg.We stopped and thought. Brainstormed many ideas. None of them worked. And then - the snag, part duex, "Hoooooow will I make rainbows? flowers? deeeecorations?" she wailed. "And" she continued, "IF I get them perfect, where can I put them so they don't smidge????"
In a moment of Kindergarten brillance (and a rare display of flexible thinking)- she disappeared returning with this:
"Ah -ha!" I exclaimed taking in the upside down water bottle cover. And it did turn out to be the perfect, minimalistic solution to her current crisis.
See?
So, how did she create those perfectly parallel, yet not blended together designs, you ask? These:
Yes - that's right - it is commericial, factory made, and rather ridiculous at first glance -but, in my defense it was in my pantry. And, they were the answer to all the kids fanciful make-the-egg-look-like-it-does-in-storybooks dreams.
They were able to control every line, every curve and angle as they decorated.
Even I couldn't resist trying them out. This egg had been rejected by the girls with 'duh-mom' contorted expressions. It was cracked. I knew exactly what to do.
So, the moral of this Easter tale is - Live green, be a creative problem solver, use what you have, don't over buy...but on occasion frivious and overpriced factory items can be the solution. (if - of course - they are already in your pantry =)
Have a very Happy Easter day scanning what the rest of the CLASS has to offer!
11 comments:
How neat :) What wonderful eggs, and I love the one made for Emma. Perfect.
I want to dye eggs! We did it at Lindsay's last year (maybe I'll sneak over there tomorrow). What do you do with the eggs once you dye them? Are they eaten? Saved for a few days and then tossed?
I can't wait to dye eggs with my DD. Not until next year though. Thanks for the great idea.
You've inspired me. It'll be late, but I think I'll use your recipe tomorrow.
I'll have bottle caps on hand -- cheer to their ingenuity!
I think you actually get better colors with food coloring. The eggs are all lovely.
Every time I make beets, I wonder if the juice would work for egg dyeing.
I keep the same wands long-term, which eventually rust but last quite a few years. In case you ever buy another box...
I bought one of those mass produced kits this year. Those eggs turned out wonderful.
Very beautiful! And I love how you captured the efforts of the girls.
The eggs have come out nicely done. Like Lollipop, I want to know what you do after all this? And after Easter is over?
And I love the Vitamins comment. I have been a quiet reader of those quips and they always make me smile.
What lovely eggs... I haven't coloured eggs in years. I'm going to have to make a mental note of your recipe for the future.
What fun! Great looking eggs! And the bottle top for a drying stand was an excellent solution.
Thats so cool ! never have colored eggs over here what fun !
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