Baby Talk - 4/2/15

We have just completed our Easter portrait mini-sessions with baby ducklings. These sessions are one of our most creative of the year and the ducks are just so cute! Easter is a great time to channel the inner artist within yourself and your children. Let everyone’s creative juices flow as you craft seasonal decorations.  

Dyeing and decorating eggs is an Easter tradition and a great fun-filled family activity. Use the tips below to create your masterpieces!

• It’s all in the egg preparation. Eggs should be hard boiled for 12-15 minutes and allowed to cool to room temperature for best decorating results.

• Let’s add some color. If you plan on eating your Easter eggs, be sure to select an egg dyeing kit, food coloring, or other natural products. For health reasons, paints and markers should only be used on eggs that will not be eaten. The container size will control the concentration of the dye and the brightness of your egg, so select a container that will allow the dye solution to just cover the egg. The longer the egg remains in the dye, the more vibrant the color.

• Make it fancy! Adding a teaspoon of white vinegar to the dye solution will intensify the color of the eggs. To produce spotted or marbled eggs, add a teaspoon of olive oil to the liquid dye. For sparkle, add glitter to the liquid dye. Create a textured effect by blotting the wet egg with paper towel or a sponge. For an interesting display, use different sizes and colors of eggs, such as a combination of brown and white eggs.

• Add even more decorations. Drying the eggs on a wire cooling rack minimizes the amount of dye blotches. Once dry, use markers, paint, stickers, yarn, etc. to further create your Easter masterpieces.

• Eating your creation. Only decorated eggs that are free of cracks in the shells and were fashioned with food-safe dyes should be eaten. Eggs should not be out of the refrigerator for more than two hours and eaten within seven days of the dyeing process.

Have fun and be creative!