What do you do with eggs after you dye them?

Quick Answers

Here are some quick answers to what you can do with dyed Easter eggs:

  • Display them around your home in bowls, baskets, or other decorative containers
  • Use them as decorations on an Easter tablescape or centerpiece
  • Hide them for Easter egg hunts
  • Give them away as gifts or prize baskets
  • Let kids play games with them like egg relays or egg tosses
  • Make crafts by adding stickers, drawing designs, or turning them into ornaments
  • Eat them within a week or two of dying them if they were hard boiled first
  • Save some without cracking to keep year after year
  • Compost or crush shells for use in the garden

Displaying Dyed Easter Eggs

One of the most popular things to do with decorated eggs after crafting them is to display them prominently in your home. Easter eggs can make lovely decorations and be part of your overall Easter or spring decorating theme.

Some ideas for displaying dyed eggs include:

  • Placing them in glass bowls, ceramic bowls, baskets, or other containers. Glass bowls allow the colors to show through.
  • Arranging them in bouquets like flowers by sticking them into styrofoam or floral foam.
  • Lining them up on mantles, shelves, sideboards, or countertops where they can be prominently seen.
  • Clustering them in centerpieces on your table along with Easter greens, flowers, and other decor.
  • Hanging them from ribbon, string, or decorative metal stands if you want to suspend them.
  • Scattering them down the center of the table or mix them creatively into your overall tablescape.

You can organize dyed eggs in color groups or mix colors together for maximum impact. Some also like to display them on platters or cake stands in layered, tiered designs. Mini dyed eggs can even go in glass hurricanes and vases.

Ideas for Easter Egg Display Containers

While you can certainly just plop dyed eggs into any old bowl or basket you have on hand, collecting fun containers specifically for displaying them can be enjoyable. Some container and vessel ideas include:

  • Glass bowls, vases, and cake stands to show off the colors
  • Ceramic bowls or pretty woven baskets
  • Metal buckets, galvanized tubs, watering cans
  • Wooden crates, boxes, egg crate cartons
  • Colored or patterned enamelware
  • Holiday-themed bowls or bunny/chick containers
  • Clear glass apothecary jars or vases
  • Tiered platters or stands
  • Antique silver, brass, or copper vessels
  • Decorative branches, wreaths, or garlands

For a natural look, combine dyed eggs with elements like fresh flowers, greenery, pinecones, twigs, and other seasonal finds. Or go solid colored and modern with all white or pastel displays.

Creative Easter Egg Centerpieces

One of the prettiest ways to show off your Easter egg decorating skills is by making a stunning centerpiece as the focal point of your holiday table. Here are some quick centerpiece ideas that incorporate dyed eggs:

  • Fill a glass bowl, vase, or other clear container with mini dyed eggs
  • Place eggs in an Easter basket with faux green grass, flowers, and ribbon
  • Stick eggs into florist foam or egg cartons for bouquets
  • Add eggs to a spring flower arrangement or wreath for pops of color
  • Scatter eggs down the table among other decorations
  • Group them with candles, flowers, and greenery for a mixed arrangement
  • Stack them creatively on a cake stand or tiered server

Aim for height in the center, experiment with color combinations, and mix different sizes of eggs and other elements for visual interest. Dyed eggs pair nicely with fresh blooms like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.

Egg Decorating Technique Supplies Needed
Solid colors Egg dye, white vinegar, cups for dipping
Ombre or gradient eggs Egg dye, white vinegar, celery sticks or wire rack for dipping
Masking designs Egg dye, painter’s tape or stickers, Q-tips
Wax resist White eggs, wax crayons, egg dye cups
Marbled eggs Shaving cream or oil & food coloring for marbling liquid
Decorative wraps Nylons, lace, rubber bands, dyed silk or fabric

This table shows some popular egg decorating techniques and the basic supplies needed for each method.

Using Dyed Easter Eggs for Hunts and Games

In addition to putting eggs on display, one of the quintessential activities to do with decorated eggs for Easter is hide them for egg hunts! The vibrant colors make them both easier and more fun to find.

Some tips for using dyed eggs for egg hunts include:

  • Hide eggs both indoors and outdoors for kids to search and find
  • Designate special decorated eggs as “prize” or “golden” eggs for added excitement
  • Hide eggs in both easy and hard spots tailored to kids’ ages
  • Pair Easter baskets or bags for kids to collect the eggs they find
  • Give kids hints or clues to make it more challenging
  • Let kids hunt at night with flashlights for a fun twist

Other than hunting for hidden eggs, some classic Easter games that make use of decorated eggs include:

  • Egg relays – Kids race in teams to pass an egg down the line without breaking it
  • Egg toss – Partners stand apart and gently toss eggs back and forth trying not to crack them
  • Egg balancing – A game to see how many eggs kids can balance on a spoon at once while walking
  • Egg bowling – Kids try to bowl or roll eggs into clusters of other eggs to knock them down
  • Egg stacking – A race to see who can stack eggs the highest without toppling them

The vibrant colors and smooth shells of dyed Easter eggs make them perfect activity accessories. Just be sure to have extras on hand in case of accidents!

Giving Away and Gifting Decorated Easter Eggs

If you end up with extra dyed eggs after your own decorating, hunting, and displaying is done, giving them away makes a fun and budget-friendly gift idea.

Some ways to gift decorated Easter eggs include:

  • Give kids’ classmates or friends small bundles as prizes or favors
  • Create grown-up gift baskets with eggs, candy, flowers, etc.
  • Donate to charity events, community centers, hospitals, or nursing homes
  • Ship them carefully packed in Easter care packages
  • Bring them to potlucks and parties as table decorations
  • Use them as creative employee gifts or appreciation treats

You can package the eggs loosely in cellophane, tissue paper, or box them up in sectioned cartons. Mini dyed eggs are especially fun for giving away since you can make lots of them quickly.

Making Dyed Easter Eggs into Crafts

For crafty folks, decorated eggs can become DIY projects after the holiday is over. Here are some ideas for repurposing dyed eggs:

  • Ornaments – Add caps, hooks, and hang with ribbon
  • Magnets – Glue magnet backs on small eggs
  • Cards – Mod Podge eggs onto handmade greeting cards
  • Jewelry – Wire or bead eggs to make wearable necklaces, earrings, etc.
  • Potpourri – Crush eggshells and mix with scented oils to create fragrant potpourri
  • Mosaics – Use cracked egg shards to create colorful mosaics on frames, vases, etc.

Let kids have fun being creative by adding glitter, stickers, rubber stamp art, or drawings onto the eggs with markers once holiday displaying is done.

Eating Dyed Easter Eggs

While chocolate eggs and marshmallow Peeps are clearly meant for eating, you can also safely eat real hard boiled eggs that you dye for Easter. Just be sure to refrigerate them after dyeing and eat within 1-2 weeks.

If properly refrigerated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms that dyed eggs are safe to eat.

However, there are some downsides to eating dyed eggs to consider:

  • The colors will fade and run once the eggs are cracked open
  • Any designs drawn on the eggs will be marred or obscured
  • The eggs often take up dye, leaving a faint tint and taste
  • Older eggs can start to dry out in the shell and quality declines

So while you can scramble up, bake, or deviled dyed eggs, they will lose their decorative, pristine holiday appearance once cooked.

If you do want to use dyed eggs for food after Easter, aim to do so within a week or two for the best taste and texture.

Edible Egg Dye Options

While traditional, commercial egg dye is considered safe if proper precautions are followed, you also have some natural, edible egg dye options if you want to eat dyed eggs or avoid synthetic dyes.

Some edible dye ideas include:

  • Turmeric – Yellow
  • Paprika – Orange
  • Blueberry juice – Blue
  • Red cabbage juice – Purple
  • Beet juice – Pink
  • Spinach juice – Green
  • Carrot juice – Orange
  • Red onion skins – Rust
  • Coffee – Brown

Boil chopped fruits, vegetables, spices, or herbs in water to extract the natural dye. Store liquid dyes in the refrigerator until ready to use. They won’t be as vibrant as commercial dyes but are all edible.

Saving Eggs from Year to Year

Many people save some of their most beautiful dyed eggs to display again the following Easter. As long as they remain intact and are stored properly, eggs can easily last a year.

Tips for preserving decorated Easter eggs from season to season include:

  • Select only your very best designed eggs for saving.
  • Clean eggs thoroughly and let dry fully before storing.
  • Place each egg safely in its own small container like an egg cup.
  • Cushion eggs carefully in padded cartons, boxes, or packing materials.
  • Store container in a cool, dry spot away from heat and light.
  • Avoid temperature and humidity extremes that could cause condensation.
  • Turn eggs gently once a month while stored.

Take time each year to rotate out older eggs that have weakened over time. Don’t try to save eggs with even slight cracks, chips, or broken shells that will just continue deteriorating.

Egg Storage Tips by Decorating Method

Depending on how they are decorated, some types of dyed eggs have better longevity when saving them from year to year.

Egg Type Storage Tips
Solid color Most durable option, last 1-2 years if handled gently
Masking designs Tape residue can damage shells over time
Glittered Glue or shellac helps glitter last without flaking
Stickered Adhesives can affect shell, remove stickers after holiday
Wax dyed Wax coating helps protect designs for storing
Bejeweled Glue jewelry on very securely so it doesn’t fall off

Examine your saved eggs closely each year for any deterioration before deciding if they are still display worthy. If cared for properly, many types of dyed eggs can last through multiple Easters.

Making Use of Old Easter Egg Shells

Over time, even your most carefully preserved eggs will eventually crack or lose their appeal. But don’t just throw them in the trash! There are still creative uses for your old dyed egg shells.

Some clever ways to repurpose dyed egg shells include:

  • Crushing eggshells to fertilize gardens
  • Saving shells to decorate with again next year
  • Making mosaic art projects from cracked pieces
  • Creating bird feeders by stuffing shells with birdseed
  • Using empty shells as decor in floral vases or potpourri
  • Making stamps by carving designs into broken pieces
  • Grinding up for a calcium supplement for pets or chickens

Don’t just relegate your past Easter eggs to the trash after the holiday is over. Get creative about reusing both whole eggs and empty cracked shells.

Conclusion

Easter egg decorating results in fun holiday keepsakes, dazzling decorations, family activity memories, edible treats, and even future DIY projects. With a little planning and care, you can enjoy the fruits of your decorating labor long after the Easter season ends.

Display some beautifully dyed eggs in your home all season long. Hide others for memorable hunts and games. Eat hard boiled eggs within a few weeks. Save your favorites eggs to reuse next year. Turn cracked shells into artsy new creations. No matter what, avoid just throwing out your lovely hand-decorated eggs after the holiday!

With so many great ways to preserve, use, and repurpose them, both kids and adults alike can keep the magic of dyed Easter eggs alive long after Easter Sunday has passed.

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