Easter can end up being all about the sugar rush — chocolate eggs at every turn, from the shops to the Easter egg hunt itself. If you fancy balancing things out with something a bit more hands-on, decorating your own eggs with the kids is a lovely way to slow Easter down and get creative together.
Here are 5 easy Easter egg decorating ideas you’ll enjoy with the kids — simple enough for little hands, and a nice break from the chocolate egg-stravaganza.
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Easter Egg Decorating Ideas to Try
#1. Colouring Real Eggs
The best fun at Easter is always decorating your own real eggs. You can decorate a hard-boiled egg, or “blow” an egg first if you’d like to keep your finished decorations for longer. We love this handy guide from Shari’s Berries, which shows you how to prep your eggs and includes a neat trick for drying your decorated ones once you’re done.
Via Shari’s Berries
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#2. Melted Crayon Easter Eggs
Here’s a creative and easy way to decorate your Easter eggs this year, using melted crayons. Kids will love watching the crayon shavings melt and swirl, creating a lovely marbled effect on the eggs — it feels a bit like magic.
All you need is some old crayons, a grater and eggs to decorate.
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#3. Decorate Pre-Made Hollow Eggs
If you’d like to decorate eggs this Easter without the hassle of blowing or hard-boiling, pre-made paper or plastic hollow eggs are a great shortcut — you’ll find them at most craft shops. Simply paint them and tie a cute ribbon around the centre for colourful, ready-to-hang decorations.
You can use the same techniques on real blown or hard-boiled eggs too. We love this simple idea for green-dyed “ninja turtle” eggs from A Pumpkin and a Princess.
Markers are also great for decorating craft or real eggs. Try these creative sharpie-decorated Easter eggs for a fun, freehand look.
For a fun painted-and-marker combination, take a look at these playful monster eggs — a firm favourite with kids who like adding googly eyes and silly faces.
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#4. Natural Dyed Eggs
If you’d prefer to skip food colouring altogether, natural dyeing is a lovely alternative — using everyday food items and spices from your kitchen cupboard to colour your eggs. It’s a great way to talk to kids about where colour can come from, and the shades tend to be soft and pretty.
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#5. Papier-Mâché Eggs
If you don’t mind getting hands a little sticky, making your own oversized Easter eggs using the papier-mâché technique is well worth trying — and makes a lovely centrepiece decoration.
You will need a balloon, strips of tissue paper, a brush, glue and some water.
1. Blow up the balloon and place it in a glass bowl to keep it steady.
2. Mix some glue with half a cup of water, and use it to brush over strips of tissue paper so they stick to the balloon’s surface.
3. Add several layers of tissue paper until the whole balloon is well covered.
4. Leave the balloon to dry overnight, then have fun painting it with the kids the next day.
5. Choosing a palette of similar colours tends to give the best, most polished finish.
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Do you have any other Easter egg decorating ideas to share? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the easiest Easter egg decorating idea for young kids?
Melted crayon eggs and pre-made hollow eggs tend to work best for younger children, since there’s less risk of breakage and the technique is very forgiving — little ones can go as bold or as gentle as they like.
Do I need to hard-boil or blow the eggs before decorating?
It depends on the technique. Painting and dyeing usually work well on hard-boiled eggs, which are safe to handle and eat afterwards (within a few days, kept refrigerated). Blown eggs are hollow and lighter, and can be kept as decorations for years, but take a little more patience to prepare.
Can I use food colouring instead of natural dyes?
Yes — food colouring gives brighter, more vivid colours, while natural dyes from kitchen ingredients give softer, more muted shades. Both are lovely for different looks, so it’s really down to preference.
How long will decorated eggs last?
Hard-boiled decorated eggs are best eaten within about a week if refrigerated. Blown eggs, papier-mâché eggs and craft/hollow eggs are decorations rather than food, so they can be kept and reused for years if stored carefully.
More Easter Fun You’ll Love
- 15 Egg-cellent Homemade Easter Bonnet Ideas for Kids
- 50 Eggstra-Fun Easter Activities for Kids
- 11 Super Easy Peasy Easter Crafts for Toddlers
- Easter Activities for Preschoolers Every Bunny Will Love
Not ready to decorate today? Save this article for later, or browse our full collection of Easter craft ideas whenever you’re ready to get the kids’ hands busy.
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