Juliet Blank
Associate EditorLast updated by: Zara Mohammed
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From dip-dyed to glitter to Minions-themed, we've got some gorgeous and easy ideas for decorating eggs together this Easter. Get the kids on board, grab your paints and get creating an Easter egg masterpiece!
Decorating eggs for Easter is a wonderfully fun and easy crafting activity, and the finished results make for a sweet and personal keepsake.
Even if younger kids can't make a masterpiece, they'll still have loads of fun messing around with their paints and crafts, and it's a brilliant way to keep them occupied during the Easter holidays.
Most of our egg decorating designs require the use of real eggs, so you're best off boiling or blowing them first so you don't have any smashed, gloopy egg accidents on your hands (more details on how to do this below)!
Explore more ideas ...
- 30 easy Easter crafts for kids 2023
- Quick and easy Easter bonnets
- Easter egg hunt clues to make them fun
Before you start
Here's how to prepare your egg for decoration:
– You can either hard boil your eggs (12-15 minutes should do it) and then let them cool, or, blow the eggs to make the egg hollow and decorate the outside.
– To blow the eggs, first make two holes at either end of the egg with a needle and blow through one to make the insides come out of the other (if they're not coming out, make the hole a bit bigger.)
– Then tie some cotton onto the middle of a match. Insert the match into the egg and twist it so it doesn't come out and you can hang your egg from the cotton.
– Now it's time to decorate it with anything from sequins and paints to ribbon – the more creative, the better!
Here are some ideas to inspire you this Easter ...
1. Minions eggs
We love this idea of painting eggs to look like Minions.
Challenge your kids to get creative and decorate their eggs to look like their favourite superhero or cartoon character.
You can buy stick-on googly eyes here at Amazon.
2. Elastic band eggs
Decorate your eggs with elastic bands!
- Fill several mugs or glasses with water, and add different colour food colouring to each.
- Wrap elastic bands around your eggs and dip them into the coloured water (the longer you leave them, the more vibrant the colours).
- Wait until the egg is dry and remove the bands.
You could also remove only some of the elastic bands at this stage and repeat with a second colour.
3. Decoupage eggs
Decoupage is such a stunning way of decorating anything.
Gently stick on some cut out paper or images to your egg. We love this cute Easter owl.
4. Wax eggs
This one is a bit fiddly but looks stunning.
- Carefully draw a pattern on your egg with a wax crayon
- Next paint over the top – the paint won’t settle on the wax areas, leaving a gorgeous effect.
Always supervise kids when using warm wax.
5. Painted letter eggs
Your kids can spell out their names on their decorated eggs, or use for a cute Easter greetings message.
6. Washi tape eggs
We love washi tape – it’s so versatile and can be used in loads of different crafts.
Why not use it to decorate your eggs at Easter? It gives a bold look that stands out from other painted eggs.
You can buy multi-packs of washi tape here at Amazon.
7. Painted pattern eggs
If your kids – and you – are feeling creative, why not get a selection of paints and a fine paintbrush and paint on any pattern that takes your fancy?
Flowers or polka dots look nice. You could even use a painting technique using cotton buds for a really lovely spotty effect.
8. Farmyard animal eggs
Decorate your eggs with a variety of:
- googly eyes
- beads
- biodegradable glitter
- sequins
- wool
- ribbon
- feathers etc
And then decorate to make them look like animals.
This can be done on a plain egg or one that has already been dyed, and a fine marker pen can be used to add detail.
9. Marble eggs
Squirt different colour paint into an old baking tray and very gently roll your egg around. This will give a gorgeous marbled effect.
10. Nail polish eggs
Use up old nail varnishes by swirling into water and dipping hard-boiled eggs into it. The effect is lovely!
11. Shaving foam eggs
Kids will love this dying method that uses shaving cream.
- get a large foil tray
- squirt shaving cream along the bottom
- next, drop a couple of different shades of food colouring
- swirl it around with a toothpick, as if you were marbling a cake mix.
- Wearing gloves, roll a hard-boiled egg around in the coloured shaving foam.
- Leave for 20 minutes to dry, then tissue any excess off.
You'll be left with gorgeously dip-dyed looking eggs.
12. Disco eggs
Simply paint your egg with glue over the top half and then dip in your favourite biodegradable glitter, sparkles or shimmer powders.
13. Pom pom eggs
Swap paint and glitter for mini pom poms. Just glue, dot on and let dry. Cute!
You can buy multipacks of pom poms here at Amazon.
14. Bunny eggs
Draw cute faces with a fine-tipped marker pen or felt tip and then come up with ways to create bunny ears, Easter bonnets etc.
We love these ones that use lolly sticks for ears and sprigs of herbs for floral Easter crowns.
15. Botanical eggs
These are great for arty types. Follow the step-by-step instructions at The House That Lars Built .
16. Dip-dye eggs
Easier than they seem, these dip-dyed eggs are geometric and modern.
You'll need several pots of water with different colours of food colouring added to each.
Dip different parts of the egg in different colours to create this pretty effect. The longer you hold them in the food colouring, the deeper the colours.
17. Half dip-dyed eggs
These colour-block pastel eggs are great to do with kids who'll love getting their hands wet in the process.
Find out how to do them at Design & Paper .
18. Sparkly Easter eggs
These Easter eggs are like mini disco balls.
Find out how to brush the glitter on like a pro at Design & Paper .
19. Dotted eggs
Kids will love using a hole puncher to collect the little dots for these cute eggs.
Simply punch the holes in coloured paper, then stick it onto your egg.
For full instructions, see Design & Paper .
20. Divine twine eggs
To make these divine twine eggs:
- you can either pick pale eggs or paint yours white to start with.
- Once dry, wrap a piece of twine around the egg vertically
- glue the ends together.
- Then tie another piece of twine horizontally around the egg
- and tie in a bow.
21. Dressed-up eggs
All dressed up and ready for a party, how cute are these eggs-cellent little characters?
Little ones will love recreating them, or creating their own.
Check out how to make eggs with character at Handmade Charlotte .
22. Bejewelled eggs
Gather any jewelled craft supplies and mini gems and be inspired by these bejewelled beauties. Fabergé has nothing on us!
You can buy stick-on mini gems here at Amazon.
23. Tissue paper eggs
Cut shapes and patterns out of colourful tissue paper, sticking them on painted eggs.
Find full instructions at Better Homes & Gardens .
24. Letter eggs
Easier than they may look, you can make a letter for each member of the family. Or make them as gifts for grandparents.
You'll need:
- your computer
- a printer
- some origami paper or wrapping paper.
Find instructions for letter eggs at Better Homes & Gardens .
25. Metallic eggs
We love the classy colour combination of these eggs. Paint them turquoise, and once dry, go to town on them with metallic pens.
26. Puffy painted eggs
Paint your eggs in whatever bright colours you fancy, and then, once they're dry, grab your puffy paint pens (available from most art shops) and go crazy!
How to boil eggs for Easter decorating
If you want to hard boil your egg for decorating, you'll need to prepare a few hours before you get out the art and crafts.
- First, gently pop your eggs in a saucepan that is large enough to hold them in single layer, and fill it with water to at least an inch above the eggs.
- Bring the water to the boil, then turn the temperature right down until they're simmering.
- Cover the pan, and leave large eggs for 15 minutes, and small-medium eggs for 10-12 minutes .
- Then take the pan off the hob, and add some cold water to the pan – so the hot and cold water cools the eggs down slowly.
- Leave them for a few minutes in the water, before draining, and refrigerating for an hour or two.
The slower you cool down the eggs, the less likely they are to crack while decorating.
It's best an adult does this part, so little ones aren't at risk of getting burnt.
How to blow eggs
Instead of boiling your eggs, you could try blowing them – pulling the insides out of the egg so that it's hollow, allowing you to then decorate the outside.
To blow the eggs:
- first make two holes at either end of the egg with a needle.
- Then blow through one to make the insides come out of the other (if they're not coming out, make the hole a bit bigger.) It's best an adult does this.
- Then, tie some cotton onto the middle of a match.
- Insert the match into the egg and twist it so it doesn't come out.
- Then you can hang your egg from the cotton, which makes it easier to decorate.
Top tips for egg decorating with kids
- Always be sure to put down plenty of newspaper or plastic sheeting before you start. A cheap tarpaulin or table cloth can be a great option. It's surprising how far paint can go when kids are involved, so be sure to protect a wide area of floor. Keep kitchen roll or baby wipes close at hand for any emergency clear-ups.
- Similarly, dress the kids in old clothes, or give them an apron to protect their regular outfit. An old adult T-shirt is an easy way to protect clothes if you don't have an apron to hand.
- Always supervise toddlers and younger kids while they're crafting. Small items like googly eyes can easily find their way into a child's mouth, so keep a careful eye on them to reduce the risk of choking .
- You'll want to make sure your boiled egg (if you decided to boil it first) is fully cooled down before you start decorating, which not only ensures your decorations stay on, but eliminates the possibility of burnt little fingers, too.
- Be sure to praise your kids for their Easter egg creations. Even if it's not a work of art, you can always congratulate them for trying so hard!
What you'll need for egg decorating
The gallery above shows what you'll need for each idea, but in general, the following supplies are all handy for crafting your Easter egg masterpieces:
- White paper or card
- Coloured paper or card
- Coloured tissue paper
- Scissors
- Paints
- A marker pen and felt tip pens
- Pipe cleaners
- Pom poms
- Biodegradable glitter / sequins
- Googly eyes
- Child-friendly glue and sticky tape or Washi tape
- Easter accessories like chicks, mini eggs and raffia
What have you got planned for the Easter holidays? Check out our other Easter ideas like our easy Easter crafts , and join the chat over on our Coffeehouse forum.
Last updated: 3 April 2023
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