Decorating Easter eggs is a fun family project that I enjoy with my preschooler. The newest addition to my family will be celebrating his first Easter but not quite ready to decorate any eggs. There’s so much excitement leading up to this wonderful holiday. From planning or attending Easter egg hunts to creating unique crafts, there is always something fun to do.

Sure, it would be easy to buy one of those coloring kits from your local craft store. Fortunately, there are so many unique ways to decorate eggs. Many look amazing and intricate but not practical when you’re trying to execute it with young kids. I was on a mission to find ways to decorate eggs without a huge mess and easy enough for my preschooler. Furthermore, I wanted to have the option to use craft eggs (wooden or plastic) because we never eat the hard-boiled eggs. I was able to find 6 easy Easter egg decorating ideas that will work with either hard-boiled or craft eggs.

Please note: Paint is not safe to consume, so if you peel your eggs and notice any color on them, do not eat them.

Washi Tape

Supplies: hard-boiled or wooden eggs, washi tape (various colors & patterns), scissors

Use small scissors to cut the washi tape into different shapes or lengths. Place the different shapes or strips around the egg at random, in whatever pattern you prefer. Continue this process until you are happy with the results.

Temporary Tattoos

Supplies: temporary tattoos (variety), hard-boiled or craft eggs, sponge

Use a small design for regular-sized eggs so that it will apply smoothly to the eggs. My preschooler loves Spiderman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so he was excited to use the tattoos for his eggs. Peel the plastic from the tattoo and place design on the egg. Apply a wet (not soaked) sponge on the back for 20-30 seconds with light pressure. Remove the backing and let dry.

Bubble Wrap

Supplies: bubble wrap, hard-boiled or craft eggs, acrylic paint (variety), foam brush

Bubble wrap is one of the best ways to add a unique print to your eggs. Simply add a drop of paint to the bubble wrap. Use the foam brush to spread the paint all over to lightly coat it. Finally, roll the egg across the surface to create a cool design.

Paint in a Bag

Supplies: liquid paint (acrylic or tempera), eggs (wood, paper or hard-boiled), gallon slider storage bag, disposable gloves (optional)

Start by opening a storage bag then squeezing some paint inside. Place at least two eggs inside of the bag (one if using hard-boiled egg) then seal. Just shake it up for a few seconds. Use the disposable gloves to remove the egg(s) or dump them on a drying rack.

Baking Soda

Supplies: baking soda, vinegar, powdered tempera paint, tongs, plastic storage containers with lid (4 fl oz) for each paint color, hard-boiled or plastic eggs

Pour some baking soda so that the bottom of the container is covered. Next, add in a tablespoon of powdered tempera paint. Mix until the paint and baking soda are thoroughly combined. Gently place a hard-boiled or plastic egg into the container with the baking soda and paint. I poured some vinegar in a small cup and then gave it to my preschooler. Slowly pour the vinegar into the container. If you are using a plastic egg, hold the egg down with a plastic spoon or finger so the mixture can coat it. Finally, remove the eggs with some tongs and place them in an egg carton or on a rack to dry.

Rice and Dye

Supplies: plastic storage containers with lid (4 fl oz) for each color, long-grain rice, food coloring (gel), hard-boiled or craft eggs, disposable gloves or tongs

Start by measuring 1/4 cup of rice and pour it into a plastic storage container. Next, add 5-6 drops of food coloring to rice. Next, put a lid on and shake to mix thoroughly. Add egg to bowl then cover and shake. Finally, use gloves or tongs to remove the egg and let dry.