Batik eggs are an ideal craft at Easter time. Even young children can make these with help, and no matter what your age, you’ll be delighted with the result.
- fresh raw eggs (see note)
- hot water
- candle
- spoon
- scissors
- pin crepe paper (assorted colours)
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- matches
- bowl
- To make the dye, cut strips of crêpe paper about 2cm (¾-inch) wide. Separate colours into different bowls. Adult: cover crêpe paper with hot water to release the dye.
- Remove crêpe paper from dye with a spoon. Add white vinegar to set dye. Allow dye to cool.
- Adult: eggs are decorated with several applications of wax and dye. Start with the lightest colour and work to the darkest. If you wish to leave any sections of the eggshell surface its natural colour, drip candle wax onto that area. Dip the egg in the lightest dye (yellow, perhaps). It may take a few minutes to reach the desired colour. Dry with a tissue. Adult: drip wax onto the sections you want to keep yellow. Dip egg in the darker dye, until it is the desired colour then dry with a tissue. Repeat the process until you have used all the desired colours.
- Adult: to remove the wax, place eggs on a tray in a preheated oven to 180°C/350°F. When the wax has melted (about 2 minutes), wipe dry with a tissue.
NOTE: We ‘blew’ raw eggs by making a small hole with a pin in both ends of each egg and blowing out the contents (it takes a bit of a puff!). This way the yolks and whites can be used in cooking. The blown egg is quite fragile.
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Extract from AWW The Best of Children’s Arts & Crafts
Photography: AWW Cookbooks
RRP $19.99
Published by Australian Women’s Weekly
Distributed by Bookreps.co.nz
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