Decorating Easter Eggs with SHARPIE Markers
There's more than one way to decorate eggs for Easter
Are you looking for a new and different way to decorate those eggs for Easter? Are you bored with just the plain coloring process and the mess of color tablets, water cups, dipping and drying of the eggs? Have you ever considered using SHARPIE MARKERS? They are a really good alternative and for the most part a much cleaner way to decorate than the traditional coloring cup method if you only want to use the markers only.
This decorating idea came from my daughter-in-law. She is really talented when it comes to drawing and I loved this new method for Easter eggs. (The eggs in the picture above have been drawn on with SHARPIE markers then dipped in color.) Since being introduced to this method of egg decorating I've thought of other ways to decorate eggs with SHARPIE makers for other occasions that you want to have a 'special' egg for.
What makes SHARPIE MARKERS an even greater idea these days is because SHARPIES come in all colors from the basic primary to the more pastel colors of spring. The latter being perfect for Easter egg decorating. From all the SHARPIE markers I've seen in stores and on line, you might could say they have almost any color you would want even metallic ones!
Color or White
To save on decorating time and clean up there is always the choice of leaving your boiled eggs white. When using the Sharpie markers you can add as much or as little color as you want. Whether you choose to write, draw or both, your eggs can be a 'one of a kind' creation. Depending on the childrens ages, they can help and enjoy a new way of decorating Easter eggs. Get creative and enjoy a new way of decorating eggs for Easter.
After allowing your boiled eggs to completely cool and dry, check them for any signs of cracking. The cracked eggs shouldn't be used for decorating with the Sharpie markers in case the ink should seep into the cracks and on to the egg inside.
Not just for Easter eggs - Want to make someone feel egg-specially happy?
Why not personalize a boiled egg for them! Write on or decorate your boiled eggs for no reason at all! For lunch boxes , brunch, or any special occasion you can think of or make happen. Lots of people love boiled eggs. Would be great to decorate for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I love to draw faces on mine as you can see from the picture.
OTHER OCCASIONS FOR DECORATED EGGS
Are there other occasions you want to decorate your boiled eggs to serve? Here are 3 you might like to try.
Do you serve boiled eggs at your 4th of July dinner celebrations? Why not draw or write on them with flags and words of freedom? Let your imagination lead you and have fun!
......Thanksgiving...
Do you like to serve boiled eggs for your Thanksgiving dinner? Why not decorate your boiled eggs with drawings or even just to write THANKS on.
Christmas dinners
How about serving boiled eggs at your Christmas dinner? Decorate them with Christmas trees or just write words that relate to Christmas on them. You decide how creative you want to be and enjoy!
SHARPIE MARKERS
Permanent on most surfaces; water resistant, non-toxic
Why not mix it up? From FINE point to the MAGNUM, there's no limit to your creativity!
SHARPIE markers come in a variety of colors these days. You can also find them in fine point or wedge. You decide which is best for your project. At SHARPIES website you can find out all about the SHARPIE. You can even get them personalized in your favorite color! Great ideas for other SHARPIE projects too.
From Wikipedia.com
There are no warning labels on Sharpie markers. However, they bear the new AP (Approved Product) certification symbol of The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI). According to the organization:
The new AP (Approved Product) Seal, with or without Performance Certification, identifies art materials that are safe and that are certified in a toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems. This seal is currently replacing the previous non-toxic seals: CP (Certified Product), AP (Approved Product), and HL Health Label (Non-Toxic) over a 10-year phase-in period. Such products are certified by ACMI to be labeled in accordance with the chronic hazard labeling standard, ASTM D 4236, and the U.S. Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA)."
They are considered non-toxic for "normal uses," meaning writing on posters, soccer balls, and such. However, they are not meant for use on skin or fingernails. It might take over an ounce of ink from a Sharpie to cause a lethal reaction, and if a Sharpie is used on the skin it generally won't cause an immediate or obvious health effect. However, according to the manufacturer [6], various Sharpies contain: n-propanol, n-butanol, diacetone alcohol and cresol. The first of these, n-propanol, is commonly used in cosmetics. The other three, however, are industrial solvents, chemicals that should not be sniffed, eaten, or put on the skin. As solvents, they penetrate the skin and fingernails and can enter the bloodstream.
Magnum Sharpie, King Size Sharpie, and Touch-up Sharpie products contain xylene. The Magnum and King Size Sharpies also contain cresol. However, all other products in the Sharpie line do not contain either of these chemicals, and are considered safe under "normal use".
These chemicals are not tested for human consumption, only incidental environmental exposure. So the chemical manufacturers' technical data sheets on these chemicals are ambiguous with respect to how much should be considered a hazardous dosage, but do warn of kidney, liver, and brain damage, other nervous disorders, and DNA effects resulting in birth defects. OSHA has set permissible exposure limits (PEL) at 100ppm for n-butanol, 50ppm for diacetone alcohol, and 5ppm for cresol.
Some products that can be used to remove ink from the skin are rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol, hand sanitizer, sunscreen lotion, nail polish remover, shaving cream, and facial cleaning pads, and also toothpaste.[7] Tabasco sauce or any Vinegar based product are also particularly effective at removing the ink from skin. However, the ink wears off on its own within two days or so, since the ink is on skin cells that are constantly being shed.
Food Safety info from Sharpies
***I'VE CONTACTED SHARPIE VIA EMAIL TO ASK ABOUT FOOD SAFETY. THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND USING SHARPIES IN CONTACT WITH FOOD BECAUSE THE SHARPIES PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA TO BE SAFE.
Food safety.....my experience
My experience using Sharpie markers for my boiled eggs has been with short term use the markers have not penetrated the eggshell to affect the boiled egg.
Use your own judgement when using the Sharpie markers for decorating your eggs.
Gloves will help keep your hands and fingers clean - Permanent markers don't have to be permanent on your skin
I love my SHARPIES but I don't like to get them on my skin. So why not use gloves to avoid that happening? Great for the kids too!
Let the Fun begin with the main ingredient...the EGG!
Now that you have your SHARPIES, gloves and everything for preparing Easter eggs to decorate let's begin......
Start with FRESH eggs...making sure they have no cracks prior to cooking
The EGG came first ......
How can you tell if an egg is fresh?
Begin by placing the eggs in a bowl of cold water, making sure the water level is deeper than the eggs length.
Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom of the bowl and lie on their sides. (Eggs that float at the surface are bad and should not be consumed)
The right way to boil an egg
It's a simple process - This is how I do it.....
Have you ever had those dry, green yolks in your boiled eggs? Yuk! This video demonstrates how to achieve that perfect boiled egg for eating and decorating.
No time for boiling, coloring or decorating eggs? - Ever consider Plastic eggs ?
Check out these alternative ideas
Books about Easter Eggs
Fun Easter Items