Easter falls on April 20 this year.
Keep Easter traditions with these alternatives to eggs
Here are some ways to get creative this Easter, that are cheaper than eggs and just as fun to decorate.
One day egg prices are up, then another they’re down, regardless, everyone seems to be talking about them ahead of a pricey Easter holiday.
Wholesale egg prices are on the downswing after reaching a high in February, but shoppers won’t see those lowered prices reflected in grocery stores immediately. With Easter right around the corner, some egg-dyeing tradition-lovers may not be able to wait.
For those already struggling to keep up with growing grocery bills, the idea of using a $6 carton of eggs for crafts may be hard to stomach. That’s why this year, some frugal families may turn to “eggternatives” to keep the custom alive.
Looking to get creative this Easter? Here are some budget-friendly non-egg options that will keep things colorful.
Potatoes
They’re round, they’re edible and they’re easy to come by. The only question is, why would you NOT use potatoes instead of eggs this Easter?
Potatoes are even the perfect size for the egg scoopers that typically come in dyeing kits, especially if you grab a bag of baby potatoes. They’re also much cheaper at a only few dollars a bag, and because of their texture, require less dye to achieve a vibrant color.
The potatoes don’t need to be laboriously prepped or boiled before coloring, simply give them a good wash and use them as you would eggs. Plus, if you use food coloring, you can cook them up after your “egg” hunt as a side dish for Easter dinner.
Rocks
Want something even cheaper and easier to find than potatoes? Nothing beats a good old-fashioned rock (kids love ’em, I mean rock pets were a whole fad after all).
Not only is this option free, but it can be a fully interactive activity from start to finish. Instead of browsing aisles in the grocery store, your family can go on a pre-Easter day hunt for the perfect stones to bring home.
After searching for picture-perfect round rocks, stock up on craft supplies and buy some cheap paint and brushes from a discount store or online. This option also opens up a whole new world of creative opportunities, as you don’t need to stick to a traditional egg design or worry about delicate shells, skins or edibility.
Maybe paint a portrait of the Easter bunny, some springy flowers or a cute little chick. The possibilities are endless, and the results can be used as decorations all year long.
Plastic eggs
Plastic eggs are fairly common in the world of Easter egg hunts. Community organizers and savvy parents like them because they’re easy to handle, can be filled with treats and they they can’t go bad and stink up the house when you forget where you hid one.
You can get a bag filled with dozens from discount stores and have eggs to last you for many Easters to come. Some people like to put chocolates, toys, coins and other treats inside the ones that can be split in half for extra fun.
Like rocks, plastic eggs don’t pose the issue of needing to remain edible or being delicate, so you can use your favorite crafting materials of choice, from paints and markers to glue, glitter, stickers and more.
Disclaimer: If you’re going to use plastic eggs for an egg hunt outdoors, be sure to clean up thoroughly afterward. The Easter bunny doesn’t like a litterbug!
Marshmallows
Everyone loves a Peep in their Easter basket, so why wouldn’t they love one at their crafting table?
Quinisential egg coloring kit brand PAAS shared a step-by-step guide for dyeing marshmallows on their Instagram this year, and all you need is one bag of large marshmallows, a coloring kit (preferably PAAS brand, of course), some water, paper towels or a drying rack and some optional vinegar if you’re aiming for deeper color hues.
After mixing up your colors, simply do your thing like you would with eggs. PAAS suggests dipping the marshmallows one section at a time to create a colorful layered effect and using a spoon or toothpick to keep hands clean.
Let dry for 30 minutes and boom! You have festive treats for Easter baskets, hot cocoa or snacking.
See a full tutorial on the PAAS Instagram page.
Get crafty with coffee filters, pasta, or clay
Looking for a craft that goes a step beyond dyeing and coloring? There are plenty of options to level up your Easter decorating game.
The ever-creative PAAS suggests using coffee filters, pipe cleaners and one of their dyeing kits to make butterflies or even flowers. To make a butterfly, spray coloring on the filters and let them dry, then fold the filters accordion style, put two together and finally tie a pipe cleaner around the middle to make the insect’s antlers.
A full tutorial can be found on the PAAS Instagram account.
If you’re looking for something you already have in your kitchen, reach for some dry pasta. Rigatoni and any kind with a hole in the middle will work, as you’ll need to pull a string through it. Using a PAAS egg dyeing kit, color the pasta pieces as desired and then stack them on a string to create vibrant DIY jewelry.
Again, a full tutorial can be found on the PAAS Instagram account.
Another use for a PAAS egg dyeing kit includes making your own Play-Doh-style colored clay. Place a lump of premade or made-at-home clay in a plastic bag with the prepared dye, knead the color in and now you’ve created the perfect base to craft whatever your heart desires.
In the PAAS Instagram tutorial, the creator made an adorable happy caterpillar. The clay be used to create a bunny, another happy critter or even an egg, the possibilities are only as limited as your imagination.
