7 Ways To Repurpose Leftover Easter Egg Dye

Dyeing Easter eggs is a fun, albeit messy, family tradition. For those who partake in annual egg dyeing, gathering the supplies is akin to seeing new sprouts peek through the bare winter ground — it's a sure sign spring is finally on its way. Whether you create ornately decorated eggs fit for a lavish, nature-themed holiday tabletop display or you're dyeing eggs with your toddler, you will likely encounter the same question: What should you do with the leftover dye?

This is an especially vexing question for Easter eggs since it usually involves several different colors to create those bright, vibrant eggs to celebrate the season. Not only that, but Easter egg dye is often mixed with vinegar to help the dye adhere to the shell, so you have to consider what projects will be suitable for the leftover dye and vinegar mix. While it is generally safe to dispose of down the sink and common dyes are safe for both sewer and septic systems, it's nevertheless sad to say goodbye to all that gorgeous leftover dye. Instead of laying your Easter egg dye to waste, why not put it to good use with other household projects? Here are seven ideas for repurposing leftover Easter egg dye.

Rice paper makes the perfect recipient for all that leftover dye. Simplifying the Japanese technique of folding and dyeing paper, called Orizomegami, fold your rice paper in any way you would like to try, then dip the folded paper in a few colors and lie them on a rack to dry. Once totally dry, unfold your paper to see your creation. Repeat the process if you want, and carefully iron out your paper using the cotton setting. Use your one-of-a-kind rice paper for other craft projects throughout the year. 

There are countless ways to use clothes pins around your home and garden, so why not give those simple staples a little zhuzh? Dyeing a set of plain wooden clothespins using leftover egg dye will add a fun touch of color to all your future projects. Wood takes the pigment from the Easter egg dye exceptionally well, so it will also work with other small wood craft pieces, like Dollar Tree's wooden bead wreaths and small decorative boxes.

Burlap gives any DIY a rustic feel, but its plain brown color can feel a bit drab when overdone. Enter leftover Easter egg dye. Just give the burlap a nice, warm presoak to help it absorb the color. Those pretty egg dye colors will brighten any burlap project and add a warm, springy feel to those shabby chic DIYs.

Egg shells aren't the only shells worth dyeing! Sea shells also take to Easter egg dye incredibly well. You can create a rainbow of sea shells for unique embellishments on your latest craft projects. Dye your sea shells to match your nautical bathroom theme and display them in a jar, use them as a colorful and creative vase filler, or create an artful shell shadow box to hang on the wall.

We love decor that gives a nod to meaningful parts of life — like sheet music from your first dance song at your wedding, pages out of your favorite book, or a beloved family recipe. You can add a delicate touch of color to those papers using egg dye in a spritz bottle, and then frame them or create a hanging collage. Pro tip: Keep the dye's vinegar content in mind when using delicate papers, and don't risk the original copies!

"Overdye" simply means to dye something that already has a pattern or color to create an interesting, layered effect. Freshen up your craft supplies and make use of pieces that don't match your decor by overdyeing ribbon and fabric scraps with leftover egg dye. They'll be perfect to use to make a gorgeous summer wreath or to create your own beautiful bespoke decor basket.

White doilies are an elegant home accent, and dyeing them with happy, bright spring colors using leftover Easter egg dye can put a fun twist on these classic decorations. Saturate your doilies in a single color or experiment with folding and tying them off to create fun tie-dye patterns. For a rich, vibrant color, submerge the doilies in die and move them around continuously to help the color adhere evenly. You can also get a similar effect dyeing coffee filters for more temporary craft projects.