Lithuanian easter eggs are a part of Vida Urbonas' family traditions, going back for centuries. Now she's passing them down onto you.
To make them, you'll need:
- Beeswax
- Small tin, like a candy can
- Round baking pan
- Round burner (or you can use a stove burner on low)
- Hard-boiled eggs at room temperature
- Dye kit with color cups and egg dippers
- Pencil, with a pin that has a large head pushed into the eraser
- Patience. You'll need it.
And a couple of warnings before we begin.
- This is hot wax. It can burn. Do not use around small children and be aware it can spill or its droplets can burn you.
- Do not eat the eggs if you have them and store them at room temperature
First, make the dye according to the directions.
Then heat the beeswax on low, and be careful not to burn it. But know that the longer the beeswax stays on the burner, the darker the color gets.
Dip the pin-end of your pencil into the wax once its heated, making sure the pin gets hot. Put the pin on the area you want, dragging it to make lines or pressing it to make dots.
Decorate until you're satisfied. Then, dip it into the dye.
When you take it out of the dye, dry it off with a paper towel. You can leave the beeswax on the egg or take it off with your fingernail to see the white color underneath.
If you don't want white, you can mix it up by pre-dying the egg before adding your beeswax design.
You don't have to throw them out once Easter is over. The hard-boiled eggs will dry out inside over time and can be kept for years
Just make sure they don't get cracks, because then they'll start smelling.