Decorating Easter eggs is fun for both children and adults

Simple tips for dyeing eggs that even the adults will enjoy. ~ The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- It's an annual ritual that countless children look forward to: dyeing Easter eggs. But maybe there's a little room to change the tradition ever so slightly.

The March issue of FamilyFun magazine offers simple-yet-artistic techniques for decorating eggs -- and probably some you've never thought of before. Here's a few ideas for how to make your baskets look brighter this year:

* Bubble packaging. Take the packing material and paint the dots with acrylic paint, then roll an egg over the paint, holding it by the ends. Let the paint dry, then repeat with another color, if you'd like. You could do the same thing with painted aluminum foil or light bulb sleeves for interesting textured looks.

* Rubber bands. Wrap an egg with rubber bands before placing it in a container of dye. Remove it went it reaches a shade you like, let it dry, then remove the rubber bands. Or, to give the egg a few different shades, take off only some of the bands before dyeing the egg in another color. The same technique works with string.

* Thumbprints. Fingertips coated with paint can be the perfect template for pictures of little animals or faces. Pour a bit of acrylic paint onto a paper plate. Dip your thumb or finger into the paint, dab off any excess, then press it against the egg. Let the paint dry completely before adding details, such as hair or a tail, with a fine-point permanent marker. Paper towel tubes cut into rings make great drying stands.