Put an end to the kids’ Easter-holiday whinge, ‘Mum, I’m bored’, by involving them in making festive decorations. They can help put sticky dots and strips of tape on the hard-boiled eggs as well as dip them into diluted food colouring. Displayed in a clear glass bowl, the eggs look almost too lovely to eat.

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Pop your dyed eggs into baskets or small containers filled with wheat grass (from juice bars, greengrocers or organic food stores) or artificial grass, or similar, then arrange them on your sideboard or table.

Arrange a row of eggcups along the centre of your table for an attractive centrepiece. Or, put an eggcup at each place setting.

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Nestle two or three dyed eggs in nests made of woven-grass or dried sphagnum moss. Sit the nests on a rustic tray for a quaint nature-inspired theme. Alternatively, shop around for suitable baskets. Then, onto a bed of wheat grass, place a few of the decorated eggs. This is a sweet gift idea for your child’s teacher or a neighbour.

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Pile brightly coloured eggs in a shallow white bowl so your guests can enjoy them.

Egg-dyeing tips

* Cover your work area with paper towel or newspaper. Buy a pack of Queen Rainbow Food Colours (from supermarkets) containing drop-control vials of blue, red, yellow and green. Refer to the colour-blending chart on the back of the pack for creating other shades.
- Mix one teaspoon white vinegar and 20 drops food colouring in one cup boiling water. Use a heatproof container deep enough to cover an egg.
- To create different tints, vary the dipping time.
- For light shades, put the egg in the dye mixture for up to five minutes. For deeper colours, submerge for 10 minutes or more.
- For a two-toned egg, first dye the egg a light shade. Allow to dry for 15 minutes. Position the stickers, then dip the egg into a darker colour.