Turn inexpensive plastic dollar-store eggs into beautiful hand-painted Easter decorations using acrylic paints and a bit of imagination. This simple, rewarding craft is perfect for kids and adults alike — display the finished eggs in a vase or basket, or use them to dress up your Easter table.
I’m excited to share this easy Easter egg project! We painted ordinary plastic eggs—the kind you find at dollar stores—to look like handcrafted, painted eggs.
Painting plastic eggs was something I hadn’t tried until recently, after we had so much fun decorating painted beach stones. That inspired me to look around for other inexpensive items to transform into festive eggs. We always have a stash of plastic eggs for Easter activities, so it felt natural to give them a new life with paint.
Yes — you can paint dollar store plastic eggs
We were thrilled with the results. The eggs looked gorgeous, and the kids loved the process. This is a wonderful, budget-friendly way to decorate eggs without using real ones — perfect if you have lots of plastic eggs on hand.
We tried soft pastels with delicate squiggles, dots and zigzags, and we also experimented with bold, bright bases dabbed with a contrasting color using a sponge. Both approaches produced lovely results and are easy to achieve.
Note: This post originally included affiliate links.
Supplies
- Plastic Easter eggs
- Gesso or other primer for plastic
- Acrylic craft paints
- Acrylic sealer or varnish
- Paint brushes (including a fine liner brush)
- Wooden skewers
You don’t need fancy tools or special skills. Simple patterns like stripes, dots and squiggles look lovely, and sponge-dabbing a contrasting color on a bold base creates pleasing texture.
How to Paint Plastic Easter Eggs
-
Skewer your egg
Insert a wooden skewer into one of the egg’s holes so you can paint without touching the surface and so the egg can stand upright while it dries.
-
Prime the surface
Apply a coat of gesso or a plastic-appropriate primer so the paint adheres better. Let it dry completely before painting — a hairdryer can speed drying time.
-
Apply a base coat
Brush on a layer of acrylic paint for the base color. If needed, apply a second coat after the first has dried for even coverage.
-
Decorate
Use a fine liner brush for lines and small details. For dots, dip the blunt end of a brush handle into paint and press onto the egg. Place the skewered egg upright in a container to dry fully before varnishing.
-
Seal with varnish
Once completely dry, brush on a clear acrylic varnish to add shine and protect the paint from chipping or scratching.
To display your finished eggs, leave them on the skewers and arrange them in a vase, or remove the skewers and place the eggs in a basket, a homemade paper-bag nest, or a clean egg carton for a charming presentation.
More Easter crafts for kids
Creative, one-of-a-kind ways to dye eggs and other easy Easter craft ideas make great companions to this project. Try a variety of techniques to keep crafting fresh and fun for little hands and older kids alike.
Get the 3-5 Playful Preschool e-Book!
A collection of 25+ preschool activities with printables and curated links — a helpful resource for parents and teachers.
Download your copy today
