Easter Basket Ideas

Ann's Easter Basket

Easter Baskets don't have to be big and elaborate, just fun. Our two older grandchildren are too old for Easter Baskets but they have a little three year old brother just getting into the fun so this year I made this basket for him to find and then to share which he loves to do with his sister and brother.

Here I have filled this homemade basket with mostly homemade items, beanbag balls made from balloons and rice (used the left over balloons for the grass), noise makers that I noticed the three year old really had fun with at Christmas purchased for $1 for 8. I added a Pez with one package of refills opened and scattered throughout and backed the whole thing with two giant padded Easter Eggs I made from scraps of fabric and cardboard.

Wrapped the whole thing with plastic wrap and it is ready for the Easter Bunny to deliver. Total cost around $10 for the whole thing and the fun they will have priceless!

By Ann from Loup City, NE

Editor's Note: Here is a link to the directions how to make the basket and the beanbag balls:

• Craft Project: Easter Egg Gathering Basket

• Craft Project: Beanbag Balls

Milk Jug Easter Basket

I rinse and cut our plastic milk jugs in half. I cut them above the label. Then I cut a piece off and tie it to the little basket. They are really cute.

I poke holes in the basket and the little handle and then tie it with yarn. I have not decided how I am going to decorate this one as of yet. I thought of using buttons on each side, but I decided that would be too much for the baskets, kind of overkill.

I might let my daughter decorate them with duct tape.

By Robyn

Samples for Easter Baskets

Little kids like little things-so use your samples and hotel size toiletries that you don't want as Easter basket fillers. Just make sure the kids are old enough to know what they are.

By Linda

Easter Basket Items

When making Easter baskets, keep in mind such things as colorful pencils, fancy erasers, sugar free candies, cute little stuffed animals, flavored lip balm or gloss, crayons, colored pencils, modeling clay or Play-dough (or make your own).

My sister, for years, has raved over the great items I've give her children in their Easter baskets (things she'd never thought of). She said the what she likes best of the things I send are because they don't rot her kids' teeth.

By Terri

Summer Hat for Easter Basket

Here's an Easter tip. When my children were babies, instead of Easter baskets, we picked out a cute summer hat and used it as a basket instead. We put little things in it a baby could use, like a small bottle of juice, a teething toy, a small book, etc.

When my second child, a son, was a baby, we gave both of our kids sunglasses for Easter. They looked so cute, so we took their picture, and it's one of my favorite family pictures. My son looked so cute in his hat and sunglasses!

By Marie from Idaho Falls, ID

Easter Basket Idea with a Shoe Box

Get a shoe box, take a ice pick or screwdriver and put holes on all sides of the box. Get a roll of toilet tissue, put it between your fingers, pinch it in the middle of the tissue and roll it with your fingers, stick it into each hole and you have a beautiful basket for decoration. I use Scott single roll with different colors.

By MaryEllen from Weekie Wachee, FL

Easter Basket Ideas

Here are some good thrifty Easter basket ideas that are healthy and fun. Post your own ideas here!

Usable Containers Instead Of Baskets

Instead of using regular baskets, we like to use things the kids can play with later. For younger children, we have used plastic pail and shovel sets, grocery carts, wagons, etc. For the older kids, we have used hats, bandanas tied to sticks to make "hobo" baskets, purses, teapots found at yard sales or flea markets for a daughter who collects them, the possibilities are endless.

The contents vary from year to year, but they always include bubbles (yes, even the grown-ups get them and probably have more fun than the kids do lol), toothbrushes and toothpaste and some type of religious symbol so that they remember why we are celebrating. The dollar stores have several to choose from, including guardian angel pins, crosses, statues, bookmarks, bibles, nightlights, magnets, etc. We will round this out with freebies that I have gotten mostly from the net and have been saving up.

When we lived near the beach, we got a wading pool and filled it up with floaties and beach toys and had each childs "basket" wrapped in a beach towel. This year, since we own our first home, we are going with a gardening theme, we found seeds 10 for $1 at the dollar store, straw hats $1 each, and little trowel and spade sets also $1 each. Use your imagination, the possibilities are endless. Hope this helps.

Non-Candy Ideas For Baskets

Here are a few things I am planning on putting in Easter baskets, or have included in the past:

• flashlights
• yo-yos
• seed packets
• McDonald's gift certificates
• gel pens
• construction paper
• glitter
• birdfeeder kits ($3 each at local farm supply store); I am including a bird sticker book to go with the birdfeeder kit.
• Dover thrift books - all kinds, from stickers/coloring books to children's literature, each only $1
• dollar store beaded jewelry
• nail polish
• dollar store perfume
• homemade trail mix
• frisbees
• peat pots with seeds
• film
• card decks
• stickers (I've printed some from the internet)
• mini photo albums
• pocket calendars
• change purse
• fancy-edged scissors
• sunglasses
• book of magic tricks
• plastic dinos
• travel games

We only include a piece or two of candy, maybe a small bag of Easter M&M's, but do include healthy snacks, like granola, nuts, sunflower seeds, etc.

Last year, I made gardening baskets for each child, packaged in containers for growing their seeds; another year, I used yard sale backpacks (in unused condition!) and filled with inexpensive camping-type items, like a flashlight, bug jar (from the dollar store), inexpensive field guides, notebook, magnifying glass, bandanna, etc., and included a note explaining that we would be going on a camping vacation. You could do the same thing with beach gear, and include a coupon good for a day at the beach; sunscreen, visor, sunglasses, beach pail with shovel, notebook with pen, roll of quarters for the boardwalk games, etc., or even get a cheap suitcase from the thrift store and fill with small travel items for a planned vacation later in the summer.

I LOVE themed gifts, partly because they are so much fun to put together, they can be done relatively inexpensively but look like they cost more, and the kids really seem to get a kick out of them!

By one_ramp

Start Shopping Early

It wouldn't be Easter without some of the typical Easter candy so our kids get some jelly beans, chocolate, eggs and such; but then I put some toys and perhaps even a new summer shorts outfit or bathing suit. I start shopping for the Easter baskets right after Christmas, when everything is on sale!

By Debbie52

Little Cook Basket

My children always want to help me cook, so I found a bright colorful apron (child sized) and wrote their name on the front and my kids loved them!

By Julie

Make Baskets For Year After Year

I had made a basket for a niece one year and someone at work saw it. Now I get orders every year. I make baskets that can be used year after year. I do not like to put a lot of candy so I go for things like bubbles, crayons, coloring books, play dough, jacks, jump ropes, action figures, things for the girls' hair, etc. Maybe a stuffed bunny or a chick, I try to get an idea of the child's age, favorite colors, etc.

By Missy

Carrot Candy Idea

A quick and easy Easter basket idea. Take the Wilton icing bags and fill them with orange candy or any candy, twist tie the top and glue green raffia strips to the top. An instant giant carrot!

Color Coordinate Baskets

I have four girls so I bought everyone the same thing but different colors. I went to a local store and got them little things for their hair, body glitter, playdoh, playdoh cutters. In target, they have a $1 section as well that has stickers, notebooks, pencils and pens. I might add a little stuffed animal and some candy.

By Vaden

Get Toys On Ebay

I've found Beanie Babies that are really cheap on ebay that are great for a cute Easter Basket.

By Kendra

Continuing Easter Traditions

When I was younger, my mom always made Easter baskets for my brother and I. They were usually filled with the things mentioned above. Last year was the first year I didn't get a basket and I was pretty bummed. So this year, my boyfriend and I are exchanging baskets and I am making baskets for my goddaughters. I have found some amazingly cute picture frames, fake tatoos and stickers at the dollar store, and some fun bouncy balls, handheld games, and plastic cups at Wal*Mart.

My mom always bought that fizzly grape juice stuff from Welches that looks like champagne but isn't and a special cup each year to drink it in, so I plan on continuing that tradition. I got adorable rainbow cups for the little girls. For my boyfriend, I got a mug that goes in the freezer and gets extra cold so you don't need to put ice in it ever. I also made home made cards with Easter stickers so they can tell their baskets apart.

By Melissa

Fill Easter baskets With Needed Things

I have 4 children and have always made my own baskets for them with things they need. For my 3 older boys, I have used a backpack instead of a basket and filled it with sports things (shin pads, baseballs, baseball gloves, hats, socks, soccer balls, footballs, water bottles, even cleats!) Hey, it is baseball and soccer season and football is right around the corner. You will have to scramble and buy the things anyhow, the kids love it more. And you aren't just running out before the first practice to get cleats that are unappreciated, etc.

I do a similar idea for my two year old. Last year, I used a dump truck and filled it with little things. Also summer is coming, Summer camp is pricey. Last year, I registered them for Patriot "Matt Light" camp and put a computer certificate in their basket. Face it, you pay for it all anyhow so gather up as much as you can and wrap it up. :)

By Kathy

Use Same Basket Every Year

We use the same basket every year, I like to wrap them with netting and place a big bow on them. Items I have included have been movies, CD's, socks, makeup, doll clothes, barbies, backyard toys, books, videos, computer games and cell phone accesories. I always include a chocolate bunny as that was a family tradition for me. The big one for this year is scrapbook supplies. Arts and craft items, picture frames, throw away cameras and tiny photo albums. Oh this is so fun! Happy Easter!

By Grbll

Hide Baskets For Easter Hunt In Morning

My mom always hides our baskets. In the morning, we always have to hunt for them around the house. She tells us if we are hot or cold if it takes too long to find them.

By Kelsie

Paper Mache Eggs

I am planning on making paper mache eggs and then using decoupage on them. I will be making them for young and old alike. I may even fill a few with treats. I reuse wicker baskets that I have collected over the course of the year, most I get back for refills. Use shredded tissue paper or comics for grass. I add little things like buttons (the kind that say something) and jewelry (like beaded chains or earrings that I make).

If the children are young, small toys can go in the baskets; like jacks, jumpropes, marbles and balls. My favorite thing in my baskets when I was a child was a stuffed bunny. I kept one of them until I was in my late 20's, lost Mr Bunny in a move, he was ratty but deeply loved. Have fun!

By kcohenvt

Paper Mache Eggs Project

Ingredients:

• Flour
• water
• paper cut or torn into strips (newspaper, fancy linen paper, tissue paper)
• Form for egg (plastic egg, styrofoam egg, balled up newspaper, small balloon that is shaped like an egg.

Optional:

• paint
• sealer

Directions:

Paste: Use 3 parts water to one part flour. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Dip each piece of paper in the paste. Apply the paper, on layer at a time.

Let dry thoroughly. Paint if you want to and seal.

To make eggs or ornaments, get a plastic egg and apply paper mache to each side of the egg, leaving the lip where the two sides connect clean. Don't apply the paper mache or paste to this part so you can connect the two sides together.

Finish both sides with paint and sealer. Once that is dry you can put the two sides together.

The possibilities are endless. You can also ball up newspaper in the shape of an egg and paper mache the ball, use a styrofoam egg or a balloon that is egg shaped.