Three Things : Easter

Easterthreethings


Starting to think ahead and do some planning for Easter baskets. Looking for fun, colorful additions that are not necessarily all about candy. Here's three things so far:


Pack Your Bags : This year I am planning to skip the basket and go with a more fun +  functional suitcase (will be used to carry goodies on the airplane for spring break). Check local thrift stores or antique stores for vintage options. Paper Source also has similar suitcase boxes available.


Something to plant together : Chris thought of this cool new tradition to bring into our home this Easter: include a couple of packets of seeds (vegetables or flowers) as an activity to do together.


Customized Pencils from Sweet Papery : 25 pencils with your favorite saying or name printed right onto the pencil. Love this idea especially for a little guy who happens to love pencils. More pencils available here (through the main entry to her etsy shop).


Dottedline_3


Other goodies to include: books about Easter/spring/etc, toothbrush + mini toothpaste (a classic addition), and felted eggs (I really want to try to make some of these).


Speaking of Easter, Martha has a great selection of Easter crafts on her site. I also love all the ideas for dying eggs. In addition I am fond of the rubber band technique in this month's issue of Real Simple (couldn't find it online yet). Also considering trying some natural dyes this year - I liked how this person went with an overall experimental approach.


You can join in a free Easter Workshop through Martha's site here.

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50 thoughts

  1. Erin says…
    03/04/2008

    I love the colors of the suitcases....so fresh and spring-like!

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  2. man says…
    03/04/2008

    it's so nice to have someone who is planning ahead for the coming holidays, since i am still awestruck that is already march!!!
    i love your ideas for the easter baskets, but, since no kids, maybe we will make a nice easter basket for the dog!

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  3. bethwollweber says…
    03/04/2008

    Hi Ali:
    I do a similair "tradition", I buy spring plants not yet bloomed,tulip,daffodils,hyacinch etc,from the garden senter and plant them in a large basket I keep by my front door. My son mixes in a few plastic colored eggs, and a pretty spring bow. Every time the door opens you have the most wonderful smell. and after they bloom we then add them to our garden, and the usually come back one or two times.
    Thanks for the continued inspiration!!!!
    Very truly, Beth W.

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  4. alexandra says…
    03/04/2008

    Thinking about Easter feels so good - lots of fresh, fun ideas and colours. Thanks for the inspiration!
    A.

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  5. Roxi says…
    03/04/2008

    Ali...It was a pleasure to meet you at CHA. I was the one who is from OR, but is living in TN (temporarily), and gets such pleasure from reading about things from back home i.e. the dunes, Saturday market, Oregon politics, Country Faire, etc. Anyway...that's not what this post is about. You gotta make naturally dyed eggs with Simon...I'll post instructions on my blog...www.roxiscreativejuice.com

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  6. angie says…
    03/04/2008

    Ali,
    If you start this week, plant real green grass or wheat seed and have natural grass in your baskets.
    We used some natural dyes when I was growing up. My mom would save the onion peels from yellow and red onions and boil a few eggs in it for a different look.
    Can't wait to read what others post. We love the non candy options also.

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  7. Donna Bettencourt says…
    03/04/2008

    That reminds me of when my kids were little we went to the grocery store and gathered up all the brown onion skins from the bottom of the onion bin. Then we boiled them and tossed in our eggs, that gives a nice terra cotta brown dye. You can lay a fern leaf or other on the egg and wrap some pantyhose around them first and keep it on with a rubber band and get an imprint of a natural leaf or feather too. I still have some of them, we didn't blow them out just kept them intact. A few have exploded over the years, phew! but there are a couple left after almost 30 years.......must photo graph them. Have fun!
    Donna

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  8. Nicky Anderson says…
    03/04/2008

    I agree, we try wholeheartedly to do more fun and different gifts - especially some great books. I love the little suitcase idea - what a great idea for a trip.
    Hope your family is all back to good health!!

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  9. Nicky Anderson says…
    03/04/2008

    PS - and we always do the plants with Brody - Simon will love it. Brody also has his own little set of garden tools and loves to help me plant all of the planters and tomatoes!!

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  10. Chantel says…
    03/04/2008

    I love the idea of the seeds to plant together! I am totally doing that this year, we did plant some wild flowers last year and tomatoes also but including it in our easter celebration is a perfect thought for rebirth. Thanks for sharing!

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  11. traci says…
    03/04/2008

    i ♥ those suitcases. trying to find a reason to buy them!!
    i also ♥ martha stewart crafts. i always find myself trying to do them all!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. michellejeanne says…
    03/04/2008

    Love the eggs - some years we use food coloring, some years natural. Blueberries, cranberries, coffee, cabbage, tumeric. My girls aren't so interested in the browns, but they are beautiful. Have fun!

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  13. Casey says…
    03/04/2008

    My two kids get flower seeds every year to add to the garden. It's especially fun to plant ones that will self sow; when they pop up the following spring, the kids get a kick out of seeing the yellow nasturtiums from two Easter's ago.

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  14. Stefanie says…
    03/04/2008

    We have done the same thing with our 8 and 5 year olds...dumped the "candy baskets" long ago and instead try to find other things the Easter bunny might bring. Target has a great line of kids gardening tools, etc., and those together with some seed packets work great (and maybe a cool hat to keep the sun off while gardening). We have also done a basket of swim/beach stuff, as we live in CA and Easter/spring means it's almost time to start enjoying the pool and beach again.
    Have a Blessed Easter.

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  15. susan lyons says…
    03/04/2008

    HI Ali,
    I have done the natural egg dying and the colors are so vibrant! Especially if you use beets and blueberries. A few crafty friends and I did an Easter exchange for a couple years. We each made something homemade for the everyone and swapped. The kids baskets were filled with homemade treats and other fun things. Once year I made hand made soap in jelly bean molds and filled bags with them. They were so cute and the kids loved to use them in the bath.
    Happy Spring!

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  16. sally says…
    03/04/2008

    Fantastic ideas and links!! Thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Cami says…
    03/04/2008

    When my girls were little, I would buy shampoo in the cute character bottles. A special treat that would last a while.

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  18. noell says…
    03/04/2008

    We'll be planting, too. I'm taking my kids to the nursery to let them each pick out a plant that will be theirs to take care of. So far I've killed every plant we've gotten but this year I'm going to do some research. =)

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  19. CarolynE says…
    03/04/2008

    i'm working on this years now too and i love the seed and personalized pencil idea!, my little guy loves pencils too! so far i've got a new game for his basket(we love game night!)
    last year the easter bunny brought various arts and crafts, he jumped up and down, he just loved it! he especially loved the model boat that he got to put together with his daddy!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  20. sue Treiber says…
    03/04/2008

    thanks for pooling all these great ideas into one place for us.

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  21. Jill says…
    03/04/2008

    I also try to stay away from the basket full of candy. My daughter's gotten various things over the years, but one standard is a new pair of spring/summer jammies. This year, she's also getting a swimsuit (although it will be a couple more months before she gets to wear it here in SD), an Easter book and some spring-related stickers. She LOVES stickers!
    To put it all in: I found a bucket at Walmart much like these (http://www.landofnod.com/family.aspx?c=106&f=113) through the same place you got your suitcases from (I might have to steal that idea for next year!!). I thought it was better than a 'traditional' basket as I can totally see her carting this bucket around after Easter holding crayons, trickets or toys.

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  22. gina says…
    03/04/2008

    wonderful ideas - I love the pencils - we are really into learning to write right now. I think an electric pencil sharpener is in order! I also love the seeds - will definitely be doing that too. I usually put sunglasses, sidewalk chalk, toothbrushes and paste, underwear (really!), AND hardly any candy :)

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  23. Jennie says…
    03/04/2008

    love the seeds idea! we always plant a huge garden in the spring that ryan loves to help out with, so maybe he'll get his own little "herb" garden this year! my mom and i have a "planting" tradition for Mother's Day every year...something just for us, which is a nice change sometimes. :-)

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  24. Debbie says…
    03/04/2008

    Hey Ali!
    I just have to say that I JUST LOVE YOUR CREATIVE SELF. I haven't read your blog in about a week and I'm back today feeling like I've missed so much and leave feeling totally inspired. Thanks for sharing so many of your ideas and details. You make me a better creative person! Thanks!

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  25. jazyjen says…
    03/04/2008

    I love your great ideas. we also got away from candy. We do bubbles, sidewalk chalk. but this year my 3 kids are getting a group gift from the easter bunnie. A kit to watch butterflies hatch from their caccons!How cool is that.Then we will relaease them into our garden.Happy spring.

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