Easter Basket Ideas for Everyone

Chocolate, stuffed dolls and many more goodies make for perfect additions to the traditional container. And let's not forget about the baskets themselves. They, too, can go well beyond the old-fashioned wicker.

Preparing a basket for someone other than a young child?

How about a few miniature flashlights, for the keychain or pocketbook? A gardener might enjoy a few packets of seeds. It is the beginning of Spring, after all. Everyone likes good things to eat, so throw in some packets of trail mix to balance out the chocolate. The ladies will enjoy some nail polish in a favorite color or a tiny bottle of perfume.

Kid baskets can be filled with a whole cornucopia of delightful gifts and goodies.

Underneath that plastic 'grass' it's easy to hide a book of magic tricks. Or, make a false egg top to cap off the hole, then fill it with some miniature dinosaurs. Distract them by putting a gift over to the side of a yo-yo or a deck of cards. Then watch their eyes light up when you say there is more to find.

Teens can get into the act, too.

Every teen girl will enjoy having a new color of lipstick or a nice pair of sunglasses. A new computer game on a CD or DVD will be enjoyed by either sex. Small frisbees make for great fun for teen and dog alike. A photo block can form the centerpiece of a mound that is surrounded by some fine chocolates.

Now what about making some baskets that are a little different from the norm?

A traditional wicker is decorative and can be great fun to make. But how about something made from small pine branches gathered from the forest? Soak them and bend them into shape. When they dry they'll smell great! Add some tiny pine cones around the rim and you've got a winning basket.

Modern materials can be used to great effect, as well. Hobby sites have bendable colored plastic that can be shaped into ovals or cut into rectangles. Assemble a basket with a flat bottom and just glue on the sides. If you need a little more strength, tiny braces can easily be crafted by gluing small L-shaped brackets into the bottom.

Whichever style you go for you'll want to decorate the result. There are, not surprisingly, a thousand ways to exercise your creativity on that stage of the project.

You could tie-dye some old white t-shirts using Easter colors. Cut them into long strips and wrap them around the basket base or handle. For a more modern look, get some clear cellophane-type plastic from a hobby site. Cut the plastic into heart or egg or bunny shapes. Wrap them into cones and stuff the pointed end into some plastic grass, then fill each one with a hand-colored egg.

Easter is a great time to work out all your 'craft muscles'. It also provides a great opportunity to give some small gifts for those with birthdays far away. But if you're too busy to make one don't worry. Hundreds of styles of pre-made baskets are available.

Don't wait for the end-of-the year holidays to enjoy yourself. Spring is here!