Make your Easter gift baskets more than just marshmallow bunnies and lots of chocolate in a basket! Below you will find suggestions that are easy on the budget.

Children will love

A colorful basket, decorated box or even a toy truck for the base, or a great basket they can use later in their room. First add shiny shred and their favorite chocolate Easter candy. The addition of granola bars, rice crispy squares or a healthy snack of raisins and nuts are great fillers. Don’t forget the fuzzy chickens or bunnies. There are wonderful ceramic bunnies and chickens on the market and this addition will become a keep sake. For girls add new head bands, ribbons and pony tail holders. Small packages of mints, life savers and juice boxes won’t break the bank. The old stand by jacks, tennis or soft balls, wrist and head bands. Tuck in a new water bottle for summer sports. A sport book or magazine in their favorite sport. These items are easier on the pocketbook than designer chocolate bunnies.

A week before Easter, purchase egg coloring kits and let your children show their artistic side.

Grandparents

And senior friends would love a small plant in bloom, with marshmallow bunnies or chocolates tucked in. Wrap everything in colorful Easter paper or several colors of tissue paper. If you feel like baking with your children, consider a delicious square of bread pudding, all wrapped up would please any adult. Baked apple pie or custard pie divided in half and you have two gifts! Again, wrap in plastic wrap or cellophane, then colorful tissue and attach a bow. It’s the thought that counts in the season of rebirth. You can purchase a ready made nest in stores such as Michael’s. Place one of your children’s decorated eggs inside, tie with a spring color ribbon and deliver to grandmother. Have your child place a hand written note under the egg.

Remember you do not need a basket as the base to make a great gift basket!

For the man in the house

Get his favorite magazine, sports, golf, tennis, fishing etc. tuck in a chocolate bunny, roll the magazine and tie with a wide ribbon, insert shinny shred at each end.

Decorate

Your dinning room table, if you have an Easter lily or other Easter plant, place it in the center of your table inside your favorite silver dish or old glass plate. Place shinny shred around the base of the plant. Add jelly beans or chocolate eggs. Arrange with the colored eggs the children made and use glass or ceramic ornate eggs. Finish with fresh twigs of forsythia, apple blossoms or other branches from spring flowering trees in your yard. Enhance your design with fuzzy chickens or bunnies around the design. Bring out your best dishes and use them! Have your children help you polish silver or wash glass items. A fun project becomes a learning experience.

Enjoy your Easter.