Make your own Easter basket

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Image courtesy of Grandparents.com

This craft has been popular among school kids for decades. Maybe the one you made is still in your parents' attic! And as a bonus, you're recycling an empty container.

What you'll need:

• 1-gallon milk jug
• scissors
• white cotton balls
• glue
• pink felt
• black pipe cleaners cut in half
• large wiggly eyes or black buttons for eyes

What you'll do:

1. Cut the top of the jug off to create the opening at the top of the basket.
2. Glue cotton balls all over the outside of the jug.
3. Cut long bunny ears out of pink felt and glue cotton balls around the edges of the felt. Adhere the ears onto the jug.
4. Cut out and glue on an upside-down triangle (or circle) made of pink felt for the nose.
5. Add three pipe cleaners to each side of the nose for whiskers.
6. Glue on wiggly eyes (or black buttons).
7. Add Easter grass and treats!
8. Kids can carry the basket by using the jug handle.

Make this basket one week before Easter, and you'll be rewarded with living Easter grass!

What you'll need:

• half-gallon cardboard milk or juice carton, cut in half
• acrylic paint
• poster board
• brad fasteners
• potting soil
• rye grass seed
• water
• large freezer bag

What you'll do:

1. Paint the outside of the carton as desired.
2. Make a handle with poster board and attach with brads.
3. Add potting soil until the basket is about three-quarters full.
4. Sprinkle plenty of grass seed over the soil and water.
5. Place the basket into the baggie and place on a sunny window sill.
6. Keep the soil moist, but don't drench it.
7. When the grass begins to sprout (about two to three days), remove the basket from the baggie, add treats and enjoy. After Easter, plant the grass outdoors.

This simple project requires no sharp tools or hot glue so it's ideal for the youngest crafters.

What you'll need:

• plastic sandbox pail
• sandpaper
• craft foam shapes

What you'll do:

1. Lightly sand the pail with sandpaper, then wipe away the dust.
2. Apply peel-and-stick foam eggs, chicks, bunnies and flowers.
3. Add goody-filled plastic eggs and some Easter grass, and you're all set!

More about Easter

Best books about Easter for kids
Easter party games for kids
Candy-free Easter basket alternatives