Inexpensive (but fun and cute!) Easter basket ideas?

[mjbaby]

Just wondering what those of you who celebrate Easter put into kids' Easter baskets that's fun, cute and not too spendy. Inquiring minds want to know!

When you share, also post your kids' ages so we know where you're coming from, o.k.?

Mine are a boy (6) and a girl (3). The girl is getting in her basket:

- lacing cards, Hello Kitty notepaper (both of these from Target clearance)
- a Barbie (her first! clearance from an out of business store near us) and two outfits (Dollar Store)
- a ballerina book (brand new, bought at Goodwill)
- a new tutu (homemade)
- a couple eggs filled with pennies and nickels
- an egg with silly putty (Target clearance from last year)
- cute little spring-themed socks (Target clearance from last year)
- a jelly bean "carrot" (one of my disposable pastry bags filled with orange jelly beans, with some green Easter grass at the top for fern, and twist tied with a ribbon
- bubbles
- sidewalk chalk

My son will get:

- a small Lego kit (Target clearance)
- a small Magnetix kit (bought with Michael's 40% coupon)
- an egg with silly putty (Target clearance from last year)
- a jelly bean carrot (see above)
- a couple eggs with pennies and nickels
- bubbles
- sidewalk chalk
- a book about magnets (new, bought at a yard sale this summer)


If I'm inspired and have the time, I may make some chocolates to put in the baskets, too. I bought a chocolate mold many years ago and probably get around to making the chocolates every other year or so. I usually make caramel crosses, truffle lambs and plain chocolate flowers. Without the chocolates, I figure I've spent maybe a total of $20 on the baskets, including fabric for the tutu. If I end up making the chocolates the total will be a bit more, because I usually use good chocolate.

 

[Local_Girl]

I think your baskets sound great--perfect for kids that age! Sounds like you found some great deals too! My kids are now 13 and 10 (yes, we'll still do baskets... LOL), but we did very similar things for them at that age. The only thing I regret now is that when they were little we always included a video...now it's become a DVD or DS-type game. Now they expect to have one "big" thing in their basket every year. That has certainly jacked up the price of the basket contents! But I'm like you, I try to find good deals on everything else.

oops...forgot to add some ideas: Disney dollars, and other "take us to Disney" stuff; Easter pencils; little dollar store-type toys...I used to try and get packs of 2 things...saved $$ that way...swim toys or goggles; books.

 

[dclfun]

When my children were little I always made the little washcloth bunnies. You can usually find the pack of pastel washcloths that are very inexpensive- it only takes one washcloth per bunny. When they were tired of playing with it they then had a new washcloth. ---Kathy

 

[mjbaby]

.swim toys or goggles; books.

Ooooh..thanks for the reminder about goggles. My son definitely needs a new pair. I try to keep a couple extra bought from end-of-season clearance but we ended up giving my stash as stocking stuffers to swimmers we know at Christmas. Oh, well, they're not too expensive and I'd rather him have healthy eyes than the couple dollars I'd save by not getting them.

 

[KadysMom]

How do you make the bunny?

 

[rockyroad]

My kids are in college and we do an easter egg hunt with plastic eggs and coins. We've been doing it for years and they still love it. It started out as a way to cut back on the amount of candy. When they were elementary age they mainly used it for ice cream at school. (I was tight with the ice cream money when after working at the school I realized that many kids with ice cream money didn't actually eat their lunch)

A couple of years ago we did an easter treasure hunt in which the clues sent them to the homes of some family members who live nearby. Since they are older it did involve driving, but the family members enjoyed knowing that they were coming. The hunt ended up back at the house and the treasure was in Disney Dollars as we had a trip planned for later in the spring.

 

[Mkrop]

My boys are 9 and 4.

DS9 is a baseball freak so I always put baseball cards and the newest baseball magazine in his basket. Celebrates Opening Day too. Also him and his buddy do everything with tennis balls(baseball, wallball, roofball) so I stick some of them in there.

DS4 I love to put books that I get at TJ Maxx or Marshalls much cheaper.

I too do the chalk and bubbles.

Both boys love Paddle Balls although they do break soon after but they ask for them all the time so I buy them as stocking stuffers and basket items. Also they both love the little baskets that you pop a ball out of and then try to catch it, two in a packet at Party City or Target.

 

[princesserinsmom]

My dd is 5 and myds will be 2 in april

They will be getting a few things from the dollar store like jump rope, sidewalk chalk, coloring books,crayons.
then they will each get a new easter outfit a chocolate buuny, and new pjs

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My kids aren't getting very much this year and I wanted to get things they play with. Right now they don't need anymore chalk or bubbles, but those are usually in there.

DD10-LPS toy (if it comes from hasbro on time)
play-doh thing she wants
American Girl stuff from B&BW

DS9--Doesn't want a basket from the Easter Bunny this year, instead he wants one from the store, so he's getting a Taz basket. I think he's going to be really disappointed.

DS7--Has a birthday coming up so not too much. A Play-doh toy, a Star Wars action figure and a small Hot Wheels set he wants.

DS5--play-doh toy, Easter bunny Mr. Potato Head

DS2--is hard, his birthday is April 5. So far I have a Nick Jr. coloring book and play-doh, I think maybe some washable markers or crayons to go with it.

The four older kids are also each getting a scooter. I bought them through amazon with GC that I got from SR and Mypoints rewards. I think my total OOP for each scooter was $7.

 

[ChristyJ]

For the past couple of years, our Easter "baskets" have come from LLBean. I've bought the girls different items: a travel bag, a mini backpack, this year I bought them each a new backpack. I always buy when they're on sale (I think the backpacks were $11.95 this year), have them monogrammed, then put their goodies inside!

 

[writersblock42]

My son is 7
His basket will have
a kite from the dollar store
some bubbles
probably some type of swim toys from the dollar store
a spring outfit
Some pens/pencils
chocolate lollipops that we make
jelly beans (we have to have jelly beans)
chocolate from a fundraiser that they do each spring
a little stuffed animal
maybe some googles
I also plan on getting him an outfit for church.

 

[3js13]

My dds are 10,4,and 1. For my dd 4 I am getting outside stuff chalk,a kite, bubbles, princess hopstoch, jump rope. my dd 1 will get bubbles, a baby doll and a ball for outside. My dd 10 will get a couple of books sidewalk chalk and a couple of other things. I also make baskets for my nieces 20 and 18. Their baskets are filled w/ the big boxes of candy from the dollar store as well as g/c to the gas station.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

This year DD who is 3 is getting.......

Large Pot for planting (I decorated it with her name and decorations with a paint marker)
Strawbery planter (I decorated it with her name and decorations with a paint marker)
Seeds (tomato)
Plastic shovel (Dora)
Plastic weed tool (Dora)
Garden Gloves (Dora)
Seed Starter cups
Bag of soil
Watering can
Cute "pick" for pot with a bunny on it.

I put everything in the pot except the soil and strawberry planter and tied it up with cellophane and a big bow. I know she loves to garden with me so this year she can have her own plants (tomato and strawberry) to tend to. I kow she loves to eat both! I have it ready for the Easter Bunny to give to her. Most of the stuff I got at the Christmas Tree Shop and the Dollar Store. I also got some sidewalk chalk.

 

[allysmom1218]

My DD3 is getting a Tinkerbell themed Easter basket;

A Tinkerbell basket from Wal Mart
A Tink tshirt (from the Disney store)
Tinkerbell sunglasses (from the Disney store)
Tinkerbell flip flops (from the Disney store)
Tinkerbell radio (from the Disney store)
Chocolate bunny lollipops (Dollar store)
Chocolate bunny (Dollar store)
Sixlets (Dollar store)
Tinkerbell plastic eggs filled with change
Flower shaped lollipops (Dollar store)

My 2 older kids.... DD21 and DS23 will get a plastic Easter bucket filled with all kinds of mixed candy. I know it might seem alittle crazy making them a basket also.....but if I don't, they seem to get jealous, so I just make them each their own and fill it with the candy I know they like.

This will be the first year that my DD3 and I will color eggs together and she is getting really excited since we bought the coloring kit. She ask me all the time if we can color the eggs now. I think she just likes the coloring kit because it is The Disney Princess coloring kit.

I hope everyone has a Great Easter and that they enjoy being with their families.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

This year DD who is 3 is getting.......

Large Pot for planting (I decorated it with her name and decorations with a paint marker)
Strawbery planter (I decorated it with her name and decorations with a paint marker)
Seeds (tomato)
Plastic shovel (Dora)
Plastic weed tool (Dora)
Garden Gloves (Dora)
Seed Starter cups
Bag of soil
Watering can
Cute "pick" for pot with a bunny on it.

I put everything in the pot except the soil and strawberry planter and tied it up with cellophane and a big bow. I know she loves to garden with me so this year she can have her own plants (tomato and strawberry) to tend to. I kow she loves to eat both! I have it ready for the Easter Bunny to give to her. Most of the stuff I got at the Christmas Tree Shop and the Dollar Store. I also got some sidewalk chalk.

What a neat idea, I might borrow this one for next year

 

[tinksgirl]

oh how i miss the days of chalk,kites and bubbles!!! my 21 yr old DS will be getting a basket with a new red sox shirt and hat some candy, a lottery ticket and a DD gift card.DD 17 will get a basket with a new shirt from hollister,flip flops candy and friendlys gift card.DD 11 will get a basket with new sox shirt,flip flops candy and gift card to the local pizza place.I usually throw a few items in that are unique to each of the kids but i have not gotten that far yet.Enjoy the days of chalk and bubbles it sure does go fast.......

 

[barbmouse]

BUMP!! Great ideas...keep 'em coming!

 

[runwad]

Geez is my house the only house where the Easter Bunny comes and just brings good old fashion Easter Candy????? For us Easter=Candy, Christmas & Birthdays=Gifts

 

[Mkrop]

I started doing no candy stuff because DS9 doesnt really like candy all that much(not complaining at all!) and then I just wanted not to have candy laying around that no one but me was going to eat haha. Now DS4 is another atory, he will eat almost ANY candy.