For creative and unique Easter basket ideas you’ve come to the right place. One of my favorite things about parenting is creating memories and seeing the joy on my family’s face. Holidays like Easter are a great time for that.
In this blog, I’ll share nine Easter basket ideas that you can use or adapt for friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. PLUS some tips for making those baskets awesome! I’d love to hear and see what you create, so feel free to share on our Facebook page.
My love/hate relationship with Easter Baskets
LOVE
When I was five, my teenage sister gave me an adjustable, flower-shaped birthstone ring in my Easter basket. I cherished it! When I was in college. I made an Easter basket for my Mom with her favorite things: a wicker basket, beautiful lace handkerchiefs, a small Boston fern, a book, and a Big Hunk candy bar. Thanks to thrift stores, everything came to around eight dollars. She cried. I did not know this beforehand, but she had never received an Easter basket. During World War II, when she was a child, there wasn’t money or rations cards to do that. And she was one of twelve children.
Easter is a chance to give more meaningful gift baskets — not just a ton of candy.
HATE
Fast forward 8 years:
“Where is the Easter basket box?” I glance at my husband who is just kicking his feet up after a long day at work. He’s going to say it. I know he’s going to say it. He gives me that look. His eyebrows bunch. And then he says it.
“What Easter basket box?
My hands go to my hips. In through the nose, out through the mouth, I tell myself.
“The box on the top shelf in the garage. I bought really cute baskets last year because I got tired of buying new, cheap ones every Easter. They end up in the landfill, and it just makes more sense to buy some decorative baskets and reuse them.”
“Well . . . I . . .” — Hubby looks a little nervous — “thought they were . . . just baskets you weren’t using.” He rushes to validate his action. “Mice chewed holes in most of them, so I tossed them when I was making room for the Christmas decorations. I’m sorry. You can get more, right?”
LOVE / HATE COLLIDE
You’ve been there. I know you’ve been there. The plastic buckets that take up too much space. The super cheap woven baskets that get squashed by sugar-manic children. Like me, you want Easter basket ideas that don’t want to break the bank, contribute to overburdened landfills, or take up a ton of space.
The love hate relationship continued until my oldest son was in Little League and signups were right around the corner. His batting helmet was worn and too small. As I stood in the sports section of the store, contemplating this AND Easter, the heavens opened, light descended, angels sang, and I envisioned myself being handed the “Mom of the Year” award by Erma Bombeck herself. (If you don’t know who she is, you’re missing out. If newspapers were Instagram when she was alive, she’d be trending. Look her up.) I knew I was brilliant, and here’s why.
THE GIFT IS THE BASKET
Remembering the Easter basket I made for my Momma, I bought the batting helmet, a few baseballs, and a bat then proceeded to do the same thing for my other four children with things they need/wanted. Add in a little candy and Easter morning was a hit
Through the years, a lot of kids have come through my home. My Momma has passed away, so I’m writing this blog with the thought of older people who may have never had an Easter basket, but you’ll find ideas for all ages. Just focus on the main Easter basket ideas being THE BASKET.
Planning Your Easter Basket Ideas
At Christmas, I buy presents based on: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. Easter baskets are a very loosy-goosy rendition of this. You don’t need to get something from every category, but it will help you think of what you want to put in the “basket”. My baskets are usually focused on a theme, and the examples will demonstrate that.
WANT
What does most everyone want at Easter? CANDY! This is adaptable to anything people want. Maybe a hobby like gardening or sports.
NEED
Like my son needed a new helmet, find a need that can be the gift – especially if funds are low. Is your teen low on paints for art? Does your husband need supplies to baby his ride? It’s spring, does the gardener in your life need seeds? Do the littles need items for playing outside, like a sun hat? Are the baking and cooking utensils getting worn? You get the idea.
WEAR
Thankfully there are a lot of things that fall into this category. The first thing we think of are clothes or shoes. But you can wear lotion, jewelry, a purse, hats, perfume, etc. Think outside the box on this one.
READ
I love books, so any excuse to buy another one is GREAT! You can get magazines on a favorite subject. If you get a gift that has to be put together, they’ll have to read instructions. Unless they don’t. (I’m not talking about you, sweetie. wink wink)
Baskets
Anything that holds something can be used as a basket. You can even fashion a blanket into a basket. Check out this link for a blanket ball that you can tuck all kinds of goodies and presents into. Or this link to a towel basket filled with lotions, face masks, and body spray.
Think of a theme and you can probably come up with something that will hold candy and gift items.
EASTER BASKET IDEAS
Here are nine examples of the baskets I’ve given over the past few years. I’ll suggest ways to adapt for younger children.
1. Automotive Easter Basket
My husband needed an oil drain pan. Perfect Easter Basket. I loaded up on a variety of inexpensive car items from Dollar Tree. Tucked away in a laundry room cabinet, I had a wash pad I’d picked up at a thrift store (unused of course). Beef jerky, some soda, and a few other items rounded this basket out just right. In my Easter decorations, I had a bunch of shredded paper to help take up some of the space. I could have used easter grass, but that didn’t seem very manly.
Other things you could consider: a new key chain, jumper cables, emergency kit, window shade, trash receptacle (oooh, another basket), aux cords, floor mats, and music. If you have a new teen driver in the family, this would be a fun basket.
2. Gardening Bountiful Basket
Honestly, this was my basket. Spring is here, and I yearn to get outside and start planting. Seeing as how it’s still a little too chilly in some parts of the country, a planter, tools, and seeds to start indoors are a great alternative.
When I saw the Boston fern, I had to have it. I couldn’t pass up the Gardening Almanac, either. My grandmother could grow anything, but I need some help.
There were so many great garden items at Dollar Tree, it took a lot of control to not fill my cart. A watering pot would also make a cute basket. Little kids love to dig in the dirt, so why not instill the love of growing things by getting them their own tools, seeds, and pots to watch vegetable starts grow for the garden.
3. Coffee Lover’s Easter Basket
Whether you have a coffee pot, a Keurig, or an espresso machine, you’re sure to find a multitude of items to please your coffee lover. The black wire basket is perfect for organizing coffee pods.
We try new types of coffee, regularly, so I watch for new kinds on sale. For Christmas, my husband won a bag of whole coffee beans from Perkatory, the local coffee shop, and they were amazing. A gift card to your local shop would make a great addition to this Easter basket idea. You could also use a giant mug or one with a special message as your basket.
4. Out and About Basket
Outdoor-themed baskets have multiple possibilities for all ages. A beginner fishing pole and tackle box are great for younger kids. What about a butterfly net or bug box?
For the teenage boy in my home, I decided on a net for the basket, a crappie fishing kit, and a hook disgorger (a must-have for easily removing a hook, especially if you plan on releasing, and they’re inexpensive.) Gummy worms are a fun candy to add. If your teen is in sports and not high on soda or candy, try some of their favorite alternatives. The net made a great basket that I hung from his door with a wreath hanger, as shown.
Another option would be a tackle box “basket”. There are so many great lures, bates, and accessories for the angler in your life. Psst — my husband loves the polarized, antiglare fishing sunglasses.
5. Artistic Easter Basket
There is no end to the possibilities with this theme. Watercolor, acrylic, chalking, sculpting, charcoal pencil, markers, and a million surfaces to choose from. I loved getting coloring books and new crayons as a child. For my grandson, I got a plastic tote for his supplies — that makes a great basket. And don’t forget about sidewalk chalk!
Silk screening with chalk paste is popular, so for my foster daughter, I chose a surface, silk-screen transfer, paint packet singles, a paint tray, and a couple types of squeegees. Not only did she use the bag for supplies, but she could chalk paint it as well. We both love Twix, so the bag had plenty of those. TIP: For staging the bag, I stuffed grocery bags into the bottom, along with fake grass.
6. Homebody Basket
Easter basket ideas that focus on the needs of the homebound is a great way to show love. The elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and mothers of newborns are just a few of these people. Having a basket full of the necessities is helpful and much appreciated.
Hydration is an issue for everyone, but especially for nursing moms and the elderly. When you don’t feel good, it’s hard to remember to drink enough, as well. That’s why I included a 48 oz. insulated cup. If you’re stuck in a chair, it’s nice to have a 10 ft. charging cord to reach wherever you’re most comfortable. Books and word games help keep the mind stimulated and ward off boredom. A booklight is handy if you’re feeding a baby in the middle of the night or have a roommate you don’t want to wake. Light and noise sensitivity is a problem with chronic illnesses like M.E., so a sleeping mask and ear plugs are beneficial. Regular earphones hurt the insides of my ears, so I bought bone conduction earphones that rest on the outside of my ears. This way I can also carry on a conversation with others. You might also consider snacks, water flavoring, tissues, handwipes, warm socks, and lotion.
7. Easter Basket Ideas for the Bookworm
Speaking of books, a basket full of books make a perfect gift. Choose a collection from a favorite author or genre. If you don’t know, select a wide variety: poetry, self-help, fantasy, nonfiction, westerns, memoires. One of the best gifts you can give a child is the gift of reading. Select your favorites from childhood. If you need ideas, check out my reviews.
A book light might be helpful. If the person wears glasses, you could include glass cleaning wipes. For those who prefer electronic books, include a gift card to buy e-books. I have a couple kids who prefer listening to their books and have asked for “donations” to their Audible account.
EASTER BASKET IDEAS BUDGET TIP!
Books are pricey, so do what I do and visit a thrift store. Books range from twenty-five cents to a couple dollars. Thrift stores are a great place to find other items like games, sporting goods, toys, and Easter decorations. Your purchase from a non-profit thrift store also supports a worthy cause.
8. Pets’ Easter Basket
Let’s not forget our other family members – pets. Our English Bulldog, Sweet Blossom, needed a new waterer, so I thought of Easter basket ideas she would love. This waterer made a great basket, don’t you think?
Include toys, treats, collars, leashes, beds (great basket, too), travel water bottle, training collars, habitat accessories, and darling outfits, just to name a few. There are different needs for different pets, so get creative.
For those who already have chickens or want to homestead, adding some little chicks to a child’s Easter day would be a lot of fun. If you’re going to give a pet as a gift, think of the long-term commitment, please. Bunnies are cute, but they take a lot of care over time.
9. Sports Easter Basket
And so we end where we began — with sports. Let your imagination go wild with this one. Every sport has an endless list of items you need to buy: uniforms, safety equipment, balls, hats, gloves, and so on and so forth.
A very simple and inexpensive Easter basket could include a baseball cap from a favorite sports team, candy, drink, and something from their sport. In this case, I chose a baseball, sunflower seeds, a soda, and some Easter candy.
There are all kinds of home sport set-ups you can buy — t-ball, volleyball, badminton, croquet, cornhole, etc. Let your imagination go wild and get ready for a wonderful summer outdoors enjoying the fruits of your Easter basket ideas.
YOUR TURN
Share a unique idea for an Easter basket you’ve created. If this blog has inspired an idea, what are you planning? What is a favorite basket you’ve received?
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