Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter readers! Like Christmas and Halloween, Easter is one of my favorite holidays for crafting and baking. So far this year I have showcased a few of the Easter crafts I have made to decorate my home and in today's blog we're going to take a look at a frugal woman's attempt at gifts kids will hopefully love and enjoy. In light of the current economic climate, and rising gas prices, I found myself still wanting to do something for the kids in my boyfriend's family, but I was lacking the funds to do as I did last year when I put together gift bags for each child. Simple solution? Paper mache baskets! I had the newspaper on hand and made the paper mache paste using ingredients I already had in the kitchen. (See previous blog post for the paper mache recipe I used.)

My first attempts fell kinda flat, but as I rummaged through my craft closet I found lots of pretty ribbon and lace with which to fancy up the simple homemade baskets. I printed vintage images from the internet and used crafting foam as a sort of frame for each vintage image. I painted the baskets in varying pastel colors, attached the foam framed images, and topped each basket with ribbon and/or lace. I used simple floral wire for the handles. Take a look at the finished baskets. (*Note: I can't take credit for the little boxes beside each basket. Those are from Martha Stewart and anyone can get the templates here http://www.marthastewart.com/article/vintage-postcard-treat-box -- I did find that the slide box was a little big for the sleeve. You will want to experiment with one before taping, or gluing, all the pieces together. I made the later mistake so my boxes are little lopsided. I found the calculations slightly off, but they are still cute.)

Addie and Hannah's baskets.

Colston and Brooklynn's baskets.

Brooklynn and Luke's baskets.

Top view with name tags made on the Cricut.

In each basket I'm putting a Funfetti cupcake and sugar cookies with a chocolate candy coating. In the small boxes I put Easter grass and a few jelly beans. I hadn't originally intended to make the boxes, but they were so cute I couldn't resist. I also didn't anticipate them not fitting in the paper mache baskets. lol So the boxes will be handed out separately. I was also going to include mini-cupcakes in the basket, but as you can see they are quite small. My ambition was bigger than the actual baskets. :) If the kids want baby cupcakes they can, of course, enjoy them separately as well.

I actually spent the better part of the Easter Eve evening baking. Following is a sample of the baked goods I made in the span of four hours.

Big Spring Funfetti cupcakes topped with Spring Funfetti frosting and sprinkles baked in paper cups and with picks from The Dollar Tree.

Small Spring Funfetti cupcakes with vanilla frosting, confetti sprinkles, and baked in small Easter baking cups from The Dollar Tree.

 

                                        

 Toll House stamped sugar cookies with white chocolate (colored with food coloring) candy coating back.

Strawberry Poke-It Cake. Easy and delicious. Bake any white cake as directed. Poke with holes using the handle of any spoon. Mix Strawberry Jell-O according to the package. While cake is still warm pour Jell-O mixture over cake. Cover with small Cool Whip and refrigerate. Yum-O.

Another picture of the boxes made from the Martha Stewart template and filled with Easter grass and jelly beans.

So this is how one frugal woman prepared for the Easter holiday. I hope the kids enjoy their baskets and I hope the adults enjoy some of the treats I baked. I realize I've baked enough to feed a small army and I remember vividly how I used to roll my eyes at my mother when she did the same so many years ago. Now that I'm older I find enjoyment in doing for others, especially the kiddos, so I hope everyone enjoys my contribution. I admit that I actually enjoy slowly morphing into my mother. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be doing as my mom always did when it comes to holiday preparation. I guess it's suffice to say she can now laugh at me and say, "I told you so." Because she did. She always said someday I would enjoy doing for others. So it is true... your mother is always right. Now this little bunny has to hop on to bed to enjoy the festivities later today. *hop hop hop* Enjoy your Blessed Easter Sunday!