Unique Gifts and Gift Baskets form ABC Gifts And Baskets

Today while searching through YouTube, I came across this great clip form Rachel Ray’s show, where Cathie and Steve from “Creative Juice” are showing how to create great gifts for friends and family on a budget.

Among other things, they showed:

• “Kid at Heart” basket filled with vintage toys
• “Travel Tranquility” in a tote with everything a traveler would need
• “Puppy love”, a cute dish filled with yummy home made treats for your puppy
• “Cuddle Kit”, a nice boxed filled with goodies perfect for a night in.

You’ll have to watch the video for some great ideas!

There use to be a time when buying Easter baskets was affordable. Now, it seems, everything but the kitchen sink is included, making them a bit high in price. Here are some tips for making your own Easter baskets using creative and ingenuous ideas.

A basket can come in any size and shape. Traditionally, an Easter basket is made of wicker, filled with brightly colored cellophane and, of course, the handle. You can make a basket out of things in your home. For example, a milk carton can be used. You can wrap it with brightly colored cellophane or tissue paper; attach a bow for the handle, and Voila! An Easter basket is born.

You can also make a cute little basket using a paper plate and ribbon. Make holes on each side of the paper plate; use a bright colored ribbon to insert through the holes; make a bow and you have a basket, similar to one you would use to carry flowers! There are so many designed plates available in your local supermarket. You can dress it up however you choose. Your little girl will love it!

How about buying a plain basket, and taking some pink or blue ribbon and weave it through the basket? You can cover the handle of the basket with ribbon as well. Instead of buying the cellophane grass, line the bottom of the basket with colorful tissue paper cut into strips – make a nest, so to speak. Fill the basket with whatever you choose.

It is doubtful you will run out of ideas, but just in case check online and you will find a variety of ways in which you can use a paper bag; and even templates which you can print out to make a unique and creative Easter basket this year. These tips for making your own Easter basket are just the “tip” of the iceberg. If you are a craft person, no doubt you will come up with even more creative ways to make this Easter a fun and exciting one for your kids to remember.

As kids, we loved Easter, right? It was especially fun not only coloring Easter eggs but hunting for them in the morning. Mom always found neat places to hide them. While coloring Easter eggs has taken on a similar but new art form, here are 7 inexpensive gift ideas for kids to enjoy as well.

1. For your younger children, you can put together an Easter basket filled with homemade cookies; Easter coloring books and crayons; and, of course, a small and inexpensive chocolate Easter Bunny.

2. Another favorite treat for kids is the very popular marshmallow chicks. These have been around since we were kids, and these are sure to be a hit with yours, too!  You can add these to a small basket; take different colored tissue paper and cut them into strips to make a nest; line the basket; add the chicks along with a small bag of jelly beans, and some chocolate Easter eggs.

3. If you want to cut down on the number of sweets your child eats, you can buy an Easter basket and some straw, and fill it with little toys from the dollar store. You may even want to include a few kids’ books as well.

4. How about an Easter basket filled with cookies shaped like eggs and bunnies. You can use different color icing to decorate the eggs and bunnies.  This is one gift your kids will love!

5. How about making a bunny cake! Have the entire family participate in molding, shaping and icing the bunny.  Let your imagination run wild with this fun activity. Or you could make girl and boy bunny cakes for the kids and present it to them on Easter morning.  What a surprise that would be!

6.  String up jelly bean necklaces and bracelets for your kids to wear. Tell your kids there is an island where visitors are greeted with jellybean jewelry.

7.  You can purchase inexpensive bunny ears for your kids to wear. They can hop around the house while hunting for those Easter eggs. Make a game of it.

There are probably 70 more you can choose from. Before you enjoy the day’s festivities, remind your kids what Easter is really all about.