Easter can be one of the simplest holidays to plan for if you’re careful. With the bright colors and fun crafts there’s a whole lot to do in such a short amount of time. However, a lot of people tend to spend a little too much on their celebrations which can really mess up the family budget. There’s a lot of ways to avoid spending a fortune though. One way is to fill the holidays with crafts that aren’t expensive to make. These crafts will help bond the family over the holiday and create memories that won’t just stay with your kids forever, but will prepare them to create memories with their own children some day. So, stop stressing about how you’re going to fund a great holiday and prepare some amazing crafts for your family to partake in.
1. Easter Baskets
Every year we tend to go a little bit overboard on kid’s Easter baskets. From purchasing pre-made baskets to assembling our own with expensive baskets and goodies, the price of our holiday celebration can really skyrocket. One major way to cut the costs of Easter is to have your children make their own baskets. There’s a lot of supplies just lying around the house that can be utilized to help make your child’s basket. Try locating sand pails from last summer, or old oatmeal containers or butter tubs. The options are actually endless when it comes to finding a safe place for your child’s eggs. Once you’ve found the basic aspect of the project then you can easily have kids decorate using construction paper or other common supplies found in the home. You can even have them add glitter, flowers, feathers or stickers for an entirely unique basket. To finish off the basket add a handle using yarn, old fabric or cardboard. Your child will be proud of their basket this year and you wont spend nearly as much money as you normally would.
2. Eggs
Many people tend to want to go all out when it comes to coloring their eggs. There are a whole lot of color kits out there that can cost you way more than you should ever consider paying for egg coloring. Other people will spend the extra money to buy precolored eggs which really takes a whole lot of fun out of the holiday. Instead of worrying about spending money for your eggs you may want to concentrate on how you can create fun looks without the massive price tag. Try picking out a simple coloring kits from a dollar store, or make your own kit with coolaid packets or food coloring. This will already eliminate the majority of the price. When you begin your coloring process have the kids draw on the eggs with a crayon. This will create special designs when they are put into the dye. When the eggs have already dried from the dye then you can have kids add their special touches. Glitter, sequences, stickers and so much more can be used to help make your kids eggs special. You can even make special stands using construction paper and glue. Of course, you don’t even have to dye your eggs if you don’t want to. You can always let the kids paint their eggs with inexpensive finger paint.
3. Paper Plates
When it comes to Easter you can’t get any better craft supply than a simple paper plate. Most people have these items lying around the house, but if you don’t you can get a bulk set at any dollar store. Plates can easily be colored to look like Easter eggs which will keep kids busy for hours. You can even have kids hide their creations for a special Easter egg hunt. When you’re finished hang the eggs up on the wall for a little extra Easter decor. If you’ve already worked on the Easter egg project then have the kids paint the plates to resemble bunnies and chicks. You can easily tie a string around the project to make a mask or you can hang them on the wall. Another fun project for paper plates is have the kids paint two plates to resemble an Easter basket. Then you cut around the top edge to create a simple handle. Once this is finished then staple or glue the pieces together and you’ll have an adorable mini basket that can be used as more decor for the home.
4. Rock Pets
Kids love having pets, even if they aren’t real. This holiday take the kids out on a scavenger hunt and have them find rocks that they think would be a good pet. When you get home put the rocks in a warm soak to help get rid of any debris. Once you’re satisfied with how clean they look then set them out to dry over night. By the time your kids wake up the next day they’ll be ready to create their very own pets. First, pull out your kids favorite acrylic colors and let them paint the rocks one solid color. Once this color has dried then they can easily go back and paint stripes, spots, eyes, mouths or whatever else their imagination comes up with. When the final paint job dries then kids can go back and add glitter, googly eyes, cotton ball tails or whatever else they choose. These rocks can be kept as a new toy or given away to people they love. They will also make a great addition to your Easter egg hunt if you choose to hide them as well.
5. Snacks
When it comes to Easter crafts you can’t leave out the snacks. Kids love munching on their own creation and Easter has a lot of different cool recipes. One example is rice krispy treat Easter eggs. You can easily shape this treat like an egg, but if you really want to get into the holiday spirit then fill each egg with some candy. Once the eggs have formed the kids can decorate them with icing and sprinkles to make them look even more festive. These make great gifts for friends or classmates. Another fun snack to make is jello eggs. These eggs can also be filled with whipped cream or fruits to make them even more fun. Kids will love eating their jiggly snacks as much as they loved making them. Of course, cookies should never be overlooked when it comes to the holiday. You can easily create Easter egg shaped cookies and if you’re feeling creative you might try for bunnies and chicks too. Kids will love helping with decorating once the cookies have cooled.
6. Jewelry
Kids love making and wearing jewelry which is why it can be such a fun experience for the Easter holiday. There’s a lot of different holiday jewelry you can make. For starters, you can easily gather jelly beans that are leftover from the Easter basket. Use a needle and fishing line to work through the beans to create a necklace or bracelet. Younger kids will definitely need help and close observation during this activity though. To make thinks even more festive you can always add in the rainbow marshmallow pieces from your favorite Lucky cereal. Kids will love snacking on their jewelry and will want to hand them out to their friends too. Another great way to make Easter jewelry is to take a foam plate than can usually be found in the paper plate area. Have you children draw an Easter scene or make the plate look like a giant Easter egg. When they’re finished working put the plate in the over or a convection over until it shrinks down. Then add a colorful string to it so kids can hang it around their neck.
7. Bunny Ears
When it comes to Easter nothing says fun quite like bunny ears. This is one of the easiest crafts out there and kids just about any age can help with it. Choose a wide assortment of Easter inspired colored paper and spread it out over the table. Have the kids pick which color they’d like to work on and draw out the bunny ears on each page. You can draw various sizes in various colors as long as you have a matching set. Then have the kids choose a second color for the inner ear. Draw out a smaller bunny ear for this set, but make sure you have sizes that will suit each ear. Once the ears are drawn out then have the kids cut each section and glue the smaller ear into the larger. When the ears have dried have the kids choose where they’d like to tape the ears. They can pop out of anywhere, including flower pots, the back of the sofa and behind your children’s beds. You can also make a simple headband for each child and place a set of ears on the band. When guest come over try to have them guess how many bunnies are hiding in your home.
8. Cards
Everyone loves to get a card for Easter, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on sending them out. Instead, this year pull out your art supplies and have the kids make their own special messages for loved ones. You can really go all out with the supplies. One idea is to create little bunnies out of cotton balls. Another cheap way to work on cards is to print out coloring pages on half of a sheet of paper. Have the kids color the pictures and then fold the paper in half to reveal your special message. To save even more money on the cards you can easily deliver them in person to the people who live near you. Of course, if people live far away then build your own envelope and let the postal service do the rest.
9. Picture Frames
Kids love looking at pictures of themselves, so add a little Easter flair to the home by making your own picture frames. One fine example is to pick up a thicker paper. You can easily cut a hole in the center of the paper to reveal your child’s face. Once the picture is in the frame then use cotton balls to glue a bunny mouth onto your child. You can also add bunny ears to the top of the frame for a finished look. When everything is together glue a piece of the thicker paper to the back to hold the frame up. Of course, you can also cut the paper into an egg shape and then create a center piece for your child’s face to peek through. Before you put the picture in the frame have your kids decorate the egg as if it were an Easter egg.
10. Easter Bunny Box
Make sure your kids thank the Easter Bunny by leaving him a treat box behind. You can easily make a box by folding up the edges of some paper. Add a few bunny ears to make the box look even more authentic. When the box is made have the kids color it and add glitter and other finishing pieces to create a look worthy of the bunny. Inside of the box you can use colored shredded paper for Easter grass that the bunny will love. Fill the box with special treats like carrots and some of the snacks you made for the holiday. You can even have the kids write special notes for the Easter Bunny. Make sure to leave the box out where he can find it though.
Easter is a great time to bring the family together. With these crafts you’ll not only have a great bonding experience, but you won’t have to spend a whole lot of money on the holiday. You may even find that your holiday goes a lot smoother with this cheaper version of your kids’ favorite holiday.
