Want to give the kids a new basket this year? Want to give something to an adult but dont want to give them a little kids basket? Maybe money is tight and there simply isnt enough to buy new baskets this year. There are plenty of alternatives to the traditional Easter basket and some of them are already in your house. Take a paint can for example. Use paint thinner to clean the can well then wash it in hot, soapy water. When the can is clean and dry you can then fill it with any number of Easter items. Place fake grass or shredded paper in the bottom of the can then add goodies for a child or an adult.
Before filling the can you can cover it with decorative paper or Easter fabric. Spray paint the lid and handle and add a circle of matching cloth to the top of the lid. Make the handle look even more impressive by wrapping it in satin ribbon. Use stickers to write "Happy Easter", or even the name of the child, on the front.
Another thing that can quickly be turned into an unconventional basket is a tote bag. If the bag has a logo or writing on it cover it by purchasing a small piece of Easter cloth. Cut out the shape of a bunny, a chick, or something similar and attach it to the bag with fabric glue. Give it dimension by first placing a wad of cotton under the shape. Outline the shape, and cover the raw edges of the fabric, by using narrow roping or satin ribbon. Instead of Easter cloth you can cut a bunny or other shape from felt and glue it to the bag. Stack picture frames to make a very unique and interesting basket. The frames should have no glass or backing attached. Paint the frames a pastel color for Easter, if desired. If you have many identical picture frames youll simply stack and glue them. Lay the first one on the table then glue on a piece of thick cardboard. You can cover the cardboard with fabric, if you wish, before gluing it to the picture frame. Now glue the second frame on top of the cardboard. Continue gluing on another and another frame. Youll make the basket as deep as you wish, depending upon how many frames you have. If you only have a few of the picture frames youll still stack and glue them, but with this particular design, youll use "spacers". The spacers allow you to glue the frames together but to leave spaces between each frame. The spacers can be flat beads, strips of thick cardboard, or even pencil erasers! The only requirement of the spacer is that it have a flat surface and be no wider than the picture frame. Lay one frame on a flat surface and glue the cardboard piece on top. Position the spacers on the frame. If using beads as the spacers, for instance, glue one on each corner of the frame. Now glue the second frame on top of the spacers. Glue on four more spacers then add another frame. Continue this until the basket is as deep as you wish. Before adding the last frame glue a strap onto the previous frame. The strap can be made from a piece of cloth or wire ribbon. Glue each end on opposite sides then glue on the last frame. Make something similar by gluing hoops together. Embroidery hoops or even brass hoops can be stacked in a similar manner as the picture frames, to create a rounded basket thats suitable for Easter. Before adding the last hoop to the stack, make the strap and glue it on, then glue on the last hoop. A large plastic bowl makes a great basket for a woman. Find the huge bowls at most dollar theme stores and fill them with shredded paper, shredded foil or traditional Easter grass. Place any number of household or other items in the bowl. Even hide a couple of goodies in the bottom of the bowl! You dont necessarily have to purchase new Easter baskets every year or worry about the expense connected with fancy baskets. Make one of the above baskets and watch the reaction of the recipient. He or she will love it!
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