One of my favorite holiday memories growing up was coming out to the kitchen and finding an Easter basket on the table. I love to stuff my kids baskets every year, and I try to make sure I am gathering useful but fun things for them. Here are some ideas for a clutter free Easter basket with handmade touches that don’t fill your house with junk.
Watch the Clutter Free, Simple Easter Basket Ideas Video —>
What Kind of Basket to Use?
There are several options for a basket. Let’s focus on ones that are not wasteful or junky. Cheaply made baskets, or plastic buckets wind up floating around your house and breaking to then be tossed in the trash.
- THRIFTED – In the time preceding Easter, keep your eye peeled for a nice basket at thrift shops. You can pick up a sturdy basket that can be reused in many ways through the year for a couple bucks or less!
- SHOP YOUR HOUSE – This is what I usually end up doing. I go around and find a basket that I want to use that year and when Easter is over, back it goes! This is the cheapest option.
- HEIRLOOM – Another option is to purchase a lovely and high quality basket that will be used and loved for many years. The fair-trade market baskets come to mind… I have always wanted one or two of those. Maybe next year!
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4 Things To Remember As You Gather Items
I try to think of Easter basket (or any other kind for that matter) shopping like this:
- Will this item get used and loved, used all up, add beauty and fun or end up useless after the fun wears off quickly?
- Will it break easily?
- Does it have multiple purposes?
- Could I make this item myself or thrift it for less?
A few examples:
- “Should I buy this play dough, or could I make a quick and easy batch myself?”
- “Let me pick a few items that my kids need anyway, and just give them a fun and creative twist!” Even toothbrushes and socks can become fun when they’re in an Easter basket.
- “This will not clutter up my house because it is a consumable item! It will get used all up!”
List of Simple and Clutter Free Easter Basket Ideas
(Links for things are also at the bottom of the post!)
Seed packets
Pick some easy to grow flowers and veggie to help your child grow this spring! Radish, green beans, zinnias, and morning glory are all easy and satisfying for kids to grow! Dollar Tree has seeds for $0.25 a packet!
Little sketch book with pencils
Homemade play dough
Different colors in mason jars. You could add a few drops of essential oils for scent if you have some. Here is my favorite recipe!
Handmade bunny bag for goodies or treats
I whipped up a bunny ear pouch for my kiddos by simply using a cotton pouch I already had and adding soft little ears from scrap fabric. I have a tutorial up on the blog showing how I did it! They are perfect for treats, coins, crayons, stones, nature walk treasures, hair accessories and so much more! The plain, cotton pouches I love to have on hand. They are from Amazon and are so perfect for in my purse, and for putting little what-nots in, I’m always reaching for one!
Buy treats from the bulk bins or get cute Lindt chocolates like these.
Toothbrush
Hair brush
Lip balm
Nail Polish
Non toxic kids nail polish or Wet and Wild polish at the drugstore is very affordable.
Music or audio book CD
If you’re old-fashioned like us, we have a CD player in each kid’s room. We play stories and lullabies, scripture music and classical for them during nap and rest times, quiet, solitary play time and bedtime. My 5-year-old daughter LOVES audio books. A few great ones are Little Bear, Frog and Toad, Little House series, Amelia Bedelia, and Berenstain Bear’s Stories.
A hand sewn bunny or lovey
Several years ago I made a bunny like this for my daughter and she still loves it!
Homemade melted shape crayons
These crayons are fun to make with your kids too, but they would make a delightful Easter basket surprise, as well! All you do, is peel the paper off of crayons, break them up into smaller chunks and place them in a silicone mold of your choice. This was a bunny mold. You can select spring like color combinations, make the bunnies all one color each or swirled like this one by adding several colors. Bake in the oven at about 325 degrees until fully melted, and then let cool before popping out of mold. Wouldn’t these be perfect in the bunny bag?!
Stainless steel water bottle or straw cups
Books
The Donkey Who Carried a King by RC Sproul
Of course I have to mention books! The best gift of all! Here are a few ideas: Bread and Jam For Francis, Blueberries For Sal, Miss Rumphius, The Little Island, Make Way for Ducklings, The Runaway Bunny, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I Am a Bunny. Also A Year in Brambly Hedge (Love, love.) and Anne Arrives.
A great place to find books for cheap is Thrift Books!
Gems, rocks or fossils
Help your child start a rock collection by getting them a special specimen for their basket! Choose a few small stones like citrine, amethyst, bismuth or quartz. A small ammonite would also be special. Perhaps also include a small tackle box for collecting and a stone and rock collecting book.
Art supplies
Watercolor palette and paper, colored pencils, new scissors, stamps and stamp pad, or a jumbo box of fresh crayons.
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Thank you for checking out my Easter basket ideas! 
Remember to always Dig the Good Life, friends!
Love,
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