Easy Easter Crafts to Inspire Children of All Ages

When we think of activities at Easter most of us immediately think of coloring eggs, hiding and searching for them. However there are many great things that you can do to keep your children entertained, and your home inexpensively decorated. Here are a few easy crafts for your children to do by themselves or wtih a little help from you.

One great idea that also involves recycling of materials is to create a basket out of a plastic 2 liter bottle. First cut the top 2/3 of the bottle off and discard or recycle. Wash out the bottom 1/3 of the bottle and dry completely. Allow your children to decorate the outside of the bottle with anything that you can imagine. You could paint it first if you wish and then decorate it with anything of your choice, the possibilities are endless. Stickers, foam stickers, draw pictures. You could use tissue paper and cut them into squares and glue them onto the bottle. Once the decorating is complete, use a hole puncher and punch a hole about a centimeter from the top on opposite sides. Use a pipe cleaner and fasten one end at each hole to create the handle of the basket. Now fill the basket with any sort of filling that you would like. You can put Easter grass in it and use is as a place to display your colored eggs. Or you could fill it with some Easter candy. Your kids could even use it to collect eggs on and egg hunt.

Did you know that egg shells are great for planting?  The decompose in the ground and therefore make great holders for starter plants.  The next time you use eggs to cook, save the shells and gently rinse them out.  Allow your child to decorate the outside of the egg shell with markers or crayons.  Then add a little soil in the bottom, plant a seed of your choice and place a thin layer of soil over the top.  Use the egg carton to hold your seedlings and place them in a sunny location.  Water them regularly and watch the plant begin to sprout.  Once the plant is ready to be planted outside, simply find your perfect location and plant. 

The napkin rings are just as easy to create. Prior to the activity, collect empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls. First, cover each roll with construction paper or tissue paper. Then cut the rolls into one inch rings. Cut as many as you need for each of your guests. Then decorate! Wasn't that easy? Draw pictures, stick stickers, or adorn each ring with paper punch outs from special paper punchers. When you are ready to set the table, roll the napkin and slide the ring over the napkin. Your guests will be delighted as they sit at the table and you have once again reused materials that might have otherwise been thrown away.

While you are busy in the kitchen preparing for your Easter meal, why not put your kids to work? Allow them to help decorate the table with a festive touch by creating personalized place cards for each seat at the table along with special napkin rings. For the place cards, simply use some card stock in a color of your choice. Cut the card stock into about a 2x3 rectangle or 2x3 folded card like rectangle, one for each of your guests. Use any sort of craft material that you have on hand. You could use decorative scissors to create a border and glitter and glue to highlight the name of each of your guests. No glitter and glue? That's ok. Have your child use markers or crayons to write the name of your guests on each card. Again you can use Easter or spring stickers, foam stickers, or just draw pictures on each card. Encourage the creativity of your child! Just before dinner, have your child place the cards at the place of each guest. Your guests will be delighted to see such a welcoming place to sit.