Another post heavy on the craft pictures. I will force you to LOVE THE CRAFTS.

I figured that we’d be over-run with chocolate considering Claire’s birthday was the start of the Easter Weekend, and really, how much candy do we need? So instead I thought I’d make a completely home-made easter basket. I think I was compensating for the distinct lack of Valentine crafting that happened this year. Of course, this ” entirely home-made” deal didn’t really happen because I am weak, but it did turn out pretty cute even with the occassional impulse Michaels buy (does anyone else get the feeling that I spend far too much time shopping at Michaels?).
So, voila, my formula-tin turned Easter Basket!

Steve and I decorated 4 formula tins for our kids and The Cousins. They were decorated entirely from paper and chipboard from my stash so no shopping was had in the making of the basket. Yes, Steve really did help! For like, an hour. He was either seriously bored, or hoping for some sex.
It was chalk full of crafty goodies, both handmade and store bought. Home-made play dough in the easter eggs, a rolling pin, a balsa wood puzzle and markers to color it, a hand-made wand, a hand-made notebook, the little clothes pin bunnies, a home-made chocolate birdsnest with eggs, a little pencil with a wooden creature on top, and the best part – a little photo album of our immediate family.

My little wand was a last-minute add on, having been inspired by the wands at Dream Child Studios (which are gorgeous). I couldn’t find a perfect wooden ring, so I made do with a package of balsa wood marker stakes that I drilled holes into. Worked like a charm!

The little notebook was the start of my thrifted/recycled Easter idea that didn’t really pan out, although the kids seem to enjoy the notebooks. The covers were made from recycled cardboard, paper I had on hand, and of course (thrifted) googly eyes because what kid doesn’t like a googly eye? Steve bought me a Xyron Creative Station for Christmas, so I attempeted to laminate the covers and failed miserably but the kids didn’t care. The inside pages are from a one-a-day calendar that I stupidly bought Steve for Christmas and now feel tremendous guilt. Then I just used embroidery floss to put it all together.

The nest was an idea from Angry Chicken, and since I was feeling guilty about the distinct lack of chocolate I decided that if I made the chocolate treat myself it would some how negate the sugar effect. So they each got a little nest and eggs (of course, I promptly took these away from my own kids because whoa, they’re heavy on the sweet and I didn’t want to deal with THAT aftermath).

But my favorite part was the mini family album. Each book has a page dedicated to an immediate family member, and a write up of their favorite things. I wanted to do this so that my kids would get to know their out-of-town family. I am so happy with the album and the kids LOVE them. Callum “reads” his everyday, and I’m told his older cousin, J, does too.

In order to get the baskets, the kids had to go out and find salt dough easter eggs that were hanging in the trees. Callum and I made the easter eggs, then The Cousins, Callum, and I decorated them.

There were only 30 eggs so it took 5.1 seconds for the kids to find them all but we had fun running through the little patch of woods at the front of the house. Then it took some quick thinking to convince the kids to give up the salt dough eggs – I guess they figured they were worth keeping? Although what the hell they were going to do with them was a mystery.

All in all, a grand easter was had by all that are less than 5 feet tall. For those of us who are tall, sleeping in would have been grand. Especially considering the teething/crankiness situation.

Lest you think I’m some sort of anti-consumerist nazi, or incredibly thrifty, I’m not. I’m probably the world’s biggest sucker, actually. Both kids raked in the goods with a new outfit, marionette puppet, oil pastels, a musical clapper, and a water paint kit. And that was just from us. Then came the Easter goods from the Grandmas… Seriously, when did Easter become Christmas?! I think I basically have SUCKER tattooed on my forehead.

7 Responses to “Another post heavy on the craft pictures. I will force you to LOVE THE CRAFTS.”

1. Andrew says:

   April 20, 2009 at 12:34 pm

   My eyes are burning from all the crafty goodness. Let me know when I should start shipping out my recycling.
   BTW, 1 hr of crafting = 1 session of nookie; check the bill of rights if you doubt me.
2. Mom says:

   April 20, 2009 at 4:10 pm

   A good time was had by all, and Steve too, one would hope!!!
   Seriously cute…..also…..how can a Grandma resist an outfit at Easter? We simply must get them. Who knows when a good Easter outfit will just appear???
3. Amber says:

   April 20, 2009 at 7:44 pm

   huh. that could put a damper on the crafting…
4. michelle says:

   April 20, 2009 at 8:40 pm

   As I was reading this post I realized I never sent you that info you wanted! I am so sorry did we get in the book or did we miss out because of my airheadedness?
5. Suzy says:

   April 20, 2009 at 8:40 pm

   You are so talented, inspired, and inspiring!
   Does this mean you’ve forced me to love the craftiness? ‘Cause I do!
6. Amber says:

   April 20, 2009 at 8:45 pm

   yay to craft-love!
   Michelle – it’s set up so I can add in extra pages so SEND THE INFO!!!
7. Grandma says:

   April 20, 2009 at 10:07 pm

   You never fail to amaze me –how about the darling quilt you made ????