I was compensated for this post by Global Influence. I also received candy from Hershey’s to facilitate this post – and even better, one lucky reader gets to win a Hershey’s Chocolate prize pack!
Easter will be here before you know it (April 20th, in case you’re wondering…thank goodness for Google). Easter means a lot of things to me…Spring, cute dresses for the toddler, family, and of course…chocolate.
This year I wanted to make something cute and festive that we could pass out to the kids in the neighborhood as well as my kids’ classmates. Nothing expensive…just something cute, Easter-y, and handmade (I don’t always go handmade, but when I do…I don’t mess around). The GIANT BOX of Hershey’s candy I received in the mail (two days after I started Weight Watchers…no comments on the internal struggle that followed the chocolate’s arrival) served as inspiration for these handmade paper Easter baskets (template for free printable Easter baskets below!).
{Side note: Did I mention that HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate is actually my favorite chocolate? And that I require it as a gift from my husband on Mother’s Day, my birthday, and Valentine’s Day, and stuff my kids’ Easter baskets with it so I can have some, too?}
The Cadbury Eggs, Cadbury Mini Eggs, REESE’S Peanut Butter Reester Bunnies, and the HERSHEY’S KISSES Milk Chocolates are all the perfect size for these cute little baskets.
Here’s what you need to make these handmade paper Easter baskets:
- Color printer (or, just print them out in black and white and use them to trace out the pattern on scrapbook paper)
- Paper (cardstock works best)
- Scissors
- Tape
- HERSHEY’s candy (to fill them up with goodies!)
- Easter grass (optional…I found mine at a craft store for $1.00)
Click here to download the free printable Easter Basket templates (and go easy on me…I’m still super new to this graphic design stuff):
This craft is “easy” – it doesn’t involve power tools and it’s mindless enough that you can do it while watching Real Housewives (that’s not just me, right?) – but it’s not really little kid-friendly. You do need some level of dexterity and patience to get the first basket or two together (the more you make, the easier they get).
Here’s a simple tutorial on how to make your baskets.
- Print your basket templates and cut all of the pieces out (I used a paper cutter for the long strips, but I made plenty of these using just scissors and they worked just fine).
- Fold the sides of the box in towards the center and then along the dotted lines (much easier if you fold first!).
- Take one of your basket weaving strips and fold it into a square. Use a piece of tape the secure it. It’s easier to work with an already-formed square (trust me!).
- Weave the basket’s strips around the square weaving strip (one goes over, the next goes under…all around the square). This can be a little bit tricky, so I used tape to secure it every now and then.
- Once you’ve got the basket complete, use tape (on the inside of the basket) to keep the strips in place. Fold the strip that will be the top of the basket in half, lengthwise.
- Fold the basket top strip into quarters and place on the top of the basket. Use tape to secure.
- Tape the handle to the inside of the box, and…ta-da! All done!
Although I didn’t let my kids help (aside from handing me little pieces of tape), they LOVE these little baskets! They have been carrying them around the house and fighting over who gets to play with them next (the fighting part’s not so great, but the part where they love playing with them is!).
There are all kinds of fun (and delicious) Easter ideas at CelebratewithHersheys.com. If you are looking for inspiration, you will find plenty here. My favorite (if I had to pick one) is this super cute WHOPPERS ROBIN EGGS Wreath (it is *right* up my alley – kind of wish I’d thought of it first!).
And now for the fun stuff! One super lucky reader of mine will win a prize pack of Hershey’s candy.
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i love to paint eggs and i like the Easter Bunny Egg Racers
I love to color eggs and the Easter Basket cupcakes look yummy!
My favorite Easter tradition is the Easter egg hunt. I can remember how much fun we had.My favorite recipe is the peanut butter bunnycakes. Not only are they cute, but the kids would have fun making them.
LOVE this! And I love Easter basket cupcakes too!
We like to fill the plastic Easter eggs with candy and hide them around the house. The Fudgey Brownie Pie sounds really good from the website.
Peanut butter fudge looks yummy!
My family has always given small gifts on Easter – earrings, golf balls, etc. It’s a nice gesture.
My favorite tradition Church in the morning – so peaceful and such a tradition
Favorite recipe from link is the black eyed susan cheesecakes – so cute and a great idea
I love coloring eggs, then having deviled eggs for dinner.
The egg racers look cool
The Easter Bunny leaves a scavenger hunt to find the baskets:)
Egg hunts with extended family and I like the great race craft!
I know that this is not a recipe but my kids and I agree that we all like the robins egg wreath. We’re going to try and make this for Easter. Our easter tradition has gone on for 3 generations and that is going out to get a new outfit.
we have an egg hunt in my large backyard..favorite recipe is the Easter basket cupcakes, so cute and creative
I love the Lenten season, and the Easter Basket cupcakes are adorable!
I love going on an Easter picnic! And the Coconut Marshmallow basket treats are super cute! (https://www.hersheys.com/celebrate/easter/recipedetail.aspx?id=8008)
Love the Easter Racers on the site and our tradition is that we always eat ham and pineapple salad for Easter!
Our favorite tradition is to hide the easter baskets and I can’t wait to try the velvety chocolate cream pie!
The Easter basket cupcakes are really cute! My favorite tradition is dying eggs.
I like a nice Easter Dinner and I like the Easter Basket Craft you can make on the Hershey website
using water coloring to color eggs with the kids.. making up their easter baskets n having a nice family easter dinner all together..
My favorite Easter tradition is definitely the big meal–brown sugar glaze ham, baked mac and cheese, roasted asparagus, homemade bread, and peach pie for dessert. I’m drooling just thinking about it! My favorite thing on the Hershey’s site is their Peanut Butter Chip Banana Muffins recipe! And I like their foil egg wreath, too!