Non-Candy Easter Basket Gift Ideas

Now, right off the bat: I have no problem with candy. None whatsoever. We eat plenty of it around here, and there will definitely be candy in our kids' Easter baskets.

Just wanted to get that out of the way in case anyone was getting ready to feel judged or looked down on. No sugar-hating here.

But I know lots of parents like to walk the non-candy path for Easter, or add a little toy or gift to their kids' Easter goodie baskets, so I thought I'd gather up a few fun items that we've either used in the past, or are looking at this year, that are perfect for tucking into an Easter basket.

1. I love including Easter outfits in the kids' baskets. They'll be receiving an Easter outfit anyway, so why not fold it up and stick it into their basket so it feels more like a present? I love these striped shorts and this cute poplin top for little guys.

2. I already bought Darcy's Easter dress but can't find it online anywhere (sad!). The one I chose for her looks pretty similar to this darling embroidered chambray dress (LOVE it!), and how cute would it be with a floppy straw hat on top?

3. Of course I can't leave books out. These three picture books are bright, cheerful, and perfect for spring: Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld, My Garden by Kevin Henkes, and Duck & Goose by Tad Hills.

4. I've written a few times about my undying love for Beddy's awesome zipper bedding, and let me assure you, that love burns on (and sizzles yet brighter every morning that Forrest makes his own bed neatly without my help, and my own bed takes like 10 seconds to zip up). You can see their bedding in Forrest's room HERE, and in my bedroom HERE.

Beddy's has just come out with an adorable new product -- Beddy's Buddies. They are soft and squishy plush monsters that come with a hardcover picture book encouraging kids not to be afraid of monsters under their beds. They sent a set of monsters to my kids, and I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that their monsters have been dragged everywhere we've gone since the day they arrived.

They're big, fuzzy, and super snuggly, and would be so cute as an Easter basket item! You can save 20% on your buddy + book combo with coupon code BUDDIES.

5. I love giving something that gets the kids outside to take advantage of spring weather (like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, or a big bouncy ball), and this sprinkler looks like so much fun! And it has over 400 5-star reviews, so it feels like a pretty safe purchase.

Do you have any Easter basket traditions in your family?

More Last Minute Easter Crochet

So, at about this time in 2011, I wrote a post sharing some cute crochet patterns that would make awesome last minute Easter gifts. And for some reason, it got and continues to get a good amount of attention (weird—I’m always kind of surprised when any of the garbage I write here gets attention), so I figured I’d do another one this year with newer pattern ideas!

Now, first things first: I get at least one email a week asking for the pattern to the chick in a bunny suit I made and linked to in the previous Easter post:

The good news: it’s a super cute, super fast little project that will work up in no time, perfect for tucking into an Easter basket.

The bad news: it used to be free, and now it’s not. But it’s only $3, and you can find it right HERE in the Dawnie Dolls etsy shop. (The photo above is my version of the project, which I took some liberties with, so make sure to check out the listing pictures to see how making one exactly as written will turn out!)

Now that’s out of the way, here are my top 5 picks for quick, adorable Easter crochet patterns (all free!) that would be perfect to start and finish in one or two days and add to an Easter basket! (Note: while a few of these are on my to-do list, I haven’t made any of them yet, so I can’t comment on the patterns themselves or finished projects made using them!)

If there is a Peeps fan in your house, this Easter Peeps pattern would be so cute and funny to make for them! I have no fondness for Peeps, so the crocheted version looks much better to me than the real deal.

I love the idea of making a dozen colorful little Easter eggs to use for decorating or filling baskets. Sure beats dyeing eggs every year—not my favorite holiday activity. Get the free Easter egg crochet pattern HERE!

I love the unique look of these little Easter bunnies! So colorful and cheerful, and the lack of appendages would make them SO quick to work up. Get the pattern HERE.

Doesn’t this little Easter chick look so sweet? It’s hard to tell how big he turns out, but I’m guessing he’s little enough to tuck into an Easter egg. Awwww! Get the pattern HERE.

And last but not least:

I love the Boxy Skirt Bunny! They look cute in every color combo, and look like they’d be a lot of fun to customize and play around with. Get the pattern (a Ravelry download) right HERE.

Have you crocheted anything for Easter this year?