I've compiled a list of feel good activities, crafts and easy additions to make your Easter full of festive cheer and add to the sense of occasion.
1. Create your own Easter egg hunt
Keep it small in the garden or around the house. For really little ones you could draw a picture/treasure(!) map of where they can find the eggs. Decorations can either lead the way or mark where the eggs are. For the older ones you can make full on riddles and really hide the decorations.
My downloadable decorations can be cut out and then stuck onto sticks (cooking skewers are good too) if you are outside - or can be used without the sticks if they aren't going to be blown away anywhere within the home. It's also a nice activity to do with little ones - we sometimes get the decorations ready for the Easter bunny who then places them around for us and then it makes it easier for your child to identify what they will be looking for.
2. Send a card
Something that of course I would always say to anyone! But in all seriousness, nothing beats a handwritten note through the door to say you are thinking of someone. Especially as things aren't quite back to normal yet (at time of writing we are still in phases of lockdown due to COVID in the UK) so sending your thoughts to those you can't see has never been more important.
This is also a nice way to send a treat or some money if that's what you do at Easter instead of chocolate. All my Easter cards are finished in delicate gold foil details to give a real sense of occasion and add to the specialness of Easter (the cards are still 100% recyclable too!).
3. Make baking extra cute
Why not make your own treats this year and make them extra Easter-y with some cake toppers?! You could instantly make any of your signature bakes into an Easter celebration cake using some toppers.
Can't bake? Then just fill some cake cases with some sweet treats. Topped with an Easter topper they will will look on theme and impressive even if you've made minimal effort!
4. Decorate for a real sense of occasion
We have birthday banners up for birthdays and tinsel up for Christmas so why not easter bunting? I love decorating a corner of my house for Easter - any excuse for buying more decorations! - even just popping some small egg baubles on some twigs in a vase can give a room a real sense of occasion.
Why not add some bunting for a real celebration which also gives you the satisfaction of making it yourself? This download is really quick and easy to make and if you are one of my newsletter subscribers you would have got this free with your March newsletter - lucky things!
5. Wrap up Easter goodies and treats
This is a nice idea if you are sending gifts through the post to people for Easter. This paper sings Spring and new beginnings so is perfect for this time of year. Here's a short tutorial for making a bag out of wrap to pop in those Easter eggs/treats too:
6. Make your own Easter treats
If you aren't a chocolate fan, this is a nice recipe for biscuits - it's my go to recipe for biscuits in fact! They are really sturdy and are a lot like shortbread.
Butter Biscuits
375g (13oz) plain flour
150g (5oz) caster sugar
200g (7oz) unsalted butter, chilled and diced
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
large pinch of salt
Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/gas mark 3. Butter a large baking sheet.
Sift together the flour and the salt. Add the sugar and butter and rub between your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix together with a spoon or your hands until the mixture comes together in a firm dough. Wrap it in cling film and chill it in the fridge for 10 minutes.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of about 3mm (1/2 inch). Cut out the biscuits using a fluted cutter.
Place on the baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
You could put the treats in a jar and line that with some pretty paper and twine to make a nice gift (or keep for yourself as a pretty treat jar of course!).
7. Make anything into an Easter something
These oversized tags are so versatile that you can turn absolutely anything into Easter! Use them as decorations in a corner of the room or add them to gifts or jars (like the idea above). If you have any other uses please send me a photo!
Available in my Etsy shop now.
Have a great Easter weekend all!