Tag Archives: Easter ideas

Hand-crafted Easter Basket (Part 1)

Easter is one of our family’s favorite celebrations. As Christians, it is a joy to honor Christ’s resurrection!

And I’m a sucker for fun holiday traditions.

Our three kids are now adults in their early twenties. Am I the only mom who still wants to have some Easter fun and fill a basket for her adult kids? 😉 And now, there is an amazing guy and gal to love into our tribe! We adore them.

The time will come when these amazing young adults will create their own traditions for their families, but until then I relish surprising them with their favorite treats.

While decorating for Easter recently, I set out our kids’ Easter baskets and felt it was time to add two more baskets for this very special guy and gal to the menagerie of woven wood and soft trims.

To make hers, I incorporated one of her favorite colors and favorite flower; lavender and baby’s breath.

I gathered all of the elements in a trip to Michaels and let the basket design itself.

It requires very little structural components: tying knots, a little hot glue, and a paper clip. However, I love all of the layers of details and textures. Fun!

Items needed:

  1. basket
  2. ribbon
  3. faux garland
  4. small applique flowers
  5. tulle (I took a shortcut and bought the 50 strips precut; mainly because I knew if I cut them they wouldn’t be exactly the same length)
  6. hot glue & hot glue gun
  7. large paper clip
Step One
  • Count the number of pieces of tulle you’ll need. Using the pre-cut strips, count the number of holes and then divide the number of strips to fill the holes by two as the length of the tulle strip will be cut in half to make two shorter pieces.
  • Gather the tulle strips, fold them in half and cut them.
Step Two
  • Prepare the paper clip by unfolding it and closing the larger loop so the tulle doesn’t slip out.
  • Thread two strips of tulle through the large hole, then push the paper clip through the top weave on the basket from the bottom up.
  • Pull one half of the tulle length through.
  • Repeat pulling tulle through all the way around the basket.
Step Three
  • Fold the top half of the tulle into the basket
  • Cut garland to fit and place it to “hook” around one arm of the basket.
  • Tie the garland on with the tulle at the halfway point then repeat from beginning
  • Continue tying the garland until finished.
  • Cut half of the tulle shorter to create dramatic layers
Step Four
  • Wrap handle with the ribbon and hot glue the ends on the inside of the handle. Then wrap garland around the handle
  • With the ribbon, tie a bow around the handle and garland to keep it in place
When finished, drip a few hot glue drops on the inside to secure the garland and ribbon to the handle.
Step Five
  • Using hot glue, in 4″ increments, place the small applique flowers in alternating colors on the rim of the basket
  • Hot glue three flowers in the middle of the top of the handle. Then hot glue four flowers, raised up, on top of the three flowers
  • Hot glue the small flowers above and beneath the bow
All done! 🙂 Fill and enjoy!

Easter during a pandemic – WWJD

8.5 x 11 miscellaneous VERTICAL - Page 203

When decorating for Easter, we usually focus on the cross, the crown of thorns, the empty tomb…with some cute spring and bunny motif thrown in.
This year, while quarantining through the Easter season, I felt a nudge to accentuate a different moment in Jesus’ final days before crucifixion.

In John 13:1-17, Jesus washed his disciples feet. The humility in his posture toward those he loved. The grace he gave those he loved. The servant-heart he showed those he loved.

To follow the example of our Savior, I forewent the “prettier” Easter decor and set out a bowl filled with tap water and an ordinary dish towel as the centerpiece for our kitchen table.

It is a reminder to keep a servant’s heart, a me-second attitude, and a grace-filled posture toward our family who we’re now spending 24/7 with in a confined space.

God gave us a little devotion about it – to stay in the attitude of “How can I wash your feet today?” Maybe it’s praying for each other. Maybe it’s unloading the dishwasher or helping with yard work or turning down the tv when someone is trying to work.
Maybe it’s an encouraging word or hug. Or sharing a laugh or a joke to lighten the day.

However, in these stressful times of isolating from a world-wide crisis while juggling work, sick family, fears of the future, and the million things that keep us up at night, perhaps “washing each others’ feet” is NOT saying the irrational, negative, angst-filled words in the moment; NOT taking the stress and fear out on each other; maybe it’s what we DON’T say and do – the hurtful and not helpful – that best demonstrates Jesus’ point in these extraordinary times.

The bowl, water and dish towel sit in full view all day long. Every day. It’s a great visual of what Jesus did, KNOWING he was going to suffer and die, and is a reminder of how we can follow his example as we wait and wonder IF we will suffer and die.

Jesus’ life gave us all the tools we need to navigate this crazy world. Pandemic or otherwise. I might just leave this centerpiece out indefinitely so we never forget to love, serve and give grace to those nearest, our neighbors and the nations. 
______________________________________________________________________

John 13:12-17 “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”