Handmade Easter Gift Ideas

Handmade Easter gifts are a lovely way to show someone that you are thinking of them. Many popular symbols of Easter, such as eggs and Easter baskets offer lots of crafting opportunities.

Simple Easter gifts are quick to make and require little in the way of special supplies or equipment. Some interesting handmade Easter gift ideas include:

Decorated Eggs

Eggs are one of the key Easter symbols, however they also make attractive decorations for display the whole year round. Make attractive decorated eggs by colouring egg shells (it is important to remove the contents of the egg shell before starting) with dye or food colouring. Further decorations can be added such as glitter, stick-on jewels, hand drawn decorations and ribbons to create miniature works of art. Other ways to decorate eggs include drawing patterns on the egg with wax before the eggs are dyed and the wax will act as a resist, creating a pattern on the shell.

Egg Cosies

Egg cosies are quick and easy to make using a variety of techniques. Egg cosies can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Egg cosies are a very versatile craft project, as the designs can vary from a very simple shape through to more complex designs such as characters and animals.

Egg Cups

Handmade egg cups can be made from polymer or air dry clay (air dry clay should be sealed with varnish before use). These make a great handmade Easter gift and can be combined with a handmade egg cosie for a complete gift. An alternative to making an egg cup from scratch is to decorate a plain shop-bought egg cup with ceramic paint. This is a quick way to customise a wide range of ceramic items.

Handmade Chocolates and Confectionery

Chocolates and confectionery are easy to make at home and these make great gifts and are an interesting alternative to shop bought Easter Eggs. Make these extra special by presenting the chocolates in a handmade box. Gift boxes can be made from plain card and customised with decorations.

Seed Envelopes

Seeds make a thoughtful token gift for Easter and are ideal for giving to friends and neighbours. Make attractive handmade seed envelopes to hold the seeds and decorate this with rubber stamps or hand drawn decorations. Simple seed envelope templates are widely available on the Internet.

Easter Basket Hampers

An interesting variation on an Easter basket is to turn the basket into a hamper. This is a very versatile Easter gift as the contents of the hamper can be varied to the recipient. Make handmade soaps and bath salts to make a luxurious bath time treat hamper or follow the Egg theme with a basket filled with fresh eggs, hand decorated egg cups, handmade egg cosies and other egg themed items.

Tips for Giving Handmade Easter Gifts

Here are some tips for making and giving handmade presents at Easter:

• Present the gifts in handmade gift packaging such as hand decorated gift wrap or handmade gift boxes. This complements the hand crafted nature of the gift.
• Remember to include any special instructions with the gift, such as whether a hand made egg cup is dishwasher safe or planting instructions for seeds.
• When making food items, such as handmade chocolates, remember that some people have food allergies to products including nuts. Therefore it is a good idea to enclose an ingredient list.

A handmade Easter gift for family and friends is a lovely way to show them that they are being thought of this Easter.