Getting ready for Easter

Earlier this week, the table in the guest room (which doubles as my craft space, but these days hasn't seen much use) looked like this:

Now, I would love to say that whenever I make a mess and start a project, it has a happy resolution and something totally cool is created. But, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I LOVE to start projects and have the best intentions to finish them... but often don't. I've got half-finished Valentine's day cards and St. Patrick's day cards to prove it. This year, I decided to force myself to focus and get some cuteness made up from this little mess I'd made.

I made a few Easter cards with some forgotten stamps and some much neglected pretty pastel scrapbooking paper that otherwise would continue to be stored under my craft table forever. (I do have a boy, after all).

I made some super-simple but very cute gift cards for M to give to his friends. They're 3"x3" and super simple to make.

And, finally, I got some Easter treats together for some special kids in our lives. I usually keep items that I think will make good packaging for gifts later down the road. I had saved the clear boxes that Papertrey Ink's stamp sets come in, but wasn't sure what I would use them for. Then I remembered seeing this idea for turning the boxes to gift bags -- and I knew how I would package up the goodies. I finished off the goodie packs with some left over stamped Easter images.

We are not big on candy at our house, and I know that the kids that these are going to also don't eat much candy. So I stayed away from the typical candy baskets and chocolate bunnies, and instead filled the treat bags with things I know my toddler loves: stickers, fruit tape, raisins, a new tiny pad of paper and new markers, and a new movie. There were a bunch of toddler-friendly dvd's on sale for $3.99 at Target last week, so I snatched up a few that I think the kids will like. One of the girls who is getting one  is really into crafts and art projects, so instead of a movie, she's getting a washable ink pad (pink, of course!) and a fun bunny stamp. 

All in all, the treat bags were simple and inexpensive to put together, and I'm glad to be giving them some fun little treats rather than candy. I can't wait to give them to our little friends!