It’s time to start thinking about Easter baskets again. Instead of buying a preassembled one, save some dough and make Dollar Tree Easter baskets. When you head to discount stores, you already know how much each product is, so just use your creative juices to make it special (and affordable).
Since this last year has been brutal on the finances for most people, there’s no need to cancel Easter. Fundamentally, Easter isn’t really about toys and candy anyway. Baskets aside, another option is to gather your family to make easy Easter crafts. If you’re planning to head out, be sure to check which businesses are closed on Easter Sunday.
These DIY Dollar Tree Easter Baskets are something my kids go bananas for, without even knowing that I only spent around $20 on each. I gotta say, they look super expensive and are game changers around my house.
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1. Save money buying items you can split between multiple Dollar Tree Easter baskets.
If you have more than one kiddo, this is genius. And little toys like bubbles, putty or clay, and sidewalk chalk are easy enough to split among several baskets. On the Dollar Tree website, you can buy in bulk, so you can double up on favorites, make baskets for your friends and family, or donate a basket to a local charity like Project Bunny.
2. Forget about actual Easter baskets. Use storage bins or buckets!
Step up your presentation game and do away with those wicker baskets. Wire baskets are more useful and come in an assortment of colors and shapes. This way, your kids can reuse their “baskets” for toys or homework. No need to buy a straw basket that just ends up in the trash anyway.
3. Remove the packaging so you can fit more stuff in there.
I know, I know. For some of you this is a no-brainer. But I’ve been guilty of late night, sleepy Easter basket assembly where I don’t even remove the tags. If you take everything out of the packaging, it’s easier to move things around and arrange them in the basket.
4. Split candy into plastic Easter Eggs.
This is kind of like the first tip. Trust me, they’ll be eating candy all day, so the last thing they need is an entire bag of Sour Patch Kids. Consider non-chocolate candy because, in my experience, they melt in the sun during Easter egg hunts.
5. Fill the bottom of your basket with newspaper or shopping bags.
You can use the same bags they put your items in at the Dollar Tree. The reason for this is twofold: one, this will allow you to get away with using less “grass” per basket; and two, the grass doesn’t support heavy items and they sink. You can cover the bags or newspapers with grass. I was able to use one bag cut in two for both my Dollar Tree Easter baskets. If you’re concerned about the newspapers showing, use the comics section.
6. Tape tall items to the back of your basket.
Listen, your Dollar Tree Easter baskets might be affordable, but they don’t have to be flimsy. Nothing worse than floppy things tipping over the basket. Don’t skip this step or you will hear a crash in the middle of the night and see candy/toys all over your kitchen. Yes, this happened. Not the kind of hunting I want to do again at 3 a.m.
7. Put smaller, heavier items toward the front.
Yeah, extra insurance that Tip 6 doesn’t happen to you. Plus, it looks more balanced, and your recipient can get a better glimpse into all of the goodies.
8. Put your basket inside an Easter bag.
These cute Easter basket bags are sold in a 2-pack at the Dollar Tree. Why do you need one? Well, there’s Tip 6. Plus, if you have pets, this is extra-extra disaster insurance. And it looks cute and gives the kids something to unwrap, which is fun. Presentation is everything.
Related: 14 Ridiculously Easy Easter Crafts Anyone Can Do
9. Tie it off with ribbon.
Just like those holiday presents, “zhuzh” up the basket with some decorative ribbon at the top. Maybe add some Easter stickers to reinforce the theme.
10. Stand back and admire your hard work.
You did it. A Dollar Tree Easter basket is a fun, genius, and affordable way to bring smiles to kiddos. And you can adjust the size of the basket to fit your budget.