Happy spring! This last week was a busy one; we were getting ready for Easter and it was Spring Break so we had several friends over to play. It is a lot of fun to do educational activities with friends and find ways to make a holiday special. Here are some of the highlights from our week of creative spring-inspired kids’ projects.
Each year we enjoy doing at least one Easter egg hunt for the kids. Older kids can help fill the eggs with candy and even help hide the eggs. We planned several backyard Easter egg hunts for friends and family this year, a fun way to spend a spring afternoon. How darling is my daughter’s peppermint patty skirt from Matilda Jane Clothing??
You don’t always have to put candy in Easter eggs. Our family reached sugar overload during the week leading up to Easter so I put small toys, stickers and colorful jewels in my kids’ Easter eggs. Mostly children just enjoy finding the hidden eggs!
Homemade Bunny Sugar Cookies
To celebrate Easter and the coming of Spring we also made sugar cookie shapes decorated with colorful icing. My girls love helping with mixing the dough and decorating a cookie to enjoy as a snack.
I love how our Easter egg and bunny shaped sugar cookies turned out!
Homemade Sugar Cookie Tips
A few tips are important to know when making homemade sugar cookies. These cookie baking and decorating tips can help you make professional looking cookies that can be adorably customized for any party or special event!
- Mix up your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Cut the cookie shapes about 1/4 inch thick so they are nice and sturdy.
- Don’t overbake the cookies. You can take the cookies out of the oven just before they start to brown. Allow the sugar cookies to sit on the hot baking sheet out of the oven for a minute or two and then move the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
DIY Sugar Cookie Icing
- Make decorating icing by melting 1 tbsp. butter and mixing in 1 cup powered sugar, 1 tbsp. milk and 1 tsp. vanilla. Stir until smooth. Add a tiny bit more milk or spoonfuls of powered sugar until you create the desired consistency.
- Don’t make the icing too thick which won’t go on smoothly.
- Spoon icing into a sandwich bag and cut off a tiny corner to make your own piping bag for each color of icing.
- Decorate and enjoy your pretty treats!
Custom sugar cookies are adorable treats for a snack time tea party.
Kids Easter Basket Surprises
This year I included educational activities as well as a few fun surprises in my kids’ Easter basket. I spent a total of about $20 on 3 kid’s Easter baskets. I shopped for small gifts at The Dollar Store and Walmart. My daughter had recently broken her ballet tiara so I included a new princess crown in her Easter basket as an extra.
My kids’ budget-friendly Easter basket surprises included:
- Coloring books
- Chocolate bunnies
- Pretty paper plates for my girls’ tea parties
- Glitter glue
- Butterfly wings
- Balloons
- Ring pops
- Stickers
Our family tries to keep holidays centered around the reason for the season. We read the Easter Story of Jesus’ death and resurrection before we presented the kids with their Easter baskets. Planning a time for a brief family devotional allows our family to not overlook the true celebration of Easter and still enjoy some fun after!
How does your family celebrate Easter and the coming of Spring? We will create more traditions as our kids get older but for now we keep holidays simple and memorable!
Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 3 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, taking photos and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!