Need non-candy Easter basket filler ideas

stamper-doodle · 02-20-2009

My cub scouts are going to make small baskets to take to about 20 hospital residents at Easter time. They can not contain candy. So far I have thought of post it note holders & matching pens...
any other ideas?

GnarlyGirl · 02-20-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by stamper-doodle

My cub scouts are going to make small baskets to take to about 20 hospital residents at Easter time. They can not contain candy. So far I have thought of post it note holders & matching pens...
any other ideas?

What a great idea! How about small covered journals and matching pen? Cards would be a good idea. Are they for adults or kids? For kids you could make small coloring books and add some crayons.

carabecca · 02-20-2009

Fuzzy socks! Hospitals are always cold.

craftsrlb · 02-20-2009

bookmarks,simple note cards, personal note from the child( elderly or shut ins really apprecaite things from kids) our church made valentines for shut ins and included a picture of themselves and a little note

stamper-doodle · 02-20-2009

Great ideas so far, thanks you!! They will be for adults!

whoistracy · 02-20-2009

Socks or slippers is a great idea! My grandmother loves to make crafts in her room- maybe something creative for the residents??

Judyw · 02-20-2009

Hand lotions? Non scented stuff of course, but you can get it at the dollar store.

Handmade cards? Can the boys do some simple stamping?

stamper1996 · 02-20-2009

Can you include a piece of fruit (banana or orange, maybe)?

stamper-doodle · 02-20-2009

[quote=Judyw;13185574]Hand lotions? Non scented stuff of course, but you can get it at the dollar store.

good idea! Maybe chap stick in the little chap stick holders too huh???

Londonblue · 02-20-2009

a gal I know had to have her room exterminated because of bugs coming in with her fruit..now she's not allowed to have a fruit bowl.

Londonblue · 02-20-2009

maybe the boys could decopage some dollar frames and you could put one of their cards in it for decor in their rooms.

The gal I know always runs short of postage. So perhaps 4 cards/4 stamped envies to go along?

angelinoregon · 02-20-2009

playing cards. i would think any dollar store would carry these to keep the expenses down.

smhtwin · 02-20-2009

How about a crossword puzzle book?

You can usually find them in the dollar stores.

Angelnorth · 02-20-2009

Things like puzzle books (crossword, wordsearch, suduko etc) could be good - you may even be able to find online sources for those and print "custom made" booklets of mixed puzzles if there are no cheap ones available locally - the boys could design covers for the booklet.

Traditional game pieces like dominos, checkers etc might be appreciated too if the residents are able to play games together. The boys might even be able to make little tic-tac-toe boards with stamped counters (punched pieces with two different stamped designs). If you include playing cards, maybe you could find some instructions online for different solitaire games etc and include a few of those as a little booklet, too - that would give the residents options to fill time on their own as well as with each other.

Do you have anywhere locally that you could ask for remaindered magazines? If places haven't sold them by the end of the issue date, they may be willing to give them to you for a cause like this. I know you won't know what people's tastes and interests are but if you could get your hands on a selection the residents could always swap amongst themselves if necessary.

Good luck, sounds like a great project!

Judyw · 02-20-2009

I just got a pack of playing cards at Michaels for $1.oo. They even came in a plastic case.

nancystamps · 02-20-2009

[quote=stamper-doodle;13185737]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judyw

Hand lotions? Non scented stuff of course, but you can get it at the dollar store.

good idea! Maybe chap stick in the little chap stick holders too huh???

Yes, chap stick! That's what I was thinking!

Mamadukes · 02-21-2009

How about small jigsaw puzzles? I have seen scenic ones at the dollar store.

Busyb · 02-21-2009

Silly Putty, mini Slinky, Play-dough, fun for all ages!

postcardgirl · 02-21-2009

My youngest daughter's Brownie troop put together bags at Christmas time for the residents of one of the local places, and not only did they do Christmas carols, but gave each person one of these bags - one of the things they loved most was picture frames - a close second was handmade crafts the girls had made!!

RiverIsis · 02-21-2009

Maybe a grow your own sunflower kit? - a seed, a pot, the compost all ready to plant.

samswindle · 02-25-2009

I like the idea of notecards and/or stamps. Inexpensive dollar frames with a little decoration or just some cardstock in them to work as a mat for pics. You can also usually find those small flexible picture albums at the $1 store. Maybe a small telephone/address book for them to use.
And most of all, I think it would be nice for the boys to write each person a short sweet note on a card saying something about how much the kids respect them and want to help them. Hope that helps!! ( I also like the silly putty idea. It would be fun for the residents and using it helps strengthen the muscles in their hands!)

CraftySpice · 02-25-2009

I worked a craft fair at an assisted living/nursing home before, and the residents loved fabric covers for the individual tissue packets. It would be easy to make your own pattern for this--think gate-fold card with the ends sewn shut. I used a bunch of different fabrics and edged the opening with rickrack. You could use some Easter-themed or floral fabric. The scouts might be able to help cut them out, pin them for sewing, and turn them right side out again once sewn if you have a portable sewing machine.

Pumpkin's Mom · 02-25-2009

This is a great idea. I was going to say tissues, I know my grandmother always asked us to bring those for her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraftySpice

I worked a craft fair at an assisted living/nursing home before, and the residents loved fabric covers for the individual tissue packets. It would be easy to make your own pattern for this--think gate-fold card with the ends sewn shut. I used a bunch of different fabrics and edged the opening with rickrack. You could use some Easter-themed or floral fabric. The scouts might be able to help cut them out, pin them for sewing, and turn them right side out again once sewn if you have a portable sewing machine.

grammieo · 02-25-2009

The seniors I work with like to get bingo markers.

stamper1996 · 02-25-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Londonblue

a gal I know had to have her room exterminated because of bugs coming in with her fruit..now she's not allowed to have a fruit bowl.

That's too bad. I had suggested a banana because that was always a coveted "prize" from bingo games when my great-grandma was in a nursing home.

lisat_2003 · 02-25-2009

How about this as packaging for your tissues...I've also seen two 'cough drops' in place of the chapstick.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...t%20well%20kit

Tutorial by SweetandSassy Stamps.
http://sweetnsassystamps.blogspot.co...challenge.html

We do a BD party for seniors with Bingo and prizes and what goes first are the 'little gifts' they can give their grandchildren.
--paper bead bracelets (nicole at PaperTrey has an easy tutorial on this)
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...7?si=bracelets
--handmade boxes
--Smaller notecards (but able to be posted)
--Gift Card Holders (empty)
--Stamps (especially as they keep going up!!!)
--Paper Bouquets...to brighten their rooms AND they don't die in two days
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...aper%20bouquet
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...aper%20bouquet
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...aper%20bouquet (just replace pixie stix with bamboo skewers)
--PaperClip BookMarks
--Glass Bead Magnets (simple use stamp or pretty paper...press one drop clear glue, flat glass bead (floral section), let dry and cut...and affix round magnet to back.

Good luck and what fun!!

RetiredPJ · 02-25-2009

book markers - I did this for Christmas: used wordart for their names (if you know their names) and added some pics, cartoons, sayings, spiritual thot or an overall pattern and ran them thru the laminating xyron.

alliwhit · 02-25-2009

These are great ideas, keep them coming!

CR8tive K8 · 02-26-2009

how fun! thanks for sharing everyone - I have to come up with girl scout things for the Fall and now I can be on the lookout from now til then! Thanks!

peeps321 · 02-26-2009

I was going to suggest crossword puzzle or suduko books as well...I wonder do they come in large print versions? I'm sure that would be appreciated. Check the Dollar store or Target $1 spot.

I second the idea that the scouts could write a personal note to the residents..I'm sure those would be treasured.

iamastampr · 02-26-2009

How about the little bottles of bubbles from the wedding section at M's?

sharron246 · 02-26-2009

What about getting the scouts to bring in some rotten jokes,
You could make a little book, of them and ask the boys to add a picture to the bottom of the pages.

How does a dog with no nose smell?
Terrible.....

Silvermel · 02-26-2009

Something my brother and I always did as children was to paint blown eggs. At first mom blew the eggs for us and we just painted them, but it wasn't long before she put our kid energy to work. Smart woman...lol

mikilana · 02-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraftySpice

I worked a craft fair at an assisted living/nursing home before, and the residents loved fabric covers for the individual tissue packets. It would be easy to make your own pattern for this--think gate-fold card with the ends sewn shut. I used a bunch of different fabrics and edged the opening with rickrack. You could use some Easter-themed or floral fabric. The scouts might be able to help cut them out, pin them for sewing, and turn them right side out again once sewn if you have a portable sewing machine.

here's a nice simple tutorial for one...

standing_on_faith · 03-07-2009

If you have access to beads the nursing home where my grandmother is the little ladies actually fight, and swap, strechy necklaces and bracelets. They don't care if they match anything or not they just love those things. And they love getting pictures of the little girls or boys that make them.

Marie

Tillymint · 03-07-2009

What about small note pads and pencils. A couple of blank cards always come in handy too.

Movin'Mel · 03-08-2009

Subscribing

sharron246 · 03-08-2009

What about some of the little coaster pads with the clip at the top. They are note pads.

Also little packs of tissues, you could wrap them like tick-tacks.

swain78 · 03-08-2009

Subbing to this great thread

Tracy-Stamper · 03-08-2009

I love love love these bunny boxes Jackie Lewis from Inky Antics posted on her blog. She put jelly beans inside of them, but I think they are cute enough even without candy inside them!

http://inkyanticsrubberstamps.blogsp...-template.html