I really love making special things like dresses, bunnies, baskets, felt eggs, and skirts for Easter, so yesterday afternoon Pearl and I spent a little time after school making what I call Easter pretties! She calls these little scenes “prerrariums,” for “pretty terrariums,” which I thought was pretty awesome too. This is a super fast and very kid-friendly project, totally customizable to use whatever kinds of spring decorations and fancies you like best, and any bowls, jars, or baskets you have handy.

The idea first popped into my head when I saw these boxes of Easter chicks at New Seasons – I’ve always loved these little guys. I got a tiny set and a bigger set for us to play with.

My Aunt Susan gave me these pretty ice cream pedestal bowls years ago, which worked perfectly for our little scenes. You can use whatever bowls, saucers, baskets, or jars you have handy. This project is kind of a kid and pet magnet, so I wouldn’t use heirloom china teacups or anything too precious – sturdy pieces are ideal. And of course keep small, tempting treasures like beads and buttons well out of young children’s reach.

I pulled some of my favorite vintage beads and some pretty acrylic flowers from Fire Mountain Gems to add to our little scenes.

I filled both of our pedestal bowls about halfway with white sand (left over from my Ice Planet Hoth terrarium from World of Geekcraft – pebbles or fluffy batting would work as a base layer, too). We each chose a few chicks and settled them into the sand so they stood in a nice arrangement to build around. Then I let her have first pick of beads, flowers, and baubles to add to the scene. I finished mine in just a couple of minutes – a big chick surrounded by two little baby ones and some colorful beads around a flower.

Pearl arranged and rearranged hers for a lot longer, and her chick ended up with an adorable semicircle of five babies, as well as some fancy flowers. The nicest part of this project is that you can endlessly change it around, nothing is set… so if you find new things to add or want to switch it up, it’s effortless.

Then, after Easter, we can take them apart, pour the sand back into a bag, and save everything for next year’s decorations! For now, they are just out of Everett’s easy reach, on my dining room hutch with some of our favorite things.

I’m planning to make them some new Easter shirts like the initial ones I appliqued last year, which were a big hit. I also got mystery LEGO minifigs and Playmobil characters for their Easter baskets, and some of those cool black velvet posters that come with a set of markers, and one big amazing LEGO thing to share that I think they are going to be so excited for. Three and five are keeping me busy, but it’s so fun to come up with big-kid surprises like these…

I hope you are having a lovely spring so far! Mine has been a bit too crazy, honestly, but I’m happy to be making some little projects for fun again, and I have a few more things I’m excited to share soon too. Happy spring!