baskets to hold some goodies or colouring eggs for the hunt. Here are some things to do to make this Easter even more fun.

*** SUGAR EASTER EGGS (NON-EDIBLE) These make a wonderful decoration but remember these are NOT edible.

Ingredients: 1 beaten egg white 1 c. confectioners sugar 31 c. granulated sugar Method: BEAT egg white, add confectioners sugar, then add granulated sugar. Use food colouring if desired. Put in mold; let dry for about 1 hour; scoop out mold to the right thickness. I fasten the two halves of the eggs together with Royal Icing and decorate inside with scene and outside with the icing. These make a great gift and can be stored for the following year. People love them.

*** EASTER PLACEMATS Old Easter cards Easter pictures from magazines your children's drawings light weight cardboard or heavy construction paper glue contact paper GATHER up Easter cards from past years, pictures from magazines or your children's favourite drawings. Glue onto light cardboard or construction paper in decorative fashion the size of a placemat.

Cover this collage with clear contact paper to seal the placemat. Be sure to have your child date and sign it.

These make great gifts for grandparents.

*** EASTER GRASS 1 large Easter basket 1 lb wheat seed 1 lb vermiculite plastic wrap or clear plastic bag GROW a miniature meadow in an Easter basket it's real simple. A week before Easter line a large Easter basket with plastic wrap and fill with vermiculite (about 2-inches deep). Sprinkle wheat seed on top of the vermiculite. Put the basket in the sink and add water until the seed bed is damp. You shouldn't have to water it again before Easter.

Set the basket in a pan and place in filtered sunlight. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a clear plastic bag to keep moist. Remove the plastic after two days. The wheat should begin to sprout during the next few days. By Easter morning you would have real Easter grass to hide your eggs in.

*** WOVEN BASKETS pastel coloured construction paper two colours scissors glue or stapler USING one piece of paper cut horizontal straight lines about one inch in from side to side across paper, about 1 inch a part from each other. The paper should be covered from top to bottom with these slits.

Next take the other colour of paper and cut 1 strips. Weave these strips in and out of the slits in the first paper.

When completed with all the strips glue the ends of the strips to the first paper to hold in place. Next fold up the sides to make a basket shape. Staple or glue in place. With a contrasting colour make a handle on your basket and staple or glue.

Basket can then be filled with shredded paper to make a nest in the bottom.

*** EASTER BASKETS You'll need: pint milk or juice carton cotton balls pink yarn something to make eyes and nose (buttons, gumdrops or other candy or whatever you like) CLOSE the top of the empty carton. Position the carton on its side with the top closed edge vertical. Then on the side which is facing up, cut along the two long edges and the bottom edge. Hold flap up slightly and cut it to form two rabbit ears pointing away from the pointed end of carton.

Cover the entire outer part of the carton with cotton balls including the ears. Use a small piece of yarn to make outline of pink for the inner ear. Use buttons or whatever you chose to make eyes and nose on the pointed end of the carton. Place extra cotton balls for tail. Fill carton with Easter grass and candy.

*** BUNNY MASK paper plate pink construction paper pink and/or white pipe cleaners yarn USING the paper plate, cut out eyes and nose in the plate. Cut out bunny ears from pink paper and glue to the plate. Use pipe cleaners to make whiskers, attach to plate by poking through and knotting at back, or glue on. Use yarn to tie to either side of plate to tie on your little one's head.

*** EASTER BUNNY EARS Construction paper (pink, white and/or brown) Glue Cut out bunny ears with the white and pink paper (pink should be slightly smaller) or use two tones of brown for a chocolate bunny.

How to make your Easter more fun this year Glue the pink on white to make ears. (or brown). Make a 2-inch band long enough to go around your child's head. Staple in place. Attach bunny ears to band.

THE EGGS The first thing you need is either hard boiled or blown eggs. If you use hard boiled eggs hey must be kept refrigerated if you intend to eat them Do not eat if they have been left our or painted with acrylic paints. If you want to keep your decorated eggs it is best to use blown eggs. However, blown eggs are much more fragile and harder for young kids to handle.

To make a blown egg poke a small hole in each end of the egg with a large needle. Push needle into egg and twist around to break yoke. Hold the egg over a bowl and blow hard through the hole until the shell is empty. Rinse eggshells well and allow to dry. (save the raw eggs and scramble for breakfast).

*** NATURAL DYE Various food and plant items Sauce pans for each colour Slotted spoon strainer cooking oil soft cloth POUR 1 cup water in each sauce pan. Add cut-up fruit, vegetables or plants (carrots, blueberries, grass, coffee all work well). Bring to a boil and simmer until water turns colour you like. Remove from heat and strain reserving water. When water is cool add boiled or blown eggs. Let sit until they turn the desired colour. Remove with slotted spoon and allow to dry.

Polish with small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.

*** CREPE PAPER DYE Different colour crepe paper hot water small bowls or cups slotted spoon cooking oil soft cloth SOAK crepe paper in hot water in individual bowls or cups for each colour. Add eggs and allow to sit in water until he desired colour is achieved. Remove with slotted spoon and allow to dry. Polish with small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.

*** FOOD COLOURING DYE Food colouring hot water white vinegar small bowls or cups slotted spoon cooking oil soft cloth FOR each colour measure 1 tsp. food colouring in small bowl. Add 3 cup hot water and 1 tbsp. white vinegar to each colour. Add eggs and allow to sit until they are the desired colour. Remove with slotted spoon. Polish dry eggs with small amount of cooking oil and soft cloth.

*** WAXED EGGS Wax crayons paper towels egg dyes in different colours slotted spoon cooking oil soft cloth DRAW a heavy crayon patter on hard boiled egg. Dip egg in egg dye preferably a dark colour. Leave in dye until desired colour is reached. Remove with slotted spoon and place in 200 degree F oven for a few minutes until wax is melted.

Wipe with paper towel and dip again in lighter dye to fill in pattern where wax was. Polish finished eggs with cooking oil and soft cloth.

*** DIP AND DYE EGGS Masking tape Different colour egg dye slotted spoon cooking oil soft cloth STICK a pattern of masking tap on plain hard boiled egg. Dip egg in egg dye and leave until desired colour is reached. Remove with slotted spoon and air dry. Remove masking ape when dry. Leave masked areas white or dip again in another lighter dye. Polish finished egg with cooking oil and soft cloth.

*** MARBLE EGGS Large glass jar Crayon stubs Vegetable grater Hot water Waxed paper or newspaper Empty egg carton Clear acrylic spray (optional) GRATE peeled crayons over waxed paper. Fill jar with very hot water. Drop bits of grated crayon into water. Add hard boiled or blown egg as soon as crayon begins to melt. Twirl egg in water with spoon. The wax should make a design on the egg. Carefully remove egg and set upside-down in egg carton to dry. Once dry spray with clear acrylic to seal.

*** SPONGE PAINTED EGGS Liquid tempra paint paper cups (for each colour) small pieces of foam or sponge clothes pins (for each colour) egg cups clear acrylic spray PLACE hard boiled or blown eggs in egg cups. Partially fill paper cups with different colours of paint. Clip a piece of sponge to a clothes pin and dip into paper cups, use the clothes pin as a handle. Lightly dab the sponge over the top half of the egg. Let dry. Turn egg over and repeat procedure. Let the egg dry completely. If using blown eggs, spray with acrylic spray for a permanent finish.