Easter is a great time to capture family photographs for scrapbooking. Even if you don’t scrapbook, planning your picture taking ahead of time ensures you won’t miss any of these great family memories. No family traditions? Then this is a great time to start!

Here are some Easter photograph ideas for scrapbooking:

Photograph spring flowers in bloom. Daffodils and tulips will make a colorful contrast to your other photographs.

Have your kids help you make Easter cookies or an Easter cake. Snap a picture of them working in the kitchen and then make sure to take a picture of the finished product. We made a layer cake and arranged it on a thick piece of cardboard covered with aluminum foil. It was lemon cake with lemon filling and pink frosting. We decorated it with store-bought Easter candy. Around the base of the cake we arranged Easter grass and added chocolate eggs and peeps for decoration. It made a great picture!

Gingerbread houses aren’t just for Christmas! Make a gingerbread house and decorate it for Easter with pastel colors and lots of Easter candy. The possibilities are limitless.

If your family attends Easter church services, make sure to get a picture of your girls in their Easter dresses. Dressing up is a great excuse to take a picture.

Coloring Easter eggs never gets old, whatever the age of your kids! They never get tired of showing you how creative they are. Join in on the fun and then take a picture of the finished product.

Easter egg hunts are also fun for the whole family. Take some good action pictures and get a picture of your kids with their Easter baskets.

Easter dinners are a great time to take family pictures. It’s a good time to take pictures of relatives you don’t often see, and fun to get pictures of the family laughing and enjoying a meal together. Take pictures of any of the good food you want to remember later.

Have fun picture taking, and have a happy Easter!

Photos of finished project:
http://www.crafty-moms.com/scrapbooking/sample_layouts_4.shtml

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Paxton

Like dumb sheep to the slaughter, most of mankind continues to blindly follow pagan traditions, rather than obey God’s clear commands (Mark 7:7). Has it ever occurred to those stuffing their faces with Easter ham that Jesus would puke at the thought? Neither Jesus or Peter, James or John ever ate forbidden foods. They wouldn’t feel too comfortable at plenty of people’s dinner tables.

Even the early Gentile converts to Jewish Christianity respected the biblical dietary laws (Acts 15:20), understanding that not all foods are sanctioned by the Creator in the Holy Scriptures (I Timothy 4:5).

When John the Baptist recognized Jesus as our Passover sacrifice, he declared: “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). He didn’t say, “Here comes the Easter Bunny!” Again, like the Easter ham, the Easter rabbit is also rejected in the Bible as an abomination (Leviticus 11:6-7).

The very name of Easter exposes itself as a heathen festival, although it’s cloaked as “Christian.” Easter/Ishtar/Astarte is the Babylonian spring goddess our British-Israelite forefathers foolishly worshipped. Hence the fertility symbols of rabbits and eggs.

God isn’t fooled by such baptized paganism, such whitewashed heathen customs (Deuteronomy 12:30). He commands us to commemorate Jesus’ death every Passover and recognize His atoning work of redemption as our resurrected High Priest in Heaven, unleavening our lives of sin (I Corinthians 5:7-8).

The early Church followed Jesus’ Jewish example for several hundred years until Gentile opposition (from false converts) threatened them with a death sentence if they didn’t bow before Easter observances (the Quarto-Deciman controversy)!

A growing number now know, understand and believe the biblical account that we’re to observe Passover and that Jesus was resurrected before sunrise Sunday, “when it was yet dark” (John 10:1). Others prefer to reject this light of understanding to remain in their traditional darkness and die in their sins (John 3:19)– it’s that serious! Because if our nations don’t repent of such idolatry and immorality we’ll soon suffer national destruction, defeat and deportation! That’s why this article of faith is part of our plea to diehard Catholics and Protestants to repent.

Thankfully, every generation has those chosen few who are willing to reject holidays for holy days and “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered” (Jude 3). Hopefully, this plain truth about Easter will cause you to question your beliefs and provide some “kosher” food for thought!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Ben-Ariel

Of all the holidays celebrated in the Christian faith, Easter is considered the most religious. It has become a symbol of rebirth, and the start of spring. The weather is taking a turn for the better, and along with the traditional lessons of the holiday, this gives us faith that better things are just around the corner. It is a time to celebrate the turning of the seasons, and the end of great sacrifice.

A great way to celebrate the holiday with your friends and family is by sending them a gift basket. Gift baskets are a great way to mix the traditional symbols of Easter with exciting new things you want to share with friends and family. It would be tough to find someone that would not want their basket loaded with chocolate and candy, but a basket is also a great way to let your loved ones know that you care and that you are thinking of them.

First, include the typical items in your basket. There should be a chocolate bunny, colored eggs, sugary treats, and jelly beans. But once the basket if filled with traditional items, you can get creative. Think about the recipient of the basket. What are some of the things they love? Is there a way you can combine the traditions of the holiday with some of their favorite things? If they are a collector, this could be easy. Find items related to their collection that are Easter themed. If they love movies or books, include an item based around the theme of the Christian religion.

It is important to keep in mind the specific recipient you are making the basket for. The last thing you want is to fill a basket for someone that is diabetic with candy and sweets. You should also take into account that this is not a holiday where you would typically give extravagant gifts. The point is to let your loved ones know you are thinking about them, and that you would like to share your celebration of the holiday with them.

Gift baskets are great way to bring the Easter celebration into your home. Baskets are traditional gifts for the holiday, so you can create baskets that are similar to those that everyone else will wake up to that morning, or you can be creative and put together baskets that contain items that everyone will be surprised by. Whatever you do, plan tasteful, cheerful baskets, and keep in mind the baskets should be a celebration of spring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Guitard

One of the most enjoyable activities for kids each Easter is an egg hunt! The idea is simple enough: just hide a few eggs and get your children to find them. Invite other families around and turn it into a social occasion. Here are a few tips to get the most out it.

Be Prepared

Think about how many children will be participating, and make sure you have enough eggs and treats for everyone. Often, each child will be given a basket or bag to put their eggs into as they find them, so have enough ready beforehand. You can buy colorful bamboo baskets very cheaply online.

Real eggs can be used (usually hard boiled and colored, in keeping with tradition), and if you decide to do this, just make sure you keep a note of where they’re hidden. You don’t want hidden eggs lying around for weeks! More popular nowadays, however, are foil-wrapped chocolate eggs, and candy-filled plastic ones. Allow a few for each child participating, and a few extra to keep back for kids who might be a little less successful in the hunt than they hoped!

Hiding The Eggs

Secretly hide all the eggs, and jot down where they are. Weather permitting, hiding them outdoors is the most fun, and it will give kids the most exercise. However, always have an indoor backup plan, and keep an eye on the weather forecasts.

Make the hiding places as interesting as possible, and think about clues as you go. If you’re feeling especially creative, draw a treasure map, and make copies to give to all the participants!

Setting The Rules

The basic rule is for each child to find as many eggs as possible. Beyond that, you’re free to add your own limitations to suit the children! You really want each child to have some measure of success, but if a three year old is competing with an ambitious seven year old, that can prove difficult.

Consider making teams, either by pairing older and younger children together, or else allowing kids under a certain age to be accompanied by an adult. Another good idea is to restrict what eggs each child can collect. For example, assign each child a color, and tell them to only find matching eggs. Or give each child a different map or set of clues. Alternatively, you can simply put a limit on the number of eggs each child can collect, and encourage them to be honest by giving special prizes to those who reach their targets first!

Enjoy Your Day!

An Easter egg hunt is best enjoyed with friends and family. Have a selection of snacks set aside, and try and get everyone involved. It can be a very sociable family day that everyone will enjoy!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Roche

With the availability of cheap home printers has come the ease of downloads like printable Easter party games. With little cash investment in paper and ink any party can take on an impressive polished and well organized aspect. For added appeal try coordinating place cards with the art on the Easter games and printing out the set for each partygoer. When the theme is coordinated with goody bags, center pieces, paper party goods and invitations a professional looking party can be achieved. It’s easy to match up dissimilar elements too since the Easter colors are usually pastel. Just try to match most of the elements in each design.

There are lots of Easter party games available online to be printed out and many of them are free. PartyHutSupplies.com has three types of Easter themed word games available; a word search, word find and word scramble. If you like to create your own puzzles to better suit your Easter party theme there are also websites available for use. Of course you have to come up with your own words and ideas but some programs really allow you control over the creation of the puzzles and how they fit in with your party.

Printed party games can give each guest something of his own to take back to remember the occasion. For pennies invested they allow something tangible with which to communicate party experiences to siblings and care givers once they return home. Everyone enjoys the pride that comes with the successful completion of tasks. When the tasks are fun, seasonal and reinforce concurrent educational objectives the victory is that much sweeter! Utilizing the internet and minimal computer skills any party giver can enhance the Easter party experience.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

The glory of Easter is demonstrated each year to all Christians who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This demonstration takes place during the weeks leading up to, and including, the days of Holy Week through our preparation for the death and rising of Jesus. The preparation for Easter is called Lent and it is during this period that Christians are asked to cleanse their minds, hearts, and souls. This cleansing is performed in various fashions on an individual basis and it is through these individual efforts that some find themselves in direct communication with the spirit of God. Through prayer, meditation, and other practices we solicit God to come into our lives for direct inspiration, healing, and cleansing. Those fortunate enough to have mastered the ability to quiet themselves in dedicated prayer and meditation are more apt than others to gain the spiritual benefits that the Easter season can provide. It is this commitment to prayer and the ability to contact God that is yearned by so many of us but realized by so few. The struggle to “find” God out there is often discouraging to many Christians. It is only when each of us realizes that God can be found in each of our individual hearts when we make the effort to look deep within that we understand the closeness of our everyday relationship with Him. God is with us always! There is no separation from Him. It is not only on Easter Sunday that His son Christ Jesus rises in our souls. He rises in our souls everyday if we only call on Him to do so.

It is in this realization that new life springs forth for each of us. Our daily lives are energized and we become “alive” in Jesus Christ. How do we know this? How do we know His presence is near? One of the ways this becomes clear is in acknowledging the Christ presence in all of the people and objects in the universe. God lives in and is represented in everything before us. When we recognize His closeness we begin to see life, its triumphs, trials, and tribulations in a whole different light. We begin to measure the importance of events that take place on a regular basis in a different way. And we quickly come to the realization that most of the things that we encounter on a daily basis aren’t that important after all.

We should gain pleasure and comfort in knowing that God is with us. It is indeed He that grants us the freedom to express and execute our God-given talents in any way we choose. Of course, He does wish for us to use those talents in an appropriate way and in accordance with the divine plan He has for each of us. Just what is that plan and how are we to know? Do we have any input? How do we tap into it and how do we know if we are on the right path? The answer lies in our trust in God and in our belief that through active prayer and meditation He will guide us to fulfill His divine plan for us. God is the Way-Shower. It is our responsibility to demonstrate our love for Him in our willingness to submit and release our ego desires to His Will. Many of us struggle with the idea of giving up our false concept of “control”. Many of us have lost sight of the basic laws which govern our spiritual existence. It is in this “lost” existence that many of us find ourselves not living up to expectations. Or, we find other false gods that are not so worthy of our focus and love. The pursuit of these false gods often result in heartache for ourselves and our loved ones. Whether it be the lure of money, alcohol, drugs, or some other earthly temptation, these troubled pursuits can all be eliminated when we accept Christ Jesus and the Most High God as our true sources of strength, courage, and love. Make room for Christ. Discover His presence in your heart. Recognize His desire for you to realize He is always there for you. It is our spiritual objective to come to this realization and live accordingly.

So how do we reach this spiritual objective and why don’t we see witness to more people having successfully attained this understanding? Great questions. The answers are contained in each of our individual pursuits of our own hearts and souls. The great discovery within! And the confidence to live in “spirit”, not ego. God isn’t in some far off heaven. He is right here, right now! We need to dedicate ourselves to reaching Him in our own hearts, and we do this through quiet prayer and meditation. I’m sure you’re saying, easier said than done. You are right. But, without the effort to reach Him we can never fully realize our true purpose in this life. And that is the mission of “Easter”. With great faith we embark on this spiritual journey in the human form to know, to love, and to serve God. Our pursuits take us to the quiet places in our own hearts where we search for that silent place where God can communicate with us. That silent place where we can experience the touch of God’s own hand guiding us along the divine path He has created specifically for each one of us. We can only imagine that this place is filled with nothing but love, beauty, and peace where we are united and one with our God.

The beauty and new hope of each passing Easter season is in the knowledge that more and more of God’s children are coming to the realization that it is in God that our true strength and spiritual inspiration exists. God is our one source of all that is good. The beauty is in the realization that our God exists right here and right now in each of us. The beauty is in the realization that heaven is not some far away place that exists for only a chosen few but that it can exist right here for ALL of us. The spiritual revolution that is currently gaining momentum throughout the world comes at a time when it is much needed. Through the continuing courage and strength of world leaders around the globe and through people that believe in the existence of a Higher Source, the world can reach new heights where God Himself can continue to expand His territory and His love for ALL. Through the belief in God can the realization of a world that exists in peace become reality.

Easter is a season of renewal that should remain with us each passing day. Why can’t everyday be marked with the blessings and happiness of the risen Lord on Easter Sunday? Isn’t it possible? Of course it is. With the assistance and guidance of God, each of us must take personal responsibility for “expanding” His territory. I encourage all of us to join in this spiritual journey. Yes, Christ is risen! Yes, earth is now redeemed! God Bless! Happy Easter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Rosbury

Life is short, eat dessert first! Try this recipe for a bundt cake that goes great with your favorite coffee or hot tea. A favorite at all our family gatherings!

Polish Easter Bundt Cake

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs

¾ cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla flavoring

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup potato starch

1 tsp baking powder

2 sticks of unsweetened margarine, melted

DIRECTIONS

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2) Beat egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks appear. Add egg yolks, starch, flour, baking powder, and vanilla flavoring. Mix well. Mix in melted margarine.

3) Pour batter into a bundt cake pan. Bake for about 30 minutes.

4) Turn cake out onto wire rack and let cool. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top and enjoy!

These eggs are traditional for a Polish Easter. They can be served as an appetizer.

Deviled Eggs Supreme

INGREDIENTS

36 eggs

1-1/2 cups Miracle Whip

3/4 cup onion, finely chopped

1 cup pickle relish

1/4 cup prepared horseradish

1/4 cup prepared mustard

paprika, for garnish

salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1) Hard boil the eggs in groups of 12 for better results. Gently place 12 eggs in a large pot and cover with very cold water. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 12 minutes. Remove eggs from hot water and run under cold water. Peel the eggs and slice them in half, lengthwise.

2) Remove yolks from eggs and mash them together in a mixing bowl. Add Miracle Whip, onion, relish, horseradish, and mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3) Fill a ziplock bag with the mixture and snip off one corner of the bag to make a squeezable pastry bag. Fill the egg white halves with the mixture. Sprinkle with paprika and chill until you serve.

Enjoy!

Easter is coming up in a couple of months, and you may be wondering how you are going to celebrate this year. Maybe you have children who still enjoy celebrating Easter and dressing up in Easter costumes, or maybe you have adult family members who just like to have dinner to be with on the holiday. Either way, if you need some ideas for how to celebrate, just keep reading!

Get Easter portraits! Especially if you have children, Easter portraits are a great way to not only celebrate the holiday, but also to remember the special moments in your life. It is customary in many families for the girls to get a new Easter dress every year, and the boys to dress up in a suit and tie. Why not get a professional family portrait, or at least a portrait of the children, done to give you something to remember the occasion by?

If you are more of the nontraditional type, you might want to consider instead having silly or cute portraits taken. For instance, you can buy infant Easter costumes online; just find a cute one and have the baby’s portrait taken in the costume. Portraits of your kids playing with baby chicks or rabbits are also a favorite.

Participate in a community Easter egg hunt. Most communities and churches have Easter egg hunts this time of year. During these events, the kids are given candy and other treats, and hunt for eggs (usually plastic eggs filled with treats and prizes). Check with your local community center, recreation center, or your church to find out whether there are any events like this you could attend.

Sometimes community Easter egg hunts have an additional surprise: a visit from the Easter Bunny! There are plenty of Easter costumes available for rent locally or to purchase online, so often a parent or someone else dresses up as the Easter Bunny to surprise the kids.

Alternatively, if you have older kids who think they are too old for the Easter Bunny, you may be able to engage them in the festivities by enlisting them to help hide Easter eggs for the smaller children to find, or perhaps even dress up as the Easter Bunny themselves!

Dye Easter eggs. This used to be a traditional Easter celebration in most households. Unfortunately, with colored plastic eggs commercially available, which can be stuffed with candy and small prizes, most people forego this fun Easter tradition.

Although you shouldn’t hide hardboiled eggs, as they can spoil before they are found and maybe even make someone sick, most kids love to dye their own Easter eggs. The dye can be purchased at the store, or you can find some simple recipes for homemade dye online. After they have been dyed, the eggs should be stored in the refrigerator until they are eaten. Hardboiled, dyed Easter eggs make a great snack, and kids love knowing they dyed the eggs themselves!

Have a picnic. An Easter picnic is a lot of fun for the adults as well as the kids. If the weather is nice enough, you can put together a special picnic lunch, find a nice spot, and eat together. For an extra special lunch, pack some of the Easter eggs you dyed in preparation for the holiday.

Make a special dinner. A nice Easter dinner is a fairly traditional way to celebrate the holiday. It’s not as big a deal as Christmas or Thanksgiving, but it’s still a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate. For many people, roasted lamb is the traditional fare for Easter dinner, but in the United States ham is a more common and usually a less expensive choice. Pastries and breads are also often associated with Easter: For instance, pretzels were designed to represent a person crossing their arms across their torso to pray, and sweet breads have been served on Easter since pagan times.

There are many fun ways to celebrate Easter. Whether traditional or novel, whether you go so far as to get Easter costumes or just dye some hardboiled eggs, Easter is best celebrated with friends and loved ones.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_West

Easter’s pastel tablecloths serving as the perfect background to beautiful Easter decor, or a basket brimming with scrumptious treats, furry bunnies, and brightly colored eggs hidden in the grass, conjure images of delight in the minds of all of us lucky enough to have experienced the family fun that surrounds the captivating holiday of Easter. The most spiritual of Christian holidays in today’s world, Easter actually finds its origins in the ancient Hebrew and Pagan religions, as well. Even in the present day, we can recognize the Pagan fertility symbol of the hare, or our Easter Bunny, and the vibrantly colored eggs he brings, as the representation of spring’s rebirth after the long stillness of winter.

Indeed, decorating in the colors of Easter can afford us the sweet and charming addition of spring to our home decors or gardens. And, as Easter Sunday approaches, preparing our homes for holiday brunch or dinner can add an irresistible sense of whimsy to this significant celebration. Beginning with the primary layer of our decorations, our Easter tablecloths can be selected from a myriad of pastel tablecloths that are offered by today’s linen vendors and manufacturers. Whether we are looking for round tablecloths of lilac Fortex with square tablecloths of maize Fortex to place on top of them, or whether we are looking for rectangular party tablecloths in pinks to combine with pale green party tablecloths, utilizing Easter’s palette of pastel tablecloths is the perfect way to incorporate all the enchanting colors of spring into our homes.

Creating the Perfect Easter Table

Additionally, in the exciting current marketplace, we can find holiday tablecloths of almost any shape and size. That’s right! Whether we need large tablecloths or small tablecloths, oval tablecloths or custom tablecloths, we can certainly find them all. This variety of tablecloth size enables us to create layers of all our favorite Easter colors. There is also a wonderful new tool in the market place that can very easily be clipped to our top tablecloth in order to create an attractive swag. This clever new Couvert Clip enables us to cinch up our top tablecloth in such a lovely way, and yet, is easy enough for any of us to use. The Couvert Clip not only relieves us of having to form that artistic swag that florists and professional party planners take pains to create with fabric-damaging pins, but it also adds fun and delight to our decorations because these adorable new tablecloth clips can be adorned with any number of decorating themes. For example, after using the Couvert Clip to cinch up our Easter tablecloths, the brightly painted and sparkling, wooden Easter eggs that come with the Easter set of Couvert Clips, can be added to the Velcro patch provided on the outside of each tablecloth clip. If we prefer, we can even create our own designs that can be just as easily attached to the tablecloth clip’s Velcro. The fun we can have with these tablecloth clips is only limited by our own imaginations.

Still another way to include Easter’s palette of pastels to our holiday decor is in our secondary layer of decorations. This is where we add cloth napkins in the same colors of our tablecloths, and alternate them as we place them on our pretty holiday tables. Matching chair covers and coordinating chair ties can also be utilized to make all of our mismatched or darkly upholstered chairs become part of the charming expression of our design.

Finally, we can incorporate the crowning layer of our special Easter decor. Beautiful spring flowers arranged into centerpieces, along with graceful tapered candles standing tall in cut crystal candle holders, can be positioned on each table. Or, we can rest a rustic basket in the center of every one of our tablecloths, and fill each of them with moss and the colored eggs that the children have rediscovered in our gardens. Whether we chose delightful bouquets, or charming homemade crafts to create our final touches, Easter has provided us with the perfect chance to surround our families with love and special memories through our celebration and creativity.

For more information, please visit Linen Lovers for all your table cloth and chair cover needs!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alyssa_Bentley

When you think of Easter baskets for children, what immediately comes to mind? A colorful wicker container filled with chocolates, candies, jelly beans and other tooth decaying treats, right? This Easter, create kids and children’s Easter baskets that are fun to give and a joy to receive…without the sugar rush!

Do the children in your life love to draw? Create Easter baskets full of art and coloring supplies! Choose a wide, roomy basket and fill it with quality crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, Easter themed stencils and coloring books. For painters, you can even add a palette of paints, some brushes and a small easel. Don’t forget the pretty Easter bow to finish it off!

Spring is right around the corner, so how about kids and children’s Easter baskets filled with gardening goodies? In a basket decorated with flowers, you can place potting soil, seeds for flowers and vegetables, child sized gardening gloves, and an easy and fun to read gardening guide.

Lots of children love to help in the kitchen with cooking, so Easter baskets with a cooking theme are sure to thrill the little chefs in your life. Instead of a traditional basket, you can decorate an oversized pot with Easter decorations. Fill the pot with child friendly cook books, easy to use kitchen utensils, and a variety of spices. Include easy to cook ingredients like pasta in fun shapes.

Does your child have a favorite activity? Load up kids and children’s Easter baskets with the things they love the most. Themes include karate, soccer, dancing, singing, and much more. Stickers, books, videos and other items highlighting the favorite activity can fill a colorful Easter basket.

For children who have been experiencing a long, cold winter, Easter baskets celebrating the spring will be much appreciated. Take a sunny colored basket and fill it with items they can use in the spring such as a ball, a Frisbee, a set of jacks, a set of marbles, a jump rope, chalk and even sunscreen.

Inspire reading this Easter by giving Easter baskets full of reading fun. Create kids and children’s Easter baskets that overflow with books that will interest and excite them. You can even include comic books and favorite magazines. Kids love them, and they count as reading, too!

With the economy on the down swing lately, there are many children who are in need this Easter. Create special Easter baskets that you can donate to children in need. Fill the baskets with healthy treats, soap and toothpaste, small toys and playthings, even a gift card or two to a local supermarket. This Easter, you can put smiles on the faces of children and their parents with Easter baskets that bring necessities and care.

When it comes down to it, kids and children’s Easter baskets with special themes are creative and fun. And they last much longer, and are much healthier, than a basket full of chocolate and candy. Make Easter themed baskets a holiday tradition. You will see how children will eagerly look forward to seeing what each year’s theme will bring!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Toni_Young