Nothing scary about basket of bulbs, garden gadgets

Can the candy this Halloween and instead treat your friends and neighbors to a lasting bag of trickery – the pretty kind that keeps on growing and giving.

Filled with fall bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, these beauties will be a welcome surprise come spring.

Or create a growing gift for neighbors, disguised as a mummy or witch. You and your family can do it in a couple hours and have a howling good time. Invite the neighborhood kids and turn it into a party with treats for all.

Here’s how to create baskets of treats, courtesy Dig.Drop.Done, an educational foundation that promotes the use and enjoyment of flowering bulbs. Learn more at www.digdropdone.com.

Materials

10 daffodil bulbs

Black basket

Black & orange Halloween fabric

Small canvas or burlap tote

Kid-size watering can

Kid-size spade

Plastic plant marker

Orange ribbon

Paint brushes

Tissue paper

Black Sharpie pen

Orange, black and gray paint

Ornamental decor (wooden ghost or other Halloween ornament)

Glue gun & glue sticks

Fabric glue (optional)

Directions

Place fabric inside of basket and lap over edges to create a liner. Hem edges with fabric glue, if necessary.

Secure ornamental decor to front of basket using hot glue.

Place bulbs into bag and tie with ribbon.

Paint the watering can orange, let dry. With black paint, draw a jack-o-lantern face. Let dry.

Paint spade handle black and spade blade gray, let dry. With black paint, write R.I.P. on blade. Let dry.

Use Sharpie pen to write “Beware of Bulbs” on plastic plant marker.

Place tissue paper in basket.

Arrange bag of bulbs, watering can, spade and plant marker into basket.