Daisy Farm Crafts

This year, I wanted to start some extra-special Halloween traditions with my grandkids, and a “boo basket” felt like the perfect place to begin. Jack and Kate live nearby, so putting theirs together is an excuse to stop by and surprise them in person.

James and Nora have lived in Colorado for a while now, so theirs travels by mail instead—but that hasn’t made it any less special. If anything, it’s become one of my favorite parts of the season, because it’s such a fun way to say “I’m thinking of you” no matter how many miles are between us, and it means all four of them get to feel just as spoiled and celebrated for the holiday.

If you’re putting together a boo basket of your own, the best ones mix a little bit of everything: a few pieces of candy, some glow sticks for trick-or-treating after dark, a Halloween-themed book or two they can read together as a family, and a small activity like a Halloween-themed coloring book, stickers or a set of spooky window clings they can put up themselves.

I always like to tuck in something cozy too, like Halloween-print pajamas, along with a handwritten note so they know exactly who it’s from. It doesn’t need to be elaborate to feel special. It just needs to feel like you, and like you were thinking of them the whole time you were filling it up.

I’m especially excited to add a newly published children’s book by my long-time friend and neighbor, Heidi Yates, to the basket! She has been writing and working for years to get a picture book published, and it finally happened!

(She also inscribed one for James and Nora, and I already gave it to them.) It’s an adorable book with monster names from A to Z! It’s so fun and it is illustrated so well. I can’t wait for them to read it. Congratulations to Heidi!!

I also included and attached a crochet ghost coaster. I added a little loop on top and made them with Patons Grace yarn so the kids can attach them to their backpacks if they want to.