A-may-zing baskets.

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On May 1 people around the world celebrate May Day, a festival to welcome spring. One way to take part in the holiday is to give your friends May baskets, small containers of flowers, candy, or other treats left anonymously on their doors. Follow these simple instructions to create your own May basket-then give it to one of your friends as an awesome spring surprise! (And to read a story about two kids who receive an unexpected May basket, turn to page 12.)

You Will Need:

* Piece of decorative paper
  or construction paper
* Clear tape
* Scissors (optional)
* Decorations (ribbon,
  colored markers,
  stickers, glitter glue,
  and so on)
* Hole punch (optional)
* Pipe cleaner (optional)

* Fresh flowers or treats (small toys, candy,
  and so on)
* White index card
* Black marker

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Directions:

1. Roll your piece of
   paper into a cone and
   tape it along the back
   edge. You can leave the excess triangle
   of paper at the top of the cone
   or trim it off with scissors.

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2. Decorate your basket with ribbon,
   colored markers, stickers, glitter glue,
   pipe cleaners, and so on. Go wild with
   creativity!

3. To make a handle you can
   either cut a long strip of paper
   and tape it to either side of
   the cone's mouth OR punch
   two holes on opposite sides
   of the cone, insert one end of
   a pipe cleaner into
   each hole,
   and bend
   the ends
   upward.

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4. Fill your basket with an assortment of
   fresh flowers or treats--whatever you
   think your friend would like!

5. Write "Happy May Day!" on the index
   card with the marker. (Don't put your
   name on the card; your friend has to
   guess who created the basket!) Attach
   the card to the basket with tape or
   tuck it into the flowers or treats.

6. On the morning of May 1 hang your
   basket on your friend's doorknob,
   knock on the door, and then run for
   it! Don't get caught!

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