If you are looking for a great Easter project that is simple and practical, look no further! As my followers know, I am a big fan of things that are PRACTICAL--as in real stampers can actually make them, and they are either 1. sturdy enough to actually use, OR 2. easy enough to make that you don't mind pitching them when they have outlived their usefulness. This basket fits all those criteria! I've adapted a teeny little favor basket I saw online to be made with one sheet of 8.5x11 cardstock. It makes a great sized-basket, not too small and not too big. And NO weaving involved! Whoo hoo!
I hope you enjoy this photo tutorial, and as always, the only payment I ask for my tutorials is that you leave me a comment, and if you don't have a demo, consider me yours. You can purchase everything you see on my blog from my shopping website, www.lyssa.stampinup.net (and if you're there, be sure to peek in the Clearance Rack for retired merchandise at up to 80% off!)
Let's get started! As I mentioned, you need one 8.5x11 sheet of cardstock, as well as a strip for the handle and some brads and a hole punch to pull it all together. I'm using the super-fab Simply Scored scoring tool from Stampin' Up--gracious but I love that thing. Beats scoring with your trimmer all to pieces!
Score your sheet at 3 and 5.5 inches on the shorter end. Then rotate it 90 degrees so that you are scoring on the long side, and score at 1, 2, 3, and four inches, then 7, 8, 9, and 10 inches. You can see clearly what I mean by looking at the handy-dandy place markers on the SImply Scored.
Next we just need to slice up those little one-inch scores all the way to where they intersect with the central score lines. Do that on all four sides, and your project should look like this:
Now we're going to just gather up the strips on one side and start curving the basket together. It's way easier than it sounds...see here:
Once you have them gathered and pulled into a curve, as pictured above, you'll want to punch through all the layers and insert a brad. I used a Crop A Dile as it can go through many multiple layers of cardstock at once.
You'll need to repeat that step three more times, twice for each end of your basket.
Then you can add the handle (I used Sticky Strip) and cover up the pointy brad ends inside, so they won't poke your little pookie when they dive in looking for their candy so they can get good and sugared up before church on Easter.Then the rest is just embellishing!
I can think of several awesome gift ideas for a basket of this size--an orchard-themed basket with a fabric ruffle and fill with a couple of plastic-wrapped pumpkin muffins and two hot cider packets... fill with rolled-up baby bibs, binkies and a little stuffed bear for a baby gift... make a manicure basket with polishs, scrubs, file and aloe-infused gloves...fill with Cadbury Creme Eggs for Lyssa... lots of great ideas for this sturdy and practical basket. Have a ball with it!
Pop back in again for more of my Best of Boxes blog series, and drop me a line if you love this little basket and are already plotting your first gift. I LOVE to hear that you have gained inspiration from something I shared--it totally makes my day! Thanks!
This is great. Very easy and just in time for Easter :)
Posted by: Keri Radloff | 02/28/2013 at 11:45 AM
Oooooohhhh, I like that Cadbury egg idea! Our school has Teacher Appreciation Day in a couple weeks. These baskets would be so fun to make and give!
Posted by: Nicole Steele | 02/28/2013 at 12:05 PM
Very cute and oh so easy too! TFS!
Posted by: Mary | 02/28/2013 at 05:34 PM
Lyssa - you are such an inspiration! I love coming to see your blog each day and love the things you share with us. (wonder how many Cadbury's you'll collect? lol)
I can't wait to go home and make one - probably this weekend!
Thanks so much for your wonderful and free guidance you give.
Posted by: Donna Kish | 02/28/2013 at 05:49 PM
That's an AWESOME project! It looks hard, but it's easy-peasy! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Kathy Kartak | 02/28/2013 at 08:12 PM
I am seeing Easter baskets for the grandkids! Love it!
Posted by: Deb Nyhus | 02/28/2013 at 09:24 PM
Awesome project! Thanks so much for posting!
Posted by: Alicia | 02/28/2013 at 09:34 PM
Oh Wow! I haven't seen anything like this little basket! Love love love it! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Beth Anderson | 02/28/2013 at 10:11 PM
As always, I love your blog and enjoy the free patterns and inspiration you always provide! Thanks from the bottom of my heart!
Posted by: Lisa Cool | 03/01/2013 at 10:18 AM
LOVE IT! I can't wait to make them for the teachers as I like to give them a little something each month for their hard work and dedication! TFS!
Posted by: Kerry M | 03/01/2013 at 07:35 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE this basket. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by: Joni | 03/02/2013 at 07:49 AM
Excellent directions and great photos! TFS!
Posted by: Lori B | 03/02/2013 at 11:30 AM
These are adorable, thanks for the great instructions. My Girl Scout Troop will love making these for our friends in the local Nursing Home and then one for themselves of course.
Posted by: Barbara | 03/02/2013 at 07:34 PM
You are Brilliant! Thank you for sharing this great tutorial.
Posted by: Sharon Burkert | 03/02/2013 at 08:37 PM
Thanks for the tutorial! I will be making these for Easter baskets.
Posted by: Roberta Smith | 03/05/2013 at 09:35 AM
This is such a great project! I love the idea of it being a "gift" basket and not just an Easter basket. You can coordinate the colors with any gift theme and for much less than a gift bag. Super awesome!
Posted by: Alicia | 03/05/2013 at 12:15 PM
I just made one and it is so easy!! I am going to make paper flowers spritzed with water and scrunched up and add them to the basket....3 on each side to cover the brads. Thank you so much for sharing Lyssa. I appreciate all of the free tutorials you provide. Hope you get lots of those Cadbury Eggs.:o)
Posted by: Julianne | 03/12/2013 at 09:22 PM
Lyssa, this was perfect! SOOOOO easy to put together and so versatile. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Cyndi Willis | 03/25/2013 at 07:47 PM
Made these for my granddaughters. Took minutes to make and had plenty of room for goodies!
Posted by: Tracy Zastrow | 04/07/2013 at 01:46 PM