By Noreen Doll
Create a rustic basket from the side of a cardboard box. It makes a lovely holder for a gift.
Or use it as a Spring basket or Easter Basket. It would also be perfect for Mother’s Day.
Supplies.
Corrugated Cardboard Box
Twine
18 or 20 Guage Wire, about 26 inches long
Scrap Book Paper or other colorful Paper
Ribbon or Pre-made Bow
Silk Flowers
Mod Podge or White Glue
Scissors
Paper Punch
Ruler
Pencil
How to Make a Rustic Basket from a Cardboard Box.
1. Cut out the largest panel from a cardboard box. Your box will be 1/3 the size of your cardboard square.
Cut a square from this panel. I made the largest square possible from the piece of cardboard I had. It was 16 1/2 inches square.
2. Divide the cardboard square into 9 equal sized smaller squares.
Each of my squares was 5 1/2 inches.
3. Cut out and discard the 4 corners.
4. On the printed side of the box, score across the base of each side square so it will fold evenly.
Lay a ruler next to the score line and fold the side up and to the inside of the box.
Fold it all the way flat and crease it.
Repeat with each side of the box until all are folded up.
5. From the scrapbook paper cut out 4 squares, 1 for each side of the box.
The squares should be about 1/4 of an inch smaller on each edge than the box side is. (My box side is 5 1/2 inches square, so I made the paper 5 inches square.)
6. Lay the box flat again.
Using Mod Podge or white glue, cover the back side of each square and attach it to one of the sides – on the outside of the box. Let dry.
Attach paper squares to the other 3 sides.
7. Punch holes in all the top 8 corners about 1/4 inch from each edge.
Cut 4 pieces of twine about 12 inches long.
Use these pieces of twine to tie the top corners together as shown.
Tie the twine into a nice bow.
8. Decide where the front and back of the basket are.
On the sides, punch a hole in the center about 2 1/4 inches down from the top.
9. Cut several pieces of twine about 30 inches long. The number of pieces you use will be in multiples of 3.
I used 6 pieces of twine and paired 2 of them for each braid strand I used.
Clamp all the twine pieces together at one end and braid the twine for the handle.
Clamp the second end of the finished braid.
Cut a piece of 18 or 20 gauge wire about 26 inches long and weave it in and out through the braid.
This will give the handle body and allow you to shape it.
10. Loop one end of a very thin (22 or 24 gauge) wire about 15 or 20 inches long, to make a large eye for a needle.
Put all the ends of the twine from one end of the braid, plus the wire, through this “needle eye”.
From the inside of the basket to the outside, use the “needle” to pull all the ends through the side hole you punched.
Tie the twine into a neat knot.
Wrap the end of the wire several times around the braid between the knot and the basket. Cut off the excess wire.
Repeat on the other side of the basket.
11. Shape the handle over the top of the basket.
12. Finish the rustic basket.
Make a bow or use one you have on hand.
Attach the flowers to the center of the bow, using the wires on the flowers.
Lay the bow on the front of the box the way you want it to look.
Check where the wires on the back of the bow meet the box, and punch 2 holes about 1/4 inch apart.
[If there is no wire on the bow, wrap an 8” or 10” piece of wire around the center of the bow once or twice and twist in back.]
Push the wires through the holes from outside to inside, and tie in a knot or twist together on the inside of the box. Trim the wire ends.
Adjust the bow and flowers
Put some colorful tissue paper in the box and add a gift.
Here’s how the back of the basket looks.
It’s pretty from all sides!
Noreen Doll
patty says
wonderful project!!!! i will be making this one for sure!!! thanks. patty