Simple Basket

By Noreen Doll.

This simple basket is easy to make, and has lots of uses.

It can be used for any occasion simply by changing the color of paper used.

The small baskets would be perfect favor baskets, or little nut or candy cups.

The larger baskets could be filled with ornaments, a gift, or become a candy dish.

The simple basket can be decorated elaborately, or with just a single bow.

And if you prefer creased corners instead of the rounded corners on these baskets, that would be very easy to do.

I found this basket idea here, where it was made with leather. But I wondered if it wouldn’t make a great paper basket, also, and was pleased with the results.

Materials.

Colorful Paper

2 Brads for the Handle

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Sharp Pointed Tool

How to Make a Simple Basket.

1. I liked card stock for this basket because it is firmer, but a lighter weight paper could also be used.

Cut a square from your paper.

My small basket started with a 4 inch square of paper, and the finished basket was about 1 1/2 inches square, and 1 3/8 inches high.

The larger basket started with a 6 inch paper square, and the finished basket was 2 1/2 inches square, and 1 3/4 inches high.

2. Cut a handle for the simple basket.  Poke holes in the center of each handle, near both ends.

For the larger basket I used 12 inches long by 5/8 of an inch wide.

For the small basket, the handle is 6 inches by 1/2 inch.

3. For the large basket, lay the ruler from corner to corner on the square and draw a line in from each corner that is 2 1/2 inches long. (For the small basket I made this line 2 inches long.)

I used this square to illustrate where the lines go because the other color was so busy you can’t see the lines very well.

Do this on all 4 corners.

4. With the scissors, cut on the line from the corner toward the center of the square, stopping at the end of the line.

Do NOT cut all the way to the center.

Repeat with the other 3 corners.

5  Gently fold all sides in toward the center, with the fold at the centermost part of the cuts.

If you want sharper corners on your simple basket, crease these folds.

6.  Fold 2 opposite sides of the basket on the inside, and the other two on the outside.

7. Bring one corner over and past the center of the side.

Repeat with the other corner, also overlapping.

Poke a hole (I use an ice pick) through all 3 layers.

Push a brad through the holes in the 3 layers, and through the hole in one end of the handle.

Repeat with the other side of the box, and other end of the handle.

The simple basket is ready to be used, or may be embellished.

I though it would be interesting to try the simple basket with felt, and I liked the result.

I was still able to use brads to attach the handle.

Tips.

If you do this with kids, an adult should handle the sharp pointed tool.

I used double sided scrapbooking paper for these baskets, and I think it made them too busy. I think they would look better if the reverse side was a plain color, or white.

© Noreen Doll

 Crafty Journal