Easter baskets were a big tradition when I was growing up. As the oldest, I of course had the biggest basket. Every year, magically, the Easter Bunny found my basket and filled it with Peeps, jelly beans, and a chocolate bunny, among other treats. Now I’m thousands of miles from my childhood basket, but that’s not stopping me, no sir! The crafty geek in me has decided to think up some brand new basket ideas.
All of the projects in this article are easy enough to adapt for projects to complete with kids of varying ages. This first basket is almost like a May Day flower basket. Pull out those large 12” x 12” scrapbook papers for this one!
The next basket is adaptable to any shape you might like. Simply trace a basic design on folded cardstock and assemble into a basket. Using decorative cardstock or paper eliminates the need to add extra embellishing if you’re short on time.
This basket is a dressed-up paper mache carrier that would make a fun gift for a little girl. Fill it with Easter treats and it can double as a purse when the candy is gone! Be sure not to put too many layers on the part of the purse where the lid fits or the lid won’t go on properly. This kind of project is a bit of a challenge because of the handles, but tiny layers of tissue, patience, and some creative collage work will make it come together.
These last two baskets are made with the old newspaper-strip paper mache technique, and then painted or covered with decorative paper. I had initially intended to give the bowl a handle to turn it into a basket, but I was so happy with the results that I left it as is and sealed it with a glossy finish.
I especially love the therapeutic value of the last two projects and how they can be decorated with a variety of looks. Pull out all of your embellishments...rhinestones, embossing powder, ephemera, decorative napkins, etc. and really go to town!
