The tradition of the May Basket derives its roots from long ago when the beginning of May heralded the final end to winter icy grip in the northern hemisphere. Mostly practiced in the English and Germanic countries, villagers would gather flowers from their just blooming gardens or send young girls into the woods to gather wild flowers and/or flowering branches to be bunched together and hung on their doors to keep away the evil spirits from dampening their spring. This charming custom evolved into the making of baskets to hold the new tender blooms. Young children were encouraged to tiptoe up to a neighbors’ house and hang the basket on the door, ring the bell, then, run away before the door was answered.



This sweet tradition still lives on, especially in the New England and Eastern coastal states where entire festivals, contests and crafts are centered around the May Day, including the crowning of the May Queen, dancing round the Maypole and, of course, the charming May baskets. We can incorporate our scrapbooking skills to take this lovely custom to yet another crafting level. This is a great and simple craft to do with your child for a neighbor, a grandmother or anyone else special in their life. But let’s not allow the kids to have all the fun. You can adapt your scrapbooking art to this venue as well and reward yourself with some lovely flowers or bestow a basket on a special friend to brighten that first day of May. As an added bonus, when your flowers have wilted and no longer need the basket for home, these charming containers become unique home décor and can be used to store just about anything in your child’s room or even in your own studio.



For these particular baskets, we are also going to incorporate some recycling. These baskets foundations are made from coffee cans, leftover scrapbooking paper and embellishments, as well as, any other odds and ends you might like to add.



For the more advanced basket, I am going to cover the technique for transferring a photo onto material, in this case muslin, not just for the lovely, soft look that is created, but, also, for the practical aspect of wrapping a photo around a cylinder. There are some other fun tricks included as well, so get your stuff together and let’s brighten someone’s day.



Child’s May Basket

1. Have child cut paper to size to wrap around can; add an extra piece to the back if necessary. For ease of handling, have child embellish paper before adhering to can. 2. Cut photo from copy paper and glue to center of what will be the front of the paper. Add embellishments of choice: here, two paper flowers were joined with a brad, then, inserted at the corner of the photo.

Child’s May Basket Intermediate Project by Cher B. Lashley Zoom in to view this project closer Make this project: Step-by-step instructions Mail a link to this project to a friend

 

3. When paper embellishment has been completed, run through Xyron machine (or spread glue), then, attach to can. If desired, add gems, stickers, etc to bottom where plastic is showing.



4. If the child is not old enough, attach double sided tape under rim of can, then, adhere a long length of ribbon to tape. Tie ribbon in back, make a loop and add another tie, including a bow, in order to hang.



5. Add cut flowers and hang on door or chair.

Advanced May Basket Advanced Project by Cher B. Lashley Zoom in to view this project closer Make this project: Step-by-step instructions Mail a link to this project to a friend

 

Advanced May Basket

The process for this basket is the same as above with the following techniques added: 1. A vintage book page scrap was run through a Xyron machine and adhered to the center of the cardstock. 2. Scan an image of a bird, or your choice, and print onto an adhesive backed transparency, cut out and adhere to the left side of the vintage page.



3. Scan a photo onto another transparency: coat the muslin scrap to the size of the photo with the matte medium using the soft bristle brush. This should be damp, but not sopping wet. Turn the transparency face down onto the medium and rub evenly over the back of the transparency with a bone folder or back of a spoon. Bearing down is not necessary just a nice even pressure. Lift a corner to check for transfer and when completed, peel transparency away in one movement. Secure to right side of vintage page by sewing or running through a Xyron machine to adhere. This will not be perfect, which is part of its charm. Allow some of the muslin to show through in areas, especially at the top and bottom.



4. Add stamped images where desired. Adhere double sided tape to top and bottom at rim areas. Attach ribbon following above directions just under lip of can.



5. Pour a small mound of glass glitter onto the wax paper and roll the top and bottom of can into the mound to allow the glitter to grab onto the tape. Tap can over waxed paper to remove loosened glitter and pour excess back into the glitter container.



6. Add a small potted plant or flowers and hang on door.

To find the products mentioned in this article and shown in these layouts, check with your local scrapbook retailer. Browse our Premier Retail Stores for coupons to a store near you.

I am a self-taught artist. When folk art, decorative art and t-shirt painting were all the rage, I owned a folk art supply/teaching shop. When I became obsessed with collage and the paper arts, I began working exclusively in this genre until I started designing my own fabric creations and art quilts. I have taught workshops both locally and on the national level and have exhibited my collage artwork in various galleries, including a show in Dallas, Texas. My publications include projects and articles for many Somerset Studio publications. I was also a featured artist in Making Wreaths in Minutes for Sterling’s Red Lips for Courage book line and have been published in smaller venues, which include other local arts, stamping and scrapbook publications, including the fabulous Pasticcio Quartz ‘Zine. Check out my etsy store to view more of my work http://artboxstudio.etsy.com.