Easy DIY Swedish Heart Baskets for Your Christmas Tree

Heart Baskets are a traditional Swedish Christmas tree decoration. There are two styles of Swedish heart baskets, ornate woven baskets and these simple circular baskets that are a great kid's craft, even for young children. The baskets can be filled with nuts and candies and hung on your Scandinavian style Christmas tree with wooden and straw ornaments and Swedish flags for a complete Christmas look. God Jul!

Materials for Simple Swedish Heart Baskets

Soup can, 3-4" diameter

Pencil, ruler

Card Stock in Red and White

Glue

Nuts and candies to fill the basket

Cutting Out Swedish Heart Baskets

Using the soup can, trace a circle onto the red card stock. Repeat on the white card stock. Cut both circles out. Also cut a white strip of card stock ½" wide and 5" long for the handle.

Assembling the Swedish Heart Baskets

Play some Scandinavian Christmas carols while you assemble these baskets to put you in the mood. Fold both circles in half. Tuck the bottom of the white circle inside the red circle to make a heart shape. Secure both sides together with glue. Allow the glue to dry. Fold the strip of white cardstock in half and glue in place at the top of the Swedish heart basket for a handle, being careful not to glue the sides of the basket together. Allow to dry, fill with treats, and hang on your Christmas tree.

Swedish Heart Basket Variations

While white and red are traditional Scandinavian Christmas decoration colors, you are welcome to use your own color scheme. Try traditional red and green, red and gold, or thrill a little girl with pink and purple! Patterned cardstock also makes a striking heart basket. Combine a solid and a pattern, or create your own pattern using plain cardstock and rubber stamping.

Another Scandinavian Heart Basket variation involves using scrapbooking scissors. Cut out the circles and the handle using a deckle, fluted or zigzag edge.

For even more cutout fun, use a hole punch every ½ inch around the entire circumference of the circle and thread a thin ribbon through the edges. Run a piece of ribbon through the handle for further decoration. Tie tiny bows in the ribbon and fold the circles so that one bow shows on the top of each side of the basket.

Whether you make traditional style Swedish Heart Baskets or one of the modern variations, turn up the Christmas music, sip some Glogg and have a very happy holiday!