How to Make a Decorative Easter Basket

Very soon the Easter Bunny will be busy filling pastel baskets with candy for the kids. Good baskets for the Bunny's loot are inexpensive and readily available at discount stores, but here's an easy to make, hand decorated basket project that's fun to do with children, plus it gives them the satisfaction of making a unique, long lasting, and useful gift for Grandma, a favorite aunt or teacher.

Hand decorated baskets are certainly not limited to Easter time, either, because any decor theme or color scheme can be utilized to produce a basket suitable for other holidays or year around use.

Decorated baskets make a big splash filled with candy, gourmet goodies, cookies, perhaps a selection of pampering bath products, or whatever you like. In fact, you could certainly give the basket empty, just as a stand alone gift, because it's a mini one-of-a-kind artwork, and it's great for dozens of storage tasks or display. I use one to hold my rolled up socks on a closet shelf, and another for combs, brushes, and makeup doo-dads on my dresser.

Here's how to make the project:

Begin with any small, sturdy basket, with or without a handle. It's best to steer clear of the type with a complicated or multi-colored woven pattern to avoid an overly busy appearance. Import and craft stores are great sources and offer huge selections.

Decide on a color scheme. You might stick with the natural color of the basket fiber. Pre-painted baskets are popular, too, or you can start with a natural colored basket and paint it with quick drying florist spray paint available in craft stores.

Next, select ribbon, paper, or raffia for decoration. I've discovered many paper products that work well. I've used paper napkins designed for all sorts of party occasions, as well as gift wrapping paper. The thinner, cheaper wrapping paper is best because it's more flexible. A type that is close in weight to tissue paper and is produced in many patterns and colors is ideal. Paper ribbon, found in craft stores, can be used, as well as lightweight, gauzy fabrics.

The decoration can be applied to the basket in one of two ways. First, you can achieve a decoupage style result, which works best with paper napkins and tissue, or, for a more three dimensional look, scrunch the decorative material and anchor it swag-style. This looks good with paper ribbon, cloth ribbon, and fabrics.

To use the decoupage method, coat the basket with Mod Podge, Elmer's or any non-toxic, clear drying white craft glue, using a paint brush or small sponge. Apply the paper napkin or tissue paper, pressing it firmly, but gently onto the basket. Allow to dry, then spray with acrylic clear coat sealer or brush on another coat of Mod Podge. Several coats of Mod Podge should be applied; be sure to allow adequate drying time between each coat. Mod Podge works well for this kind of project because it serves as glue as well as a top coat/sealer, and is available in satin and matte finish. There's now a new hard coat type which makes the project extra durable. It also cleans up easily with soap and water.

For a more highly textured basket, a glue gun can be used to attach paper ribbon or fabric in little draping swags, taking care to secure it at several points. These materials should be finished in the same way as above, with spray sealer or Mod Podge coatings.

Use a glue gun to attach other items. Small sprigs of dried flowers, beads, unusual buttons, tiny charms or just about anything your imagination comes up will work.

Did you ever get involved in a craft project with the kids and find that their interest fizzled out or they got tired before it was done? This basket project can be fun to the end because it's quite practical to break it down into several shorter sessions. You might begin it on a weekend day when schedules are more relaxed, and after applying the decorations and the first coat of sealer, put it aside to dry. For each of the next several days the kids can look forward to spending a few minutes applying another coat of Mod Podge. That way, everything has time to dry properly and Mom won't get stuck finishing the work on her own!