Craft: transforming traditional crafts

Materials:

12"×12" sheets of coordinating paper (2)
Scraps of a third coordinating paper
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
1/4" brads
Glue stick
Paper clips
Craft knife
Scrap of cardboard
Circle Punch (optional)
1/8" hole punch (optional)
Bone folder (optional)

Weave Your Paper Easter Basket

Step 1: Begin by cutting both sheets of 12"×12" paper in half. Your basket will be made from two 6"×12" pieces of each paper — one of each design. Fold each piece in half crosswise with the pattern on the inside.

Step 2: Make these measurements on both pieces, and place the fold at the bottom, as shown. At the folded edge, measure 2" in from the right side and make a mark. At the top edge, make a mark 2" in from the right side.

Then, draw a line from the marks to the corners, as shown.

Step 3: Cut both pieces along these lines. Then, place one with the fold at the bottom, and the other one crosswise over it, matching the bottom edge. Trace a line about 1/8" from the top edge of the crosswise piece, as shown. Reverse the orientation and make the same mark on the other piece.

Step 4: Divide the width of each piece into 4 equal parts. Use this trick: place the ruler across the piece and pivot it until you have an easily divisible measurement, like 4". Then, make a dot at each inch. Draw parallel lines at these dots, stopping at the line you drew in Step 3.

Step 5: Cut along these lines, stopping at the line you drew in Step 3. Do this to both pieces of paper.

Step 6: Unfold both pieces and re-fold them in half with the pattern facing out. Place them in this orientation.

Step 7: Now it's time to weave these 2 pieces together. There are lots of good tutorials on the web for this part of the process — my favorites are at Gingerbread Snowflakes and Amazing Moms.

The weaving will feel a little tricky the first time you do it, but once you're familiar with the process, it's very easy. Just remember that you're not weaving the strips over and under each other, you're weaving them through each other.

Step 8: Now that the weaving is done, carefully fold up the bottom point of the basket as shown. The pattern on the tip should match the pattern of the weaving. Crease this fold with a bone folder or the back of your thumbnail.

Step 9: Slip a scrap of cardboard into the basket — we're about to cut a slit, and we need to cut only through the front of the basket. Use a craft knife to make a small slit through the folded tip and the layer of paper behind it.

Step 10: Make a flower. I'm using a circle craft punch here, and cutting slits into it. You could also trace a circle with a template. If you have fancier flower punches, feel free to use them. Punch or cut a hole in the center of the flower. Poke a brad through this hole.

Step 11: Now poke the ends of the brad through the slits you cut in the basket. Flatten the back of the brad out to secure it. Here's a view from the inside of the basket.

Step 12: Cut the top of the basket into a rounded shape. You can use a round template, like a plate or bowl, or just cut it freehand. If you have decorative scissors, this is a great place to use them.

Step 13: At the sides of the basket, overlap the open edges about 1/2" and glue them with glue stick. (You'll get the nicest results if you glue the front side over the back side.) Hold them together with a paper clip while the glue dries.

Step 14: Cut a 2" x 12" strip from one of the leftover pieces of paper. Fold this in half lengthwise, pattern facing out, and glue it together in the center. This is the handle of your basket. Glue the ends to the inside of the basket.

Add more flowers (or other embellishments like ribbon, buttons, etc.) to your basket, if you like. Fill it with Easter grass and treats, and you're all set!

About the Author:

Diane Gilleland produces CraftyPod, a blog and bi-weekly podcast about making stuff. Her first book, Kanzashi In Bloom, will be out in July.