Basket making

Hi Friends
I hope you’ve had a great week and love the new Lawn Fawn stamp sets. Aren’t they so cute?
Today, I wanted to share how to make baskets using patterned paper. 
(I’ve made baskets for years using reed, and I thought this would be a cool thing to do with patterned paper).
Since I don’t do videos… I have step out instructions photographed to make the basket at the top of this post.
Step 1:
Cut paper strips. You will need an even number of strips.  I cut mine to be 3/4 inch by 12 inches. The side pictured here is what will be on the outside of the basket

Step 2:
Align an even number of strips vertically. For this basket, I am making a 5 strip by 5 strip basket, but you can do whatever dimensions, you just need to be sure you have an even number of total strips.

Step 3
Weave in the horizontal strips.  You will do an over under weave. Make sure that the second row starts differently than the first (if you started weaving over on the first horizontal row, the second row will need to start under the vertical strip, and continue alternating).  When you start your base, do not worry about making it need and tidy until you have all the horizontal strips weaved in.

Step 4
You will need to “square up” your base.  Notice that there are gaps between the strips, this is important. Weaving is much easier if you have the gaps. I try to keep mine evenly spaced.

Step 5
You now will want to fold up your strips. I use my bone folder to crease them and give a nice edge.

Here’s a photo after all have been creased

Step 6
You will now start weaving your basket through the base you’ve created.  You will do the same sort of weaving as you did to create the base (Over and under). EDTA, this is done with new strips of paper.  You will need to have cut several strips to weave through your base.. Each subsequent row should offset the previous row.  (Check yourself as you work to make sure you are maintaining the over-under pattern---it’s surprising how easy it is to get off the pattern)
Another view of starting the first row. Some tips: Use you glue to hold the strips in place… and the first row is always the most difficult. Each row thereafter gets easier, I promise

So here’s a photo of my basket after weaving all the rows. You will notice that there are pieces that are over the top row of the basket… Step 7
Trip those ends!

and a photo of the basket with the ends trimmed…

Step 8
Make and attach your basket handle. 
For mine, I used a 1 inch by 10 inch strip of patterned paper. I doubled it so that each side would have the red with white snowflakes.  (I just glued two strips together). 

Step 9
Decorate your basket

Step 10
Fill your basket. (I used mine for gift packaging as you can see)

For the record, this is the only gift I have wrapped so far

Just for fun, here are some baskets I’ve made using the Lawn Fawn Fa-la-la papers

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. I know it’s not as much fun as a video. Maybe someday I’ll venture into videos. (Wink).
Let me know if you decide to make some paper baskets. I  would love to see them!!
Hugs and blessings
Nette