Mini Easter Baskets with Eileen Hull's Basket Die

Easter is just around the corner, so why not whip up some sweet little Easter baskets with decorative papers, trims and flowers in your stash? Once you make one, you'll find it hard to stop, so I'm warning you in advance. These little cuties would be perfect filled with colorful foil-wrapped chocolate eggs or Easter grass and a small gift. I've created a tutorial for you below to share how easy they are to make and some tips along the way.


I used Eileen Hull's "Basket" die by Sizzix, which you can find online at Joanns, Ebay, Amazon, or from Eileen's Etsy shop. I had already made three baskets using Graphic 45's "Garden Goddess" collection using pink, green and yellow. I wanted to make a purple one for this tutorial so I went to my Graphic 45 collections and found Secret Garden papers that were perfect! First, I used the die to cut the basket pieces from medium weight chipboard (white).  (The little decorative chipboard piece in the photo is from the Secret Garden chipboard collection.)

TIP: Thinner chipboard can be used, but the scorelines in the die show up best on medium weight. 



Next, I die cut the basket pieces from the two different papers, one for the outside, one for the inside. 

TIP: This is where you can really have fun mixing and matching papers. For my baskets I wanted a more monochromatic look.



I adhered both paper designs to the two basket sides, inside and out, and only the outer print to the two trim pieces. Finally I adhered the inner paper to the basket base piece. I used Decades ink for Graphic 45 by ColorBox in French Lilac to ink the edges.

TIP: It's best to bend the chipboard and paper pieces on their score lines before adhering them together. If you adhere them flat and try to fold them afterwards, they will most certainly tear. Trust me.



From the outer base paper, I trimmed the left and right edges completely off and inked the edges. I adhered the trim pieces to the tops of each basket side piece and clipped them while the glue dried. 


I found it helpful to trim the base paper apart before adhering to the outer base. 

TIP: Trimming off those side flaps from the paper in the previous step helps reduce the bulk when glueing the basket sides to the base.



Bend the chipboard handle pieces as well as the inner papers on their score lines then adhere together. Clip until glue is dry.

I found these clips on Amazon for cheap! They come in two sizes and are nice and strong.



Just like the base papers, I cut apart the outer handle papers before adhering them down. 

TIP: I used the purple ink to fill in the gaps and also will be adding ribbon later, so these joint spaces won't show up as much.



Once the outer trim pieces were dry on the basket sides, I used my Crop-a-dile to punch the small holes all the way through.


Next I adhered the basket sides to the base, clipping again until the glue dried.

TIP: A strong all-purpose glue like Beacon's 3-in-1 is great for jobs like this.



I added this pretty trim to my basket handles, then inserted these cute button brads through to the inside of the basket and opened out the prongs. If you're like me, you don't like seeing those brad prongs in there, so I have a fix for those in the next step.

TIP: Because of the thickness of the chipboard and papers, you'll need to use brads with long prongs. I found these at my local Hobby Lobby. 



To cover the prongs, I used those last two inner paper strips. I cut an angle off the bottom corners like this and trimmed a little off one end as well.



I adhered this piece over the prongs. Now it's nice and neat!


I adhered ivory ric-rac ribbon around the basket, trimming off at the ends rather than wrapping one long piece all the way around. Either way is fine. It's your option.

TIP: I use Fray Check at the ends of ribbon cuts like this so they won't fray over time. You can find this product in the sewing notions department of craft/fabric stores.



To finish it off, I adhered little flowers and leaves, then tied the Secret Garden chipboard tag to the basket handle.


Here's another look at the finished baskets.

FINAL TIP: Think outside the box (or basket!) and use Eileen's die to make little picnic baskets, pretty purses, tool boxes or gardener's totes. The ideas are endless!


Thanks for stopping in today. I hope you liked the project. You can find Graphic 45 products in your favorite scrapbook stores or directly from Graphic 45 now. Have fun and let me know if you make some little baskets!



Comments

  1. Now I want to go make a million baskets! These are so adorable and spring-y- great tutorial too <3

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    1. Aw, thanks Eileen! I know, right? I could make a zillion more. Such a fun die.

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  2. Replies
    1. LOL! This is an older one, so if you want it, get it sooner than later! You’ll be glad you did. Have fun!

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  3. These are beautiful! I needed that tip about folding separately before gluing the paper to the chipboard! That’s what I have been doing wrong!

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    1. Thank you Roxie. So happy to have helped. It happened to me too.

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  4. YOUR BASKETS ARE SO DARLING & CHARMING Annette!♡ I am making baskets for some of my friends here in Kansas & Missouri today. So happy I had this Eileen Hull Designs scoreboards die in my collection. Thank you for inspiring me to get it out & use it.♡ *☆♡☆*HUGS YOU ARE LOVED!*☆♡☆*

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    1. Thanks so much Jenn! I would love to see how they turned out. Be sure to tag me if you make some and post photos on your social media. They are so much fun to make. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

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  5. Great tutorial, and I don't know how you have a crisp white background...you must be the cleanest crafter ever...lol! These are so stinking precious and fun!

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  6. Great tutorial, thank you for sharing!

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  7. Replies
    1. Thanks so much! They’re really cute in person, too. Can’t wait for Easter!

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