How to Make Your Own Basket Embellishments

How to Make Your Own Basket Embellishments

Introduction

Instructions

Wood Cutouts

Steps

1

Step One

Purchase or cut out your own wood shape from a thin craft wood, such as basswood, found at most hobby stores. A heart, watermelon, teacher's pencil, or sunflower cutouts make cute embellishments for a market or purse basket.

2

Step Two

Cut two slits in the middle of the wooden cutout. The slits need to be the width of the weaver used in your basket.

3

Step Three

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Use a piece of reed 6 inches longer than the width of your wood cutout.

4

Step Four

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Thread the wood cutout onto the piece of reed leaving about 3 inches of reed on each side of the cutout.

5

Step Five

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Slide the reed ends under the spokes and over the weaver so the wood cutout is attached to basket.

Cowboy Style

Steps

1

Step One

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Add a bandana when weaving your melon or egg basket about 2 inches from the God's Eye.

2

Step Two

Weave the bandana the same as you would a piece of reed.

3

Step Three

Make bells from tobacco can lids. The lids are made from a tin that will make a tinkling sound.

4

Step Four

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Cut the rim from the can lid so you have a round, flat piece. Wear a leather glove when cutting and curling the tin to prevent cuts.

5

Step Five

Cut the flat piece in half.

6

Step Six

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Use needle-nose pliers to roll the half-round piece into a cone shape.

7

Step Seven

Leave a small opening at the top to slide a piece of leather into.

8

Step Eight

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Slide a leather thong into the cone top and squeeze shut with needle-nose pliers.

9

Step Nine

Tie the other end of the leather piece to the bandana with the bells hanging down.

10

Step Ten

Cluster two or three bells for a nice sound.

Odds and Ends

Steps

1

Step One

Use pipe cleaners twisted around a weaver for cat whiskers. This works well on a doorknob basket.

2

Step Two

Paint eyes or use large wiggly eyes.

3

Step Three

Glue felt triangles for ears and a tongue.

4

Step Four

Use tole paint to add "seeds" for your watermelon basket or "petals" falling from your sunflower cutout.

5

Step Five

Weave wider birch weavers into your basket to stencil your favorite designs on.

6

Step Six

Rough-carve a piece of driftwood into a tiny trout to hang on the side of your driftwood basket.

Overall Things You'll Need

• Basket Reeds
• Needle-nose Pliers
• Tin Snips
• Glass Beads
• Leather Thongs
• Beads
• Raffia
• Tole Paints
• Ceramic Beads
• Stencil Brushes
• Water-based paints
• Metal Snuff Can Lids
• Beading Needle
• Scroll Saws
• Scrap Lace
• Buttons
• Basswood
• Pipe cleaners
• Wiggly Eyes
• Stencils
• Wooden Beads
• Stencil Paints
• Felt
• Wooden Cutouts
• Acrylic Paints
• Flat Hobby Paintbrushes
• X-Acto Knives