Wrapping Paper Baskets

Too many times I have resorted to the boring plain white paper plate to carry my cookies to a party or as a gift. It’s just not a pretty site. Sure it works and it’s convenient because you don’t have to worry about getting your plate back. But there is nothing special about a white plate.

But these little wrapping paper baskets are just super cute! Plus they are great for gifts. Tie a bow around it and it’s perfect.

Using wrapping paper is so festive and fun. Think of the Christmas wrapping paper you can use in December! But it is not as sturdy as using grocery bags. The basket out of grocery bags kept it’s shape a lot better than the wrapping paper option.  Maybe I should try doubling up on the wrapping paper and having the best of both worlds.

Below is a quick tutorial so you can create baskets for all of your goodies.

Need:
Wrapping paper
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors

1. Cut your strips of wrapping paper 1.5 inches wide. The wrapping paper I used was from the Dollar Tree was it was only 17in long. If you are using a normal sized roll, cut the pieces in half length-wise. This will make the more manageable when you are weaving the pieces in.

2. Fold each piece in half length-wise, or hot dog style, for those of you who like food references. You want your strips to be a little sturdier and the print to be showing on both sides.

3. Lay out the base of your basic by weaving the pieces together. My basket is 5 strips wide. 5 strips will make your basket 4.5 x 4.5 inches. Adjust the number of strips used to make your basket bigger or smaller. There is no reason your basket has to be square either. Try out a rectangular one.

5. Hot glue all of the outside strips so the base stays in a perfect square and none of your pieces move. Try to line up your strips as close together as possible. The finished basket will look best if there aren’t any holes between strips.

6. Fold the strips up to start forming the shape of the basket.

5. Start weaving the pieces through, hot glueing at each of the corners. I glued many of the pieces together to make it a little stronger. I am sure everything will stay in place when it is finished but it was easier to work on when nothing was moving around.

Hide the star and finished of each strip on the inside of your basket to keep the outside looking clean.

6. Once you have finished weaving the sides cut the ends of the paper leaving about a half inch of paper. Fold each end inward and secure with hot glue.

7. Fill with delicious things.

Alternative ideas:

– Newspaper
– Draw on butcher paper to create your own design
– Magazine pages
– Old recipe pages
– Make a really wide base and short sides to layout the cookies. You may need to add cardboard to the bottom so it is sturdy enough to hold everything

 PS. Interested in other quick projects? Check out Crafty hour – all projects take less than an hour. Or you might enjoy making a Copper Pipe Bookshelf or instagram coasters! Happy crafting!