DIY Easter Baskets

My family has a tradition of making our own Easter baskets every year. I love them for many, many reasons, which you can read about here: why I love homemade Easter Baskets!

They are very easy to make. Here's the instructions.

1. Gather Supplies

colored poster board

(I have 11x14 sheets pictured here, but you can scale it up or down)

ruler

scissors

stapler

stickers

markers 

(optional)

2. Make a Pattern.

Using the image below, trace a pattern onto your poster board. The long vertical piece becomes the handle and the square becomes the basket itself. You can make the "bowl" of the basket deeper or more shallow by adjusting where your cut lines are. For this example we marked two and a half inches from each corner and drew our lines. Now cut carefully.

Tip: the handle is rectangular, but we have also cut it into a zig zag or wavy pattern in the past, which is fun. Customize it to your preferences.

3. Folding.

Fold in the opposite sides as shown below and then flip it over.

4. Embellish.

Using stickers or markers, decorate your baskets. Not every section will be visible after it is assembled, so be sure to only color in the sections marked with a sticker in the below photo. 

Just a word to the wise, as you look at this photo, realize that the center box will become the bottom of the basket once assembled. Each side will then fold upwards accordingly, so if you are writing words or designs make sure you are aligning them correctly so your words don't end up being upside down after assembled.  I usually start in the top center section, add my embellishments and then rotate clockwise until each section is done. 

Then you flip over the entire basket, fold in the sides and staple. 

Decorate your handle and staple that on too. 

Then fill with Easter grass and enjoy.