How to Make Baskets From Paper Grocery Bags

If you are planning a party, paper grocery bags are the ultimate in frugal decorating. This cute basket made from paper grocery bags is a wonderful container to put a potted plant or vase of flowers in for a centerpiece. Place one on a gift table to corral cards or fill one with small favors to be handed out to your party guests. This basket uses paper grocery bags for the base and is decorated using Creative Twist paper cording.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two paper grocery bags
• 7 1/4 yards Creative Twist paper cording, 4 inches wide
• Scissors
• Glue gun
• Yardstick

1. Open one of the grocery bags and turn it inside out. This takes a bit of time and patience so that the bag does not become mangled. Its okay if the top edge becomes slightly ripped or ragged. After the bag has been turned inside out, crease the folds the opposite way from their original fold. From now on the inside of the bag will be referred to as the outside and the outside of the bag will be referred to as the inside. Fold 2 inches of the top edge of the bag to the inside. Repeat the fold until the paper grocery bag basket measures 7 inches tall.

2. Cut three lengths of paper twist 26 inches long, two lengths 28 inches long, two lengths 40 inches long and two lengths 24 inches long. Unravel each of the paper twist lengths.

3. Apply hot glue to one end of a 26 inch length. Attach the glue end, centered one inch inside the top long side of the basket. Wrap the length down the side, across the bottom and up the other side of the basket. Apply hot glue to the other end of the 26 inch length and attach it to the inside edge of the basket. Glue the other 26 inch lengths on each side of the first one, in the same way. These three strips will cover the long side of the basket. Glue the 28 inch lengths to the bag basket ends in the same way as the basket sides. Turn the basket over and apply hot glue under the top strips to hold them in place.

4. Weave two rows of horizontal strips around the basket using the 40 inch lengths. Weave the strips under and over the previous glued strips alternating the under-over on the second row. Glue the ends together under a vertical row.

5. Cut the top 3 inches from the second bag. Measure and cut a 24 inch length from the cut 3 inches. Fold the length in thirds and hot glue to measure 1 inch wide for the handle. Center the handle on a 24 inch length of paper twist. Fold the twist to one side of the handle, overlap and hot glue. Glue the ends of the handle to the inside, center short sides of the basket. Tie the remaining 24 inch length of paper twist into a bow and hot glue to the top of the handle.

[angel772]

on 8/20/2009 I use a cardboard box instead of the bag. It will make your basket a LOT stronger. Just follow these instructions but get a small box (go to wally world early in the morning when they are stocking the shelf) Try www.papertwist.net for the twist. Have Fun!!!!