Baskets

Other than then bed which needs quite a bit more work I am working on little things in the dollhouse.   I am filling the attic with stored goods and little touches that bring it to life!

Today I decided to take a roll of craft paper and make baskets.

I only needed craft paper, scissors, glue small wooden circles and I added some embroidery floss on occasion to add color.

First I cut a strip of craft paper big enough to go around the wooden circle..with a bit of overlap.  The height is whatever you want!  I made taller ones and shorter ones.  

I then cut it into the 'comb'. The first few I actually drew the comb in the paper first.

 But after the first few baskets I honestly eyeballed my cuts trying to keep them uniform and as small as possible.

Then I cut strips of the craft paper ...once again as thin as I could....however I did use a ruler for these!  Even and straight is important here!   The strips need to be just a bit longer than the 'comb'.

The 'comb' is the base of the basket and what I weaved all the strips through.

Take one strip of paper and weave it in and out and push it to the bottom of the comb.  It works best to dab a bit of glue on the paper to hold the paper on each end.   I also found that with working with the smaller baskets and on the top row of any basket's weave that if I glue ever other weave...just a tiny smear of glue ....it worked much better!     

Weave strips in until you reach the top. 

When the weaving is done take another strip and overlay it over the top edge....

Take a wooden circle base (or heavy Matte board or card stock paper) ...Place glue on the edge of the circle and glue the bottom inside of the basket weave to the circle....so that the circle is the base.

At that point you can be done if you want.  

If you want a handle grab another strip and glue one end inside the basket...and glue the other side on the inside of the opposite side of the basket....it is again totally subjective to style and preference as to how long the handle is!

I started to get fancy.  On one or two baskets I glued a strip of colored embroidery floss around the top and bottom edges of the basket.

I also weaved some embroidery floss into the basket between strips of paper weave.

I decided that such a basket would have handled to match so I braided some embroidery floss together.... (I used the same color as the accent weave)

I did that twice...then I made little loops from the braids and glued two loops to the inside of the basket.

So many variables...each one is different and has its own personality!!!

Now I just need to figure out what to put in my baskets!!!  Eggs?  'Yarn' and needles?  Laundry???

First up...yarn and 'knitting needles'. 

 What does the bed need???  It needs stained, roped, mattresses created , pillows and quilts for both the main bed and the trundle bed