Flower Leaf Cord Wrapped Basket

 

Here's a fun and quite unusual looking DIY basket that's ideal to make for spring, Easter or just about any decorative theme! Perfect to share on this month's  Creative Craft Hop hosted by Sara @Birdz of a Feather!  If you are visiting from Terri @Decorate & More with Tip, WELCOME! Wasn't Terri's Texture Bunny Wall Plaque adorable!  Getting back to my basket, don't you just love the cool effect of the curved "flower leaves" that enhances the basket! Want to know how I made this? Just follow along with me!  

Materials used:

Recycle plastic container

Hot knife/marker

Poly cord (5/32" 75ft)

Leaf template/pencil

Burlap

Macrame cord 3mm 109yds

Starbond super glue/Fabri-Tac glue

Parchment paper

Hot glue gun

Duck tape

Disclosure I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, this post may contain links. I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you! The affiliate money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

I started with a seven inch tall clear pretzel container that I washed and removed the label and let dry. I don't know what happened to the top.

Anyway, I wanted to remove a portion of the container to make it shorter. So I got out my hot knife and marker - plus a jar to hold the marker in place while I twirled the container around - marking the area to cut off.

Once the marking was done, I heated up the hot knife and followed the line .  . .

to cut off three inches of the container.

Next, begin gluing on the cord starting at the top of the container. I didn't want hot glue to show through the clear plastic so I used a high performing super glue called Starbond which dried clear to attach the poly cord.

Continue adding glue to wrap the container with poly cord  .   .  .

going around and around .  .  .

until ending and cutting off the cord at the center of the container bottom.

This is already looking cute, especially done in purple, lol!

Now we need to make large flower leaves to add around the cord wrapped basket. Here is a lovely leaf template that you can copy and paste in any size that you like. The leaf pattern I'm using is 7 3/4" tall and 2 3/4" at its' widest part. Next I measured around the container - 19" - and divided that by 2.75 and got 6.9 which is almost 7. 

So I drew seven leaf patterns following the template onto burlap and .  .  .

began adding macrame cording around the shape applying hot glue first and then the cord. Since the burlap has an open weave, make sure to lay parchment paper underneath so the leaves can easily be removed.

I started out using hot glue since I didn't have enough of the Starbond super glue. Then I switched to Fabri-Tac fabric glue after burning my fingers more than I cared to say! Ouch!

Once finished wrapping the leaf with macrame cord .  .  .

time to cut the flower leaf out to .  .  .

glue on the poly cord around the leaf edge.

How cool does this look.  Flex the leaf to make it more pliable since it will be glued down in sections on the container..

Once macrame cording is added to all seven leaves, begin adding hot glue to the bottom of the leaf and .  .  .

attach to the base of the container.

Attach the rest of the leaves using hot glue to the bottom of the container making sure the leaves are close to each other.

Once the glue is cooled off and dry, begin shaping the leaves by forming a "hump" near the bottom to all the leaves at the same area.

Then add glue at the top of the leaves and .  .  .

hold in place until the glue is dry.

Continue shaping all seven of the leaves and gluing in place.

Then make a  four cord braided handle by taping down (duck tape) four cords long enough to make a handle. Straightening the cords, look at them as groups of two. For the first group of two, take the far right cord over the left cord - which is right next to it. Then take the next group of two, right over left. 

Then take left cord over right (center cords)

Continue right over left, right over left and .  .  .

left over right. Tightening the cords as you braid.

Continue right over left, right over left, left over right, tightening braid, until you reach the length you want for a handle. 

 

The wrap the ends of the handle with extra cords and glue them in place on the inside of the basket. Make sure to use a lot of glue to keep the handle attached. Glue on a group of short strips of cords across the ends of the handles for extra hold. 

I am loving how this basket turned out and hope you are too!

Up next is Allyson @Southern Sunflowers sharing her adorable Easter Photo Frame Craft with Bunnies.  Be sure to stop by each and everyone in our creative group listed below to check out their exciting and inspiring project! 

Carol, @Blue Sky at Home - 2 Cute DIY Planters for St. Patrick’s Day

Cecilia, @My Thrift Store Addiction - Mini Mushroom Garden Sign Makeover

Terrie, @Decorate and More with Tip - DIY Texture Bunny Wall Plaque

Gail, @Purple Hues & Me - Flower Leaf Cord Wrapped Basket

Allyson, @Southern Sunflowers - Easter Photo Frame Craft with Bunnies

Jenna, @ The Painted Apron - Spring Bunny & Ribbon Carrot

Donna, @Modern on Monticello - Tile Marbled Magnets using Nail Polish

Sara, @Birdz of a Feather - How to Remove Rust From Metal

Niki, @ Life as a Leo Wife - St. Patrck’s Day Garland

Leanna, @Pretty DIY Home - Spring Bunny Mantel Decoration

Tammy, @Pantina and Paint - DIY Riser