"Easy" Woven Easter Basket

 I have been toying around with the idea of how to make a woven Easter basket without actually weaving one. Sure, I could literally spend hours coming up with an absolutely gorgeous project, but truly, only a few people would even attempt a difficult project. Most people want fast and easy craft projects that still look fabulous.

Once again, I never really intended to show you this project. It is actually my prototype or test project. Just about everyone has seen how to make these cute baskets from the scalloped envelop die, but here is my twist. I added woven 3 1/8" x 2 1/8" panels to the outside of the box. It wasn't too difficult to weave the four panels. I cut my striped Pretty in Pink DSP into 1/2" strips and then got to work. I adhered the strips to a piece of Pretty in Pink CS for stability and then glued each panel to the outside of the box. This paper was from the Level I Hostess Pack that was available in the previous catty, but you can get a similar look with just about any striped paper.

I wasn't happy with the "plain Jane" flaps (remember, this was supposed to be a test) so I decided to cut four additional flaps and run them through the Big Shot with a Texturze small polka dot plate. Then I glued the "new & improved" flaps directly on top of the original. To give the look of lace I used the paper piercer from the tool kit and punched directly over the slits that were already there. I added an extra punch at the top of each scallop and it really gives the look of a lace border. I added my handle and embellishments and there you have it.