Nifty-Gifty: A Quick Little Basket with Sew or No-Sew Instructions

This sweet little recycling piece is actually a project I did in Summer Camp around the age of ten (in a group of 9-12 yr olds), using hot glue guns instead of sewing machines. It makes use of an old plastic bottle and fabric scraps; it’s a great fat quarter/scrap project;  AND it makes a perfect little gift basket for smaller items.

You Will Need:

• A Plastic Bottle (2-Liter soda bottles work well)
• Fabric
• Trim
• Glue Gun
• Rubber band
• Ribbon
• Stuffing

1.)  Cut 2 circles from your fabric. I used a 13 inch pot-lid to trace them out, but I found it was just a little smaller than I wanted. I suggest a circle with a 15 inch diameter.

As you can see I chose 2 coordinating fabrics

2.) I find it easier to work with if I sew the trim to the right side of one circle…

3.) …then sew the second circle to the first one (right-sides together), sandwiching the trim between the two pieces. Leave a few inches unsewn  and turn right-side out. (P.S. If you don’t have a piping foot, a zipper foot is very helpful)

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No-Sew Instructions:

1.)Iron a quarter-inch fold, towards the back, around the edges of both circles.

2.) Hot glue the trim to the back (wrong side) of one circle

3.) Then glue the second circle wrong-sides together to the trim, leaving a portion of the edge open to stuff.

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4.) Stuff lightly.

5.) Cut the bottom off of the soda bottle about 4 or 5 inches up. The bottom will be your basket.

6.) Cut a strip of fabric long enough to cover the circumference of the bottle, and 8 inches wide. Hot glue this piece to the outside of the bottle, then fold to the inside of the bottle and glue down.

Glue outside

Glue inside

Folded inward

7.) Place the bottle on the center of the stuffed circle.  Gather the circle upward and secure with the rubber band.

8.) Cover the rubber band with a ribbon.

9.) Fill with whatever goodies you like: flowers; candy; potpourri; tea and crackers; soup mix; etc. Wouldn’t this be a great gift basket or craft/party favor?

I filled mine with the lovely Coffee Filter Flowers I made (yes, I said those flowers were MADE) from Aunt Peaches’ Blog.