To follow this month's theme of celebrating women, sisterhood, and the feminine, I incorporated the cherry blossom symbol onto these mini baskets. Like cherry blossoms, women continuously reclaim space, bloom in their strength, and inspire future generations to grow beyond limitations. What a beautiful symbolism to add to this mini basket.

Steps to make the basket base

Let's dive into the project! To start, I took a humble brown paper grocery bag and gave it a new life.

  1. First, I carefully opened the bag, removed the bottom and handles, and flattened it.
  2. To add some sturdiness, I folded the bag in half and used a hot, dry iron and a fusible web to laminate the two layers together. This creates a thick, sturdy material that is perfect for our basket.
  3. I then cut down the paper to 12 inches wide and with my longer (24-inch mat) used my Cricut and the heavy cardstock setting to cut out the basket shape. However, don't worry if you don't have a cutting machine! You can easily cut the template by hand using scissors or a craft knife. I've made the basket template available in both the SVG and the PDF for you to download.
  4. You can resize the template to match the size of your material. You can also use cardstock paper if you want to make small matching baskets for table place settings or party favors.

Let's add some decoration!

Now for the fun part! I used a set of Ohuhu paint markers to add delicate cherry blossom flowers to the mini basket. Here is a quick video of how I made the simple branch design. You can add cherry blossom branches to your baskets or create your own design.

Share your creations with me! Share photos of how you use these mini baskets on the community page, or tag me on social media using #liagriffith and #CraftyJoy. If you love upcycling paper bags, be sure to check out our video on how to make woven baskets.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of creativity and symbolism. Let's celebrate the beauty of blossoms and the feminine together.

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