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Can you guess what materials we used to make this Spring Basket? It is made from craft foam (polystyrene) with a plaster finish for a ceramic look. It's light weight and an original, just like The Crafter's Hot Knife.
Here's what you'll need to make your own:
1 piece of flat craft foam (polystyrene), 1 foot by 1 inch thick
1 craft foam ring, 1 inch thick, 12 inches diameter
About 2 cups of plaster of paris
The Crafter's Hot Knife
ruler
toothpicks
craft glue
acrylic craft paint in the colors of your choice
1 yard of 1&1/2 inch thick ribbon
decorations of your choice
latex gloves
felt
Directions:
To Score the basketweave pattern:
To create the handle and rim:
Creating the finish:
Assemble the basket:
Your basket is now ready to decorate. Wrap the ribbon around the handle. To add some extra strength to the handle, tie a little bow in each corner where the handle attaches to the base. We used colored excelsior, and Easter decorations on a pick. They just slide into the top of the basket. We also cut some small foam eggs in half, plastered them, as above, and sprayed them with glitter paint. We attached them in the same way, using toothpicks to secure them to the basket. Let your imagination run wild, with this great new tool for the artist in you, The Crafter's Hot Knife.Order now
Take a piece of paper, 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Fold it in half.
Cut a basket shape with a 1 inch base. This will become your pattern.
Lay the pattern on the flat piece of craft foam. Using the Crafter's Hot Knife, trace the outside of the pattern. Cut all the way through the foam. In minutes you will have your basket shape.
Using the ruler as your guide, measure 1 inch strips on the basket on the diagonal. Use the tip of the Crafter's Hot Knife to mark each row. After the grid has been laid out, score your lines by gliding the Crafter's Hot Knife across the foam, using the ruler as your guide. Use a LIGHT Touch, to keep from going too deep.
Using the Crafter's Hot Knife, cut the 12in foam ring in half.
Set one half aside for the handle. Now, using the Crafter's Hot Knife, trim the second half about three inches, so you end up with a very small space left. Trim more if you need to, this will become the rim and you don't want your decorations to fall through!
Mix a small amount of the plaster of paris in a disposable container. We used about 1/2 a cup at a time. Mix in about 1/4 cup of water. You want a very thick consistency, as this will fill the holes in the foam very well. The plaster sets up very quickly so only mix a little at a time. Wearing the gloves, rub the plaster mix over the foam. If the scoring fills in, use the Crafter's Hot Knife to keep it free from plaster. Cover the basket, rim and handle completely on one surface. You will want to cover any exposed areas on the sides or tops with the plaster. You want a smooth finish. After the plaster is dry (about an hour or so), paint the basket in your favorite spring colors. We used brown for the base, rim and handle and a green for the basket itself.
Dip a toothpick in the craft glue. Place 1/2 of the toothpick in the top of the basket, now put glue on the other half and insert it into the exposed end of the handle. Assemble the handle and rim in this manner until they are secure. Make sure you break off any excess toothpick so it doesn't poke out the back of the basket. Let dry for a few hours at least. We covered the back of the basket with felt so nobody would know what we used!