A couple of weeks ago I was asked by my mother to make an explosion box for her supervisor who was celebrating her retirement. I was fortunate enough to work with both women and wanted to make her something that commemorated all the hard work she put into her team. The basket template was something I had thought about for awhile and finally got the chance to make it.

Step 1: Materials Needed

Basket template
Glue
Score board

Step 2: Scoring and Setting Up the Tabs

Score at 1/4" along the straight edge of Piece A and fold the tabs down.

Piece B looks like a sun with rays. The rays are the vertical portion of the weaved basket. Fold each of the rays so that it is aligned with the one across from it.

Step 3: Shaping the Basket

Add glue to Piece A and glue it to the bottom of Piece B starting at the tapered end. Flip over the basket and glue the tabs down. Apply glue to Piece C and place it over the tabs at the bottom of the basket. Take the weaving strips and put glue onto one end. Choose 1 vertical section and start gluing from there. Alternate your weaving pattern between the strips; start gluing from the inside than outside, and repeat.

Step 4: Weaving the Basket

Continue this weaving until the last strip. Weave the last strip as usual but glue it to each of the vertical sections. Snip off any excessive overhangs of the vertical basket.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

The template comes with 2 options for basket handles, one with cut outs and one without. You can cut out each in different colours and layer them or use them separately.