Introduction: Weaving a Small Flower Basket With Old Magazine Paper

About: I am a Mechanical Engineering Graduate, presently doing MBA. My interests are in Electronics, Computers, Latest Technology, Gardening, Travelling and Photography.

This is a small Basket woven with strips of glossy paper from an old magazine.

This is my first instructable so, I made something different for participating in First Time Author Contest

Please go through the below steps on how to weave this basket with paper strips

Step 1: Items Required

  • One or two pages from an old magazine. The pages I have used are glossy papers having 9 " X 11 " size
  • A Cutting Mat
  • A steel Ruler for cutting paper strips
  • Craft knives
  • Synthetic Resin adesive
  • An Ice Cream Stick for applying the glue
  • A basket shaped Serving Bowl

Step 2: Cut Paper Strips and Apply on Bowl

  • Remove one page from the magazine and place it on the cutting mat
  • Aligning with the markings on the cutting mat, cut half centimetre wide strips from the page
  • Place the bowl upside down on the work surface and place a cut paper strip along the center
  • Fold extra length inside the bowl and stick with glue

Step 3: Apply Paper Strips

  • Continue to apply paper strips along the center and stick the edges inside.
  • Here I have added 16 strips of paper on the bowl which formed 32 stakes and formed the skeleton of the basket

Step 4: How to Start Weaving

  • Take one strip of paper and weave in an above and below pattern
  • Once the strip is oven on three or four stakes, align the edge from which we started and stick with glue
  • Continue to weave all around. Once the weave reaches the starting point, apply glue and trim excess
  • Since our stakes are in even numbers, we have to weave each strip individually alternating in an above and below pattern with respect to the adjacent weave

Step 5: Continue Weaving

  • Add strips of paper and continue weaving
  • Make sure that the above and below pattern is alternating with respect to the adjacent weave.
  • Here one strip of 11 " long paper is enough for one round till you reach the wider end of bowl

Step 6: Join Strips for Weaving at Wider End

  • A single strip of paper may not be sufficient when you reach the wider end of bowl
  • Join two strips together with glue to form longer strips
  • Continue weaving till you reach the edge of the bowl

Step 7: Cut Strips and Free From Bowl

  • Once you completed the weaving, cut top of each strip with a knife
  • Using a long needle gently press and release the basket from the bowl
  • Be very gentle, as the basket might have stuck to the bowl by excess glue
  • You can see the basket released from the bowl in the last picture

Step 8: Fold Edges and Glue

  • Now you may find that the excess length of stakes protruding above the basket
  • Fold them inside or out side as per the weaved pattern
  • Apply little amount of glue and stick to make an even top edge

The last two pictures show the finished basket

Step 9: Clean the Bowl

  • Your mom may scold you for sticking strips of paper inside the bowl all around
  • Do not worry, the synthetic resin adhesive we used is water soluble.
  • Fill the bowl with water and allow to soak for 10 to 15 minutes and clean the bowl

Step 10: The Finished Paper Basket

  • Here are few pictures of the finished paper basket. You can use the basket for arranging flowers or for keeping small items in it

Hope you will like it

First Time Author Contest

Participated in the
First Time Author Contest

Makerspace Contest 2017

Participated in the
Makerspace Contest 2017