More Hand Made Picnic Baskets from Boxes and Other Things

The Picnic Party 11

Picnic on the River 

by Henry John Yeend King

Picnic Set-Up  in South Australia

photograph by John Hay

I realize it is winter in Australia, but it is not to early to get things ready in anticipation of summer activities. I don't know how many times I wish I had spent the winter more productively, getting ready for summer, to save preparation time, so that I might have more hours to actually enjoy some summer leisure. 

In this post, and the previous one, you'll see some ways to use ordinary cardboard boxes for picnic baskets.

Some of us in the northern hemisphere have already been through a hot spell, but are hoping to prolong the summer and enjoy more activities.

This is the box I have been working on recently, to change it to a memorable picnic basket. The beauty of doing this, is that very small boxes can be used to pack individual or couples picnics, and the box can be given away to the recipient of the meal.  I have used a large cardboard box here, which would be appropriate for  a family.

This one began as a very plain cardboard box, which probably everyone is familiar with.

I've laid out all the materials needed to cover this box. I would suggest, with any large box, to use wrapping paper that comes on a roll, as it covers the large boxes more easily, without using small pieces. However, in this case I am using scrapbook papers that I got in a packet for $5.00 at Walmart, and I am going to fold and cut and glue them on the box in various places.

Lay the flaps of the box open on the white side of the scrapbook paper and draw around them with a pencil. Cut out and apply with white glue. I won't be covering the inside of the box, because it will just have a tea towel inside of it where the food will be packed. 

Swirl white glue all around the areas to be pasted and brush evenly with a sponge brush before applying the papers.

Using whole sheets of paper, cover the top of the box, and wrap around to the bottom, if it will reach. These two papers are applied in opposite ways to give it a climbing rose effect. You will have to first lay your papers on the box and look at them in several different positions before deciding what look you like best.

If the cardboard shows through on the corners, cut thin strips of paper and fold them over that corner to give it an even finish.

With clear packing tape, secure two long lengths of wired ribbon on to the bottom of the box, in several places.  Here you see the paper strips glued to cover the edges.  You'll have to wrap your ribbon around the box first and tie it in a big bow to determine the length to cut, before you tape the pieces down.

Using the tied ribbon as handles, lift the box and take it to your location. Happy memories!

Altered Box for a Picnic

Picnicking in a Field

by  Jean Louis De Marne, France  1752-1829

Someone gave me this large, round, empty coffee box. Coffee cans are no longer made of tin, but of cardboard, so to clean this can and get rid of the coffee smell, it cannot be left to soak in water for any amount of time. It can be cleaned with a wet rag dabbed in liquid detergent.

 Although short in size, this one is very large and roomy. It can be covered in any scrapbook paper (any theme), and can be made to suit any person in your family. 

Turn the paper over to the blank side and press with a pencil, knife, or your finger  into th edge of the can to mark the width of paper. Then fold the paper evenly on that mark and cut along the line.

Mark the lid on the paper by pressing the paper into the indented area, and cutting out the circle.

Paint white glue around the can and the lid with a foam brush, and press on the paper. 

Paint a strip of white glue around the top of the can and apply a piece of wired ribbon or other type of ribbon,  tying it in a knot on one side.

Cut another piece of wired ribbon and tie it on each side of the other ribbon, to make a handle, as you see above.

The picnic basket is large enough to hold snacks for quite a few people. Think creatively and find different ways to re-create this box. Use fabric, gift wrap, brown paper, construction paper, or anything you like. Try lining the inside with co-ordinating fabric or paper.

Little Altered Box

The Beach 

by Alfred Victor Fournier,  1872-1924

A child asked me to make a drawing book, and so I looked into my collection of empty boxes and found this. Sometimes friends give me interesting boxes, as I often buy in bulk and don't get the packaging, so you see below the box I have acquired. A fruit pectin box will work, as well.

After cutting the flaps off both ends of this box, cut out one of the narrow ends and open it up so that it looks like a book.

Slide the hand-held hole puncher as far as it will go on each end of the "spine" and punch a hole.

Trace the box on whatever paper you choose by rolling it along the paper folded up and tracing each side. The paper cover will not fit the box if you trace the box when it is flat, because there is extra space on the folded edges.

Cut about a half inch larger around the traced box so that the edges can be folded over, as you will see later.  Swirl glue all over it. The glue sticks work best, as the white liquid glue is too wet and makes it wrinkle.

For end-papers on the inside, trace the box flat and cut about a fourth inch shorter all around. 

Trace on paper of your choice for the inside pages of the book. 12 pages ought to do, but you can make less. Then stack them and cut about half inch smaller all around. Center the papers and lay the box on top to punch new holes through the already punched holes.

Fold the edges in and glue down, and then paste the end paper over, trimming it shorter if necessary.  Re-punch the holes through the paper, with the original holes as the guide.

Assemble the pages inside the book, centering them and punching the holes, using the holes in the book back as a guide. Twist one end of wired ribbon and bring it up from the back of the book to the inside, and into the other hole to the back of the book again. I would recommend using wired ribbon from dollar stores instead of fabric stores.  Trim the pages if they are larger than the book cover.

Form the ribbon into a bow on the outside along the spine of the book.

Depending on what kind of pattern is on the outside cover, you can decorate it  with stickers or clip art to match. This was plain white construction paper so I added paper and cloth butterflies.

Now you have a little book to draw in, and this is what

the inside looks like with the end papers.

Now that you see how this was done, you might find yourself looking at throw-away boxes a little differently, imagining which way to turn it to make a book.

First Day of Spring

This is what came the first day of spring, covering the pink blossoms on the trees.

The blue spruce looks great with a bit of white powder, and there are some willows bending over with the weight of the snow.

These are holly trees and a large old maple.

Here is a simple creative way of potting a flowering plant. I've taken some primroses from my garden and put them in these waterproof containers to make colorful favors for ladies Bible classes, or other occasions. If you have no cards you want to part with, use new ones that you buy in packages of 8 or 12 from dollar stores and craft stores.

The containers are any plastic boxes similar to the ones that contain unsweetened baking cocoa. There are quite a few grocery items pack in waterproof containers, as you might notice from looking in your pantry.

Remove the lable and trace the container on to the blank side of scrapbook paper, wrapping paper or a greeting card.

Deckle edged scissors can be used to trim the card to fit, and you can fill in the back with other scraps of cards or paper. Cards or paper sticks well with white glue or tacky glue. I prefer Elmer's white glue. (Dollar store white glue seems to be too wet for craft projects.) Paint white glue  or decoupage glue on the outside with a sponge brush to make the card or paper more durable. 

 Put a few rocks in the container for drainage, and add  a plant from your garden or purchased from a garden center. If you like, you can add a ribbon around the box, and set it on the lid. This makes a good accent piece for a small side table, a desk, your mantel or kitchen sill.

Here is another one done with a left over piece

of pre-pasted wall-border. Just dip it in water and it will

stick.

I will be giving this one away.

Not home made, but just as enjoyable, are these little water pitchers found at Dollar Tree for one dollar. They  come in light blue, green, yellow and coral.  

Put outdoor plants in them for front porch gifts, or a dining table centerpiece.

Here is another frugal idea. For many years I had spare "lefties" from my pair of rubber gloves, as the "rightie" always got a hole in it. I considered advertising for spare "rights" from left-handed dish washers, but finally got this idea. So far, it is working.  I buy two pairs of rubber gloves, one larger than the other. I put the lower quality, cheaper glove (yellow) inside the larger glove (purple or pink Playtex brand).  So far, it has been a month, and no holes. Not only that, but there is no feeling of heat through these gloves and I can use really hot water. I do have a dish washer, but end up washing many different kinds of dishes, such as tea cups, pots and pans with handles that are not dishwasher safe, or different kinds of bakeware.  I hope to update this with a report of the first leak in these gloves.  I enjoy not running to the store to get a new pair of gloves.