Monday, Monday!

Monday's are going to be cleaning tips and plans on crafts or activities that we plan on doing during the week. Today my cleaning tip is always start the day by putting one load of laundry into the washer. If you do this everyday then you won't have to do 5 loads in one day. It really does help to keep the sanity of those of us who don't LOVE to do laundry. 

I have a couple of different crafts that I am working on for this week. I am kind of a Christmas nut and I really like to have all of my Christmas crafts done by Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the holidays. This year I am doing baskets for the women in our family and some of my neighbors. 

There is only three things that you need to make them with, old newspapers, glue (both Elmer's and a glue stick), and acrylic paint. 

The first step is to roll the newspapers up into small rods. This poses very difficult at first but once you get used to it, it is second nature and you can do it while you are watching your favorite shows. I pretty much rolled a MILLION of them. You really only need 20-25 of them for one basket. It depends on how big you want to make the basket. 

After you are finished rolling them up then you just glue the end so that they stay in tight rods.

The next step is to start the base of your basket. You lay two rods perpendicular to each other. Grab two more and lay them out to make a star. 

Grab the bottom rod and pull one of the sides up and behind itself and then start weaving the rod in between each of the rods. When you come to the end of the rod then grab another one and fit them together snugly and keep on weaving. 

I weaved about 3 rods for the base and then I pulled the star rods up to start making the basket part. Just keep weaving until you get the size of the basket that you like.

When you want to finish the basket you cut off the rods sticking up so you are left with 1 1/2 inches to fold over and tuck into the basket. You will want to fold the rod over on the side that will tuck in the top rod in so the basket will be tight.

When you have completed the basket then you want to create a paint/paste so that the basket will stay together. I used the Elmer's glue and a brown acrylic paint, mixing it equal parts and then just painted the baskets. I did a thin layer so you could see the print behind the basket to create a worn out effect. I found it easier to paint the bottom half of the basket first then let it dry and then finish the other side and then let it dry. This way you didn't get paint on everything and you can handle the basket without getting paint on yourself.

The basket I just showed you was a small one but you can make big baskets, I just suggesting using more than 4 rods to create the base. Then just make the base bigger by using more rods to weave. On the bigger painted basket in the picture to the Left I used 6 rods but you could probably use up to 8 to make a pretty big basket. 

This was a really fun craft for me to do and it was super easy. Like I said once you get the hang of it then it becomes easier and easier. My first basket was a learning basket and it didn't turn out as well as these ones that I have made since. My plan for these baskets is to make a whole bunch and fill them with people's presents, like fill them with the home dipped chocolates and give them to neighbors. I will definitely post about the chocolates so if you want to take on my Christmas present idea then you will have all the tools. 

Tomorrow, TUESDAY, we will be blogging about a affordable meal plan for the week and some new recipes that we have stumbled upon.