Waste basket dollhouse miniature

 Being as we're stuck at home and not able to shop like we used to, here is a little project you may be able to do with items you already have at home.

This is what I used :

Rafia

mat board

paper craft band from the dollar store - you could use wire here, and wrap the wire with rafia

white glue

pencil

ruler

thick needle

Scissors

Here is the picture of this paper roll I got at Dollarama in Canada

I have plans to make some picnic baskets with it.

Cut about 2 and a half inches of this craft roll. The pieces can be pulled apart and will form the posts for you to weave. You need an odd number of them. I used 9 pieces.

Cut the base of your basket the size you would like with the mat board. 
Start putting lines on it to show where you will put the posts. remember it has to be an odd number for it to weave properly, so it is not easy to space them equally apart.

Using the needle, carefully push it through the layers to create a hole for your posts to go in.

Here are the posts torn apart.

Dip the end in glue and stick it in the hole you have created with the needle.

Here I have put in 8 and have to squeeze in the last one.

I left this dry completely as I don't want the frustration of them falling out.

After the glue has dried, bend the post upwards. Here I applied a little glue along the base edge so the mat board is sealed back together.

Starting with rafia that has been flattened and folded ( if desired ), glue the end of the rafia to the base.

Now, all you have to do is weave in and out with the posts. If you run out of rafia, just glue another piece to it. When you get to the height you like, cut off your posts and glue the rafia to the inside of the basket. Sorry, I missed photographing this step.

For the top of the waste basket, I used rafia that is twisted  and glued to stay twisted. It is glued to the top.

Finishing touches: You can apply some glue to the base to seal it, and after the glue has dried, the base can be painted to match the basket.

The Great Crafting Challenge

 What to do during Lockdown? After watching a you tube video the other day of 2 crafters swapping supplies and making crafts with them, I got to thinking. I could challenge my friends and co-workers to a craft challenge, that won't cost them anything, and will encourage them to exercise their creativity, all while staying at home! Having a large craft stash, it was easy to make up 4 craft supply boxes to challenge 4 lucky crafters to make something from these items! Here is some of the items I included in the boxes:

Here's a closer look. Also not shown, some cardstock, Halloween themed, ribbon bows and flowers.

The twist of this challenge: After making a craft piece, they must send me a picture of their creation.

 Then, they have to raid their own stash of crafts, find items they no longer have a use for, add it to the box, and then challenge a friend!

 My hope is that this will keep us engaged and in touch with one another. I am so excited to see what they will come up with! What do you think of this idea?

The first Challenger sent me this: An owl made with styrofoam balls, yarn, cording, felt, wood pieces and feathers. Thanks, MJ for a piece I never would have thought of!