Craft Project: Tisket Tasket Bean Bag Basket
I love to recycle and find myself staring at items I use on a constant basis, thinking, "What can I create with this?" Not only does it save space in the land fills, I don't have to empty the garbage as often! One of my most used items is Kleenex and I came up with this idea for my grandson on Easter.
Approximate Time: 1-2 hours approx.
Supplies:
- empty Kleenex box
- discarded cardboard box
- paint
- foam- assorted colors
- glue
- black thread for whiskers
- large google eyes
- black marker
- felt- assorted colors
- strip of thin cardboard or posterboard for handle
- wide tape
Instructions:
- Cut off top of Kleenex box and cover with tape. This will make project more substantial and last a longer time.
- Use the box for a template and cut out all four sides from felt, allowing a slight overlap on all pieces and cut even to box at bottom. Remember, you want extra at sides and top.
- Cover one side at a time with glue. Then, cover with felt pieces. Bring corners together and hand stitch to make seams. Do not glue felt overlaps at top sides yet.
- Cut square from cardboard box for base and glue to bottom of box on the outside.
- To make the strap, cut a strip from posterboard and two strips of felt to cover, allowing extra on all sides. Glue handle between felt and hand stitch all sides. Poke a hole on each side of box and both ends of handle and use paper fasteners to attach. Lay a piece of tape over fastener prongs on inside.
- Glue down top flaps of felt on all four sides.
- I used dried split peas for my game, but any dried bean or rice will work.
- Cut out square from discarded box that will fit inside basket at bottom. Pour a level amount of beans in and glue down square of cardboard over. This will keep box upright for game.
- Cut rabbit face from cardboard box. I used an xacto knife so cardboard would not bend during cutting.
- Paint face pink, giving two coats, if needed. I covered mine with a coat of jigsaw puzzle saver so the paint would endure kid's usage. It also gives it a nice shine.
- Cut ears from foam and draw lines with black marker.
- Glue or stitch paws, carrot, and feet on. I did both. It's quite easy to stitch through the box.
- Glue on cheeks and lay whiskers on top. Glue nose on top of whiskers. Make cheek spots with marker. Glue on eyes and felt flower, if desired.
- Glue face inside box.
- Handle is movable by using paper fasteners and can be pushed down while playing game.
- Cut egg shapes from felt using different colors for each set for each player. I made mine for two players, making 3 eggs for each. I cut numbers from felt and stitched one on each egg so they can keep score.
- Stitch eggs closed, leaving small area open. Fill with beans and finish stitching closed.
How to Play
Kids take turns trying to toss the eggs into the bunny basket. Make up your own rules for the scoring system.
Note: You can omit the eggs and just make the basket. Fill with goodies for a great Easter gift!
By Mary from Palm Coast, FL
Related: 
Homemade Easter Baskets
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By
03/30/2011
Really clever recycling, who would know!
By
03/26/2011
Note: I apologize but forgot one step in making basket.When you cut a base for the inside of the box, also cut 4 sides for the inside, using the kleenex box for a template. On step 5, after inserting the fasteners for the handle, lay a piece of tape over them on the inside, then glue the cardboard sides on in the inside of the kleenex box.Then proceed to glue down the top flaps of felt.The thick cardboard will reinforce the kleenex box and make it last. Sorry about missing this in the directions...must have had too much coffee!
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I love to recycle and find myself staring at items I use on a constant basis, thinking, "What can I create with this?" Not only does it save space in the land fills, I don't have to empty the garbage as often! One of my most used items is Kleenex and I came up with this idea for my grandson on Easter.
By
03/26/2011
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