When I found this pretty aqua-green Easter basket at Target last week, I knew I was going to have to do something fun with it.
It was such a great color and had such a nice price: $9.99!
I decided I wanted to make it all flowery and frou-frou, so I headed over to the the craft store and picked up some silk Hydrangeas.
You could use vintage millinery flowers for this project, but I like to use silk Hydrangeas because they are relatively inexpensive and come with lots and lots of individual flowers. If you can, get the better quality ones - they look prettier and the realistic color variations make for a more interesting design. In order to use the flowers, I first plucked off the heads and discarded the little plastic stamens in the centers.
For a little extra glam, I added a clear rhinestone to the center of each flower.
Then, I simply used my hot glue gun to affix the flowers to the circumference and top of the basket in a pleasing pattern, varying the flower size and colors to my liking.
Now, this project requires a bit of time and a lot of flowers.
This was a large basket and even though I only covered part of it, I still needed about 300 one-inch flowers! So, if time is a concern, I would suggest trying this technique on a smaller basket. :-)
Once you have decorated your basket, you can fill it up with goodies...
Happy Tuesday!
Jessica
The perfect Spring Basket! Hugs, Diane
Posted by: Diane | March 23, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I love this. It turned out just beautiful.
Posted by: Treasia | March 23, 2010 at 12:50 PM
gosh, that's purty!
(i don't know where that "gomer pyle" accent came from. it just did)
xo
elyse
Posted by: elyse | March 23, 2010 at 02:45 PM
wow you must have a lot of patience! It's paid off though. It looks so pretty xx
Posted by: Polly R | March 23, 2010 at 02:55 PM
It's absolutely adorable! And it matches your sidebar too.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | March 23, 2010 at 03:09 PM
Hi, I just recently found your blog, and I have to say how beautiful and inspiring it is. Can't wait for whats next. :)
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki Miniken | March 23, 2010 at 03:25 PM
So cute, and you just gave me my first chocolate egg craving of the year! You always take the yummiest pictures!
Posted by: Crystel | March 23, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Very pretty! I love how this turned out.
Posted by: Sarah Sarniak | March 24, 2010 at 05:41 AM
I just happened upon your blog! Joy! You and your ideas are adorable, please never stop blogging.
Posted by: Kristen | March 24, 2010 at 11:36 AM
Beautiful ^-^!!!
The Spring is coming...finally!!!
Cristina
Posted by: cristina | March 24, 2010 at 01:27 PM
so so sweet!!
Posted by: lynnk | March 26, 2010 at 03:18 PM
This is so so pretty! I love what you do! Have a sweet day!
Posted by: Torie Jayne | March 29, 2010 at 01:19 PM
So glad I found your blog through flickr-I love all of your postings! this basket is gorgeous-I might even try it! thank you!
Posted by: Jen | March 30, 2010 at 01:02 PM
Jessica,
If you love authentic vintage flowers and millinary flowers, try Dulken and Derrick in NYC (google them--they sell online.). They have been around for atleast 40 years in the same old loft in NY selling to the biggest American fashion and millinery designers of each era and everything is hand made in their location or ordered from Europe (nothing cheap or cheesy looking at all.).
I used to be a fashion design assistant in NY to a few major designers when I lived there, and had to go to Dulken and Derrick all of the time to buy fabric flowers for fashion show accessorizing.
They recently closed their loft but are still operating online. Their flowers are expensive but there is NOTHING like what they do, anywhere in the US. They sell to Broadway costume designers and do flowers for couture shows. Check them out.
Posted by: Queen of Tarts Cakes | April 14, 2010 at 04:55 AM