Spring Basket & Wine Coaster

The Stella & Ross Mabel papers are a great set of papers and embellishments for making fun spring items as you’ve probably noticed from the other blogs. I used them to make this cute trio of Easter items – a wine coaster, a basket and a card. The oranges and turquoises were just the right colors for Easter items and the wide variety of brads available made perfect accents. I found the sturdy nature of the Stella & Ross papers to be excellent for items needing a little more strength than a card or scrapbook page. To make the coaster and basket, I used the Mabel “Joy” Woodgrain for the base. I sprayed it with two colors of Glimmer Mist to give it more texture and some shine. I wove in a variety of spring colors and added a scalloped edge at the top and bottom. The only challenging part was getting the bottom the right size but you can either use my sizes or just experiment a little to get it the right size. Or if you are a math whiz, you could use a formula to figure out the size of circle you need. The detailed instructions for the basket follow. I have also included notes of the adjustments needed for the wine coaster. This is definitely a project that you can have some fun with.

1. To make the weaving base cut a 3” x 12” out of Mabel “Joy” Woodgrain paper. The strips to weave are made by making a 11 ¼” cut (in other words your strip will still be attached on the left side of the weaving base) every ¾” or 3 times. You will have four strips. It is important that the cuts end at the same point leaving ¾” piece on the left side that is uncut. Spray the woodgrain side randomly with Sun Sisters & Peach Delight Glimmer Mist.


2. Cut 15 ¾” x 3 ½” strips of matching materials. This is a great way to use scrap paper. Sample uses Mabel “So Sweet” Herringbone (orange side), Mabel “Little Lady” Posies and Mabel “Play” Damask.


3. One at a time weave each of the 3 ½” strip into the main weaving piece alternating on top and on bottom. After all are woven, go back to the beginning and make sure all strips are pulled completely to the one next to it. You need to do this with both the vertical and horizontal pieces. It may take a couple of times to have it all lined up. Affix each strip at top & bottom on the side that will be covered or use a small stapler like Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to hold the strips in place. If use stapler you’ll want it to be close enough to top or bottom that trim will cover.


4. At this point you can decorate the basket with brads, flowers or stamp images in the squares. The sample basket does not include any decorations, but the wine coaster includes a variety of the Stella & Ross brads to make it more attractive.


5. Cut ¾” x 12 strip for top edge Mabel “Little Lady” Fine Flowers. Scallop one edge; attach to top of main weaved piece on outside.


6. Cut another ¾” strip of Mabel “Little Lady” Fine Flowers for bottom edge. Scallop one edge.


7. Cut circle for bottom. (Sample is 3 ⅜”.) Best if use hard cardstock for this. Sample uses Bazzill cardstock. Cut 2nd circle about 1” bigger than 1st circle.


8. Affix wrong side of smaller circle inside wrong side of larger one. (I used a glue stick.) Using tool score as close to inner circle as possible so it will fold up easily. Cut a series of “v”s out of the circle about every ½”. The widest part of the “v” should be at the outside edge and the tip of the “V” should be exactly at the scored line. Slowly fold the outer circle inward on score line. Put row of red line tape on inside bottom edge of main weaving and one on edge of main weaving that should be on inside. Place some round object in the circle that is about the same size as the inner circle. I used a wine bottle but they do vary in size so it may take a little effort to find the right size bottle. Assuring that the sides of the larger circle are all pushed up and in. Slowly wrap main weaved piece around the circle pressing to assure it seals. When get to the end, press the edges going up the side of the bottle together. You may need to add some extra glue in places.


9. Cut a 1” x 12” piece of Mabel “Joy” Woodgrain. Put red line tape on the woodgrain side and affix it inside the top of the basket (so polka dot side is showing. This creates a nicer edge for the basket.


10. Put a 1 1/2” piece of Mabel “Little Lady” Fine Flowers for the handle. Scallop both sides. Put a hole in the basket and the handle. Affix with brad. Repeat same on the other side of the basket.

Wine Coaster The wine coaster is made the same as the basket except for size and choice of colors. The following variations are made in the sample.

1. The main weaving base is 4 ½” tall rather than 3”.


2. The strips are 5 ½” instead of 3 ½”.


3. The top and bottom strip should be 1 ½” rather than ¾”. •The sample includes brads for decorations from the Mabel “Love” Decorative Brad Set.


4. The sample also includes a small tag that can be used either as a gift tag or to label the kind of wine that is in the coaster if you are using to serve.


5. The tag from the Mabel “Love” Decorative Brad Set.


6. Add a 1” row of trim on the bottom inside affixing with red line tape so that there are not rough edges for wine bottle to catch on. (This is just like the one on the top as in the basket.)


7. There is no handle.