- a little of this, a little of that, but mostly stamping and Copics

I’m so happy to share you with how to re-create this oval basket. I used 8×8 patterned paper on an A2 sized card and envelope, so please adapt the instructions and diagram to fit YOUR paper. I apologize in advance if the instructions don’t match up with the photos. I’m having a problem in certain browsers, but the order of the instructions and the order of the photos match, so it shouldn’t be too hard to follow along.

1. For optimum use of an 8×8 sheet of patterned paper, make the first cut at 5-1/4 inches across and cut that piece in half at 4 inches (you have 2 pieces at 5-1/4 x 4 and 1 piece at 2-3/4 x 8. Cut that smaller strip at 5-5/8 inches (which is just enough to line an envelope from just below the adhesive to just under the edge of the envelope opening). The remaining small piece is 2-3/4 x 2-3/8, perfect for perhaps some paper piecing of your stamped image.



2. I used the oval Coluzzle template (not the extended sizes, just the normal or “basic” template). I started my oval in the third track from the edge (shown here as the dark blue line). I usually color my tracks based on what project I’m doing, then it’s really easy to remember, cut on the blue line or the red line.



3. Here is the oval template on top of TWO pieces of patterned paper (that way, I cut once and make two frames and two ovals).



4. I cut the outside oval (the 3rd track from the edge) all the way, and then the rest of the arcs I cut across the top only.
5. Then I switched the ovals, so I now have two baskets and frames to use on cards (2 for 1 is ALWAYS nice).



6. To create the “woven” basket look, fold down every other handle and adhere. If you wanted to create a purse instead of a basket, you’d just cut off all the top arcs flush with the straight top of the basket.



7. 
8. Attach the frame to the folded card base. Do NOT attach the basket at this time.



9. Temporarily place the basket into the frame



10. Lightly pencil a few dots at the corners and perhaps the center of the flat part of the basket opening (to be able to position the stamped image slightly below the basket’s opening).



11. Stamp the image.



12. Of course I always have to check to make sure I stamped correctly (lol). Again, this is a temporary placement of the basket into the frame…we still need to color.



13. So now it’s on to coloring the image. Notice how I created faux grass (suggested by Melissa, one of the sassy stampers in my first March class–thanks Melissa!) by just scribbling a couple of green prismacolor pencils across the bottom of the image (changing direction and height for aesthetic reasons).



14. This part of the faux grass I just LOVE. Check out how just adding a few black pen lines enhances the overall “grass” feeling? OMGosh! Thanks for that tip Melissa. (We all had grass envy at the March classes)



15. And here’s the final card again.