Pop Bottle Easter Basket

     This pop bottle Easter basket craft was taught to me by my mother.  She has one made for every holiday and season, by just altering the fabric prints.  They can be used to hold candy, potpourri, guest soaps... be creative.  They are incredibly easy to put together. These baskets are made out of a plastic 2 liter pop bottle, and some fabric.  Although it helps if you are a sewer and have access to a sewing machine, it isn’t necessary. The trim can also be glued on just as well.
 

1. Begin the pop bottle Easter basket by cleaning out the 2 liter pop bottle. Cut and retain the bottom 4 inches of the bottle. This will be the bottom of the basket. From the top section, cut out a strip of plastic one inch thick, going around the bottom. This will be the basket’s handle. It is already bent to the curved shape for the handle.


                      


2. Take the 20 inch diameter fabric and push it inside the 4 inch basket. You are making the lining of the basket. Put a rubberband around the outside of it to keep it in place. Trim off any excess fabric.

       

3. Prepare your 12 inch circle of fabric. The lace trim can be sewed on, or glued on. Or, if you prefer, skip the lace trim and cut the fabric with some pinking shears for a nice trim without the hassle. Also prepare the 6 inch diameter piece of batting.


          


4. Assemble the basket layers. First, put the 12 inch circle of fabric with trim with the wrong side of fabric facing up, on the table. On top of this place the 6 inch circle of batting. On top of this, place the basket with the lining. Have a rubberband ready. Now, wrap the 12 inch circle of fabric on the bottom up and along the sides of the basket. The batting makes it soft and rounder. Use the rubberband to hold in place.


             


5. To make the handle, place the 1 inch plastic strip on top of the 14” x 2” fabric strip you have. You will need to anchor the sides with something heavy, since the strip rolls up on its own. Make sure you have the curve of the strip pointing down, or concave. Place regular white glue all along the plastic strip, and fold over the fabric on each side of the strip to conceal the plastic entirely. Weight it down while it dries. NOTE: Do not use a hot glue gun, it will melt the plastic. Usually the fabric for the handle matches the fabric of the outside of the basket, but here I used a darker color.


               


6. When the handle dries, staple each end to the outside of the plastic bottle, stapling through the fabric lining, but inside of the outside fabric, so you can’t see the staples.





7. Add a pretty ribbon and tie a bow around the basket to conceal the rubberband. Wasn’t that easy?

Below right is another example of a pop bottle Easter basket my mother made.