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Living Well Mom

Stress-free healthy living for empowered mothers, including autism moms

Make Your Own Basket Out of a Box

April 21, 2015 by Racquel Bregg 51 Comments This post contains affiliate links

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It seems I can never have enough boxes, baskets, or storage containers to keep everything organized. Can you relate? But store bought baskets and organizing things can be expensive, even when they’re on sale.

So I’ve been slowly creating my own baskets and beautiful storage boxes from old shipping boxes, diaper boxes, and other boxes I have on hand.
I LOVE the results. And you will too, because today, I’m going to show you how to make your own basket out of an ordinary cardboard box. 

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

What You’ll Need to Make a Basket out of a Box:

  • a sturdy box the size you want your basket to be
  • roll of twine or rope
  • glue gun and hot glue sticks
  • fabric

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

Begin by cutting the top flaps off of your box if it has them.  

Use hot glue to attach one end of the rope or twine to your box.  I used rope rather than twine for a heavier look.  The thicker your rope or twine the less it will take.  I used about 50′ of rope to cover 2/3 of my box (approximately 7″w 13″ l x 9″h).

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

Begin wrapping the rope around the box using hot glue to secure it every few inches.  The rope does not need to be fully glued down but gluing every few inches will keep the rope in place and the wrap nice and tight. 

Continue wrapping and securing the rope until you’ve covered 2/3 of the box. 

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

Cut a strip of fabric long enough to go around your box  The strip should be twice as wide as the exposed area above the rope + 1″.  In my case my exposed area is about 3″ so my fabric strip was 6 1/2″ wide.  

Add a bead of hot glue along the top of the rope, working one side to a time.  Fold over one edge of the fabric 1/2″ and press it against the hot glue.  The right side of the fabric will be against the box so that when it is folded up later the right side will be exposed.  Use a knife or boning tool to tuck the fabric tight against the rope.  Repeat with all sides of the box. 

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

When the fabric has been attached to the box all the way around fold it up and into the inside of the box.  Use additional glue to secure the fabric to the inside of the box.  

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

You could fully line the box if you wanted depending on what you plan to use your new basket for.  I plan to use my basket on higher shelves where the inside will not be seen.  This is a super easy, no sew way to create the look of a lined basket without the extra work!  It took me about 45 minutes to make this basket and less than $5 in supplies!

See how easy it is to make your own basket? You can totally do it too!

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

A reader, Susan, shared a great suggestion. She recommends starting with the fabric glued to the box along a line, then covering the edge of the fabric with the rope or twine. You won’t need to turn over the raw edge as described, which makes it easier and results in fewer wrinkles. 

Thanks, Susan!

How to make a basket out of an ordinary cardboard box - this simple DIY project costs less than $5 in supplies and doesn’t require any sewing. The result is a beautiful lined basket!

Does the fabric look familiar?  I used a scrap that I had left from my DIY Toy Box Makeover! 

DIY Toy Box Makeover: How to turn an ugly plastic bin into a decorated toy box!

Here’s another simple DIY idea you may love:
DIY Mess Free Cat Litter Box - Simple (anyone can do it), really cheap, and best of all IT WORKS!

Filed Under: DIY & Crafts Tagged With: DIY

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! On a Diet says

    April 21, 2015 at 10:48 am

    I have some banker boxes I’m going to try this out on and maybe do the lid as well with cloth. I need pretty storage for my photography props and am tired of spending money on ugly plastic boxes.

    Reply
  2. Dawn says

    April 21, 2015 at 11:09 am

    That is pure genius. It looks just like a store bought basket, but it’s so much easier.

    Reply
  3. Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says

    April 21, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    OMG, I love this. So pretty!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer Sikora says

    April 21, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    This is the most adorable thing I have seen. I just showed it to my daughter and I think we are going to try and do some of these for her room.

    Reply
  5. Meagan says

    April 21, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    Wow, you are so creative! I have so many diaper boxes lying around, going to give this a try!

    Reply
  6. Tammi @ My Organized Chaos says

    April 21, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    And you pay quite a bit for something similarly made in stores! I’m all for this, great idea!

    Reply
  7. Mindy McGowan says

    April 21, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    Wow, what a great idea! I love baskets, but they are SO expensive. I have a million boxes laying around, though. I will have to make some of my own now. Thanks!

    Reply
  8. lisa says

    April 21, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    That is a really neat idea!! This box is so cute!

    Reply
  9. Dee Mauser says

    April 21, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    Wow, I need to start doing this. Being a blogger we get tons of boxes to throw away.

    Reply
  10. Liz Mays says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:18 pm

    That turned out so great. I need to do something like this in my office.

    Reply
  11. Amy Desrosiers says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    This is such a great idea! My kids have way too many toys and I need a stylish way to store their stuff.

    Reply
  12. Ann Bacciaglia says

    April 21, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    This is such a great idea. It looks fantastic and is so easy to make. I will have to try making one this weekend.

    Reply
  13. Chelley @ AisForAdelaide says

    April 21, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    This is such a spectacular idea! I am always looking for more supportive baskets- I think this may be the answer!

    Reply
  14. Sarah @ Must Have Mom says

    April 22, 2015 at 12:27 am

    This is such an awesome idea! How cute! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  15. Marina John says

    April 22, 2015 at 12:31 am

    This is soo creative! I would have never guessed there was cardboard underneath! Very cool!

    Reply
  16. Mistee Dawn says

    April 22, 2015 at 2:41 am

    This is such a fabulous idea! We have boxes laying around all over the place. Finally I can put them to good use.

    Reply
  17. Lena Burkut says

    April 22, 2015 at 4:09 am

    Such a lovely basket. I might just try it

    Reply
  18. Ronni says

    April 22, 2015 at 6:07 am

    So cute! I totally have a basket addiction. It’s getting quite expensive. I may just have to pull out the hot glue gun and get to working! I love this!

    Reply
  19. Dogvills says

    April 22, 2015 at 6:54 am

    I love this. I always have boxes around the house and this is such a clever way to recycle them.

    Reply
  20. Stacey - Travel Blogger says

    April 22, 2015 at 9:11 am

    That is too awesome. I would have never guessed that was a box!

    Reply
  21. Jenny Temcio says

    April 22, 2015 at 9:14 am

    You are so crafty! I love those baskets but they are always so expensive. I will have to try this.

    Reply
  22. Dawn McAlexander says

    April 22, 2015 at 9:16 am

    I did a fabulous job! I would have never thought to make a basket like this.

    Reply
  23. valerie g says

    April 22, 2015 at 10:11 am

    I would never have thought to do this. What a great idea!! love it!

    Reply
  24. Melissa says

    April 22, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    This is amazing! What a fantastic idea for all of the boxes I have lying around.

    Reply
  25. Myrah - Coupon Mamacita says

    April 22, 2015 at 10:48 pm

    Gorgeous and so simple to do! How would have known!

    Reply
  26. Susan Hammill says

    December 30, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    Hello Raquel,
    What a great idea. Could I suggest starting with the fabric glued to the box along a line and then cover the edge of the fabric with the rope or twine? Then you wouldn’t need to turn under the raw edge as described. I think it might be easier to do and have fewer wrinkles.
    Thanks for sharing your idea.
    Sue

    Reply
    • Erika says

      January 3, 2016 at 8:11 pm

      Great idea, Susan. Thanks for mentioning this!

      Reply
  27. glo says

    January 2, 2016 at 1:22 pm

    I am glad that I came across your post on facebook. I am two sets of shelves that I have been wanting baskets for and now I know an inexpensive and crafty way to fill them with.

    Reply
    • Erika says

      January 3, 2016 at 8:08 pm

      Glad to hear it, Glo! Have fun!

      Reply
  28. Linette D. says

    January 5, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    I’m trying to do this project but struggling. Do you wrap the box without ever cutting the rope or do you cut a new piece of rope for every row?

    Reply
  29. Zonia says

    January 21, 2016 at 11:52 pm

    Pin this for future tasks..Excited to do my own basket! 😉

    Reply
  30. Nancy says

    May 4, 2016 at 7:38 am

    This is a perfect idea! This box could even be stored in the living room! Going to try it myself! Thanks.

    Reply
  31. Nancy says

    July 26, 2016 at 6:59 am

    What can I say? I need this! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Carla says

      January 19, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      I think if it is possible to fold the box flaps down inside the box nicely (if large enough) it would add even more stability to the completed basket.

      Reply
      • Erika says

        January 22, 2017 at 11:44 am

        Hi Carla, that’s a great idea for adding more stability to your basket box. Thanks for sharing.

        Reply

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