“A-tisket a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it,
I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up and put it in his pocket.”
That rhyme has been playing over and over in my mind ever since I made over an old picnic basket that I found.
Dan and I went to visit a few antique stores in a neighboring town and I found this cute, old picnic basket that has seen better days.
Since I’ve been wanting to decoupage something for the longest time, I thought this basket would be my guinea pig!
I picked up a pack of 3-ply napkins in a pretty, floral print. I couldn’t help myself and bought the matching kitchen towel, too ; )
The hardest part of this whole project was separating the three plys of the paper napkins ; )
First I brushed on a layer of Mod Podge onto a section of the basket.
To apply the napkin? I just laid it down and press it onto the basket with my fingers.
Then I brushed on more Mod Podge right on top of the napkin layer.
The white Mod Podge dries clear. I love how you can still see the texture of the weave of the basket.
I waited until the next day to make sure the Mod Podge was completely dry and then I sanded the edges to remove the excess napkin edges. I also lightly sanded the entire basket.
I didn’t decoupage the rim of basket, the edge of the lid and handles. I wanted to paint them white for some contrast. So I covered the decoupaged surface of the basket with painter’s tape, then used white spray paint to paint the rim, handles and lid edges.
Here it is, all done . . . .
. . . and ready for it’s first picnic! I love how this pretty, little basket fits nicely on the back of my bike! (Can you believe that’s the same washi tape on my bike fenders??? It is!!!) That washi tape has almost two years and a few hundred miles on it!
I also bought the large doily/table cloth at the antique store. I love how the flowers and colors coordinate with my updated basket.
This picnic spot is along one of our favorite bike trails that runs along the Susquehanna River in Marietta, Pennsylvania.
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What a fabulous use of such pretty napkins! Love it!
What a lovely basket. I think I will do a small laundry basket using your method..
Thank you Gloria! I’d love to hear how your laundry basket turns out!
After the modpodge, you lightly sanded the whole basket. Why? Didn’t that damage the napkin modpodge.
Hi Joan, I just wanted the basket to have a bit of a worn look to it. It did not damage the napkin mod podge.
Oh my gosh! I saw this in the Hometalk newsletter, and fell in love with it. It’s soooo beautiful. You did a lovely job!
pinning!
gail
Oh my gosh! I saw this in the Hometalk newsletter, and fell in love with it. It’s soooo beautiful. You did a lovely job!
pinning!
gail
ps sharing on facebook!
Thank you Gail! How sweet of you!!! Thank you so much for sharing, too!
Love this idea. There are so many lovely paper napkin patterns available now. I have the exact same basket. It’s actually not a picnic basket, but a pie basket. It should have had a removable wooden rack inside to hold a second pie, but whatever it’s called, mine will be having a new face soon.
I got a tip to separate the layers of napkins, if you take two pieces of washi tape and place them sticky side to sticky side on each side of the napkin and pull them apart, the layers come a part easily. I have a gazillion yellowed Longaberger baskets and to answer your question about if they are “collectible” or not, I have tried to sell several of my “special” “Collectors club” baskets and couldn’t get even close to what I paid for them.. so paint and decoupage away!
This is a fabulous idea! Looks beautiful! I would love for you to come back over and share with us at Thursday Favorite Things again!
Great idea, I have baskets like these that I will enjoy upgrading, never thought that with the weave this couldn’t have been done. Just wondering, since the basket is going to be covered with the napkins why not paint the handles and trim first? Would save on taping.
I agree, and wondered why not paint the handles and trim first.
I really like this idea. Today, there are so many beautiful patterns available for paper napkins. The basket I have is exactly like yours I saw it on Pepuphome. I actually don’t think it’s a picnic basket, but a pie basket. However, mine will be getting a new face soon. It should have come with a removable wooden rack for holding a second pie.