How to make a mini leaf basket

Fairy gardens can be a lot of work for our little friends to maintain… With all the natural materials that fairies like to carry around, I wanted to help them out with some baskets they could easily carry all their supplies in!

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns

Materials:
1) Dried leaves of various sizes
2) Shallow bowl with water
3) Different shaped pens or containers
4) Natural colored string like cotton or hemp
5) Scissors
Cost: $0.00 (unless you need to go buy the string)

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 1

Make sure the containers you are going to mold around have straight edges. For instance, because the white knife has a taper to it, you won’t be able to get the leaf basket off once it is dried.

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 2

1) Soak your leaves in water until they are soft and pliable. I usually let mine soak for at least an hour. Also soak the thread you are using, it makes it fit much tighter once you tie it on.

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 3

2) Pick your leaf, and carefully wrap it around your container. Make sure the entire bottom of the container is covered or your basket will have a place to leak the contents. (This part can be frustrating! If you have another pair of hands to help you, that would make this step much easier!)

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 4

3) Tie the wet thread around your leaf (sometimes I also cheat and use a rubber band first, then just cut it off later)

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 5

4) Set your leaf on a flat surface and let it dry completely. Make sure your basket is standing upright so the bottom forms a nice flat base. This will help it stand up later once it is dried.

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 6

Different containers make different baskets…

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 7

5) Once your basket is completely dry, use your scissors to trim the ends of the thread you used. You are done!

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 8

It’s so fun to see what each miniature basket is going to look like! Remember to handle them very carefully…

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 10

Now let the fairies start putting them to use in the pantry…

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 11

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 13

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 12

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 14

Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns 15

Good luck and have fun! I’d love to see your pictures if you make these miniature baskets! I’m sure everyone has unique leaves where they live that would make slightly different baskets 🙂 Thanks for reading, and visit my other fairy garden tutorials for more ideas HERE!

~ Jessi

(Don’t want to forget this? Just pin for later: ♥)
Fairy basket tutorial miniature from beneath the ferns #miniature #fairyhouse #fairygarden #beneaththeferns

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