Lining A Picnic Basket And Using Gum paste Molds For Plaster Appliques

It has been a year since I've up cycled a picnic basket.  I'm tickled pink about this one lined in a Laura Ashley pink rose print

Here's the one I lined last year with a vintage blue table cloth

Before I show you my picnic basket I want to share two great giveaways I recently won. A beautiful hand painted cake server from Graceful Rose and a cute ball and button garland from Cutie Pie Cottage .....All in pink...They just scream Carol..THANK YOU!

Before I lined the picnic basket I actually had to refresh my memory by looking at the full tutorial I did last year...You can find it HERE..It's tough being blonde LOL!

I started with a thrift store picnic basket

And a $5.00 Laura Ashley plastic and flannel lined table cloth I found a while ago at TJ Max.  Just as an FYI, using a floral or pattered fabric will hide a multitude of sewing errors!

A plastic table cloth is perfect for lining a picnic basket so any spills can easily be wiped out

First I spray painted it with heirloom white paint

Then used plaster appliques I made in a Wilton gum paste mold..The full tutorial on making plaster appliques in gum paste molds is HERE

After attaching the plaster appliques with E-6000 glue I went over the whole basket with Annie Sloan dark wax that I mixed with clear Minwax so it was not quite as dark.  The wax gave a touch of  definition to the appliques and sealed the basket

OK, on to the inside.....The full lining tutorial is HERE

Pockets for silverware, napkins, salt and pepper, or condiments

I priced last years basket for $45 and it sold within a week in my booth at Orange Tree Antiques.  So I will price this years basket the same

So, there you have it Carols annual basket, doesn't it make you just want to go on a picnic? 

Happy Creating!

Carol

How To Sew A Picnic Basket Liner

I finally found a vintage picnic basket to redo

Here is what I started with

My total inspiration was this vintage plastic flannel lined table cloth I have been holding onto for years.....Got to use the good stuff before the kids sell it for a quarter at my estate sale!

This blue ocean breeze paint was WAY to bright, so I toned it down with a light sanding and walnut gel stain

Now it's time to line the basket.  I've never lined a basket before, so I just winged it.   I put the basket on the fabric and drew around the bottom adding about an inch

Then I measured around the top circumference of the basket

After measuring the the width and height I added 1 1/2" to each measurement and cut the fabric in half.  I decided to use 2 pieces to line the basket because the fabric would have to be sewn at an angle..Smaller to larger on the top, you could use one continuous piece though

Here is is the lining pinned

Before I sewed them together I add pockets for silverware and napkins

Then I took the three pieces of fabric, turned them inside out, and pinned them together right in the basket, insuring a good fit......Then sewed them all together

It turned out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.  

Since I used a plastic tablecloth to line it, I hot glued it in around the top.  If I used fabric I would have put velcro around the top so it could be taken out and washed

The finishing touch was a graphic from Graphics Fairy and the "Blender Pen" transfer method.  Graphics Fairy has a page HERE of every transfer method possible, including the blender method...A great page to book mark

I love to try everything once, but many times a project is so difficult I don't do it again, but I would definitely do this again, it was sooooo fun!

I am going to put it in my booth at Orange Tree and price it at $45.....If it doesn't sell...Well....It's mine!

You might like to see my newest basket lined with a Laura Ashley print HERE

Happy Creating!

Carol

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