Original project inspiration and directions:
DIY Woven Paper Baskets from Cereal Boxes
Start by opening up all of your cereal boxes along the seams. You may need up to three boxes, depending on how large they are. Be careful when opening along the glued vertical seam so you can use some of the side pieces as weaving strips.
Cut apart the sections of each box. Discard all the top and bottom flaps.
Using a ruler and pencil, mark off as many vertical ¾" strips as you can fit on each of your pieces of cardboard. You will need a total of 54.
Cut apart all of the strips. It's ok if they're not all exactly the same length, as long as they're pretty close (this may happen if you use different size boxes to start).
Next, you will need to make longer strips. Aim to attach pieces of roughly the same color or image for continuity of pattern. Use hot glue or double-sided tape to attach the strips with around ½" overlap. From the 54 pieces cut in the previous step, you will need 18 double-length strips and 6 triple-length strips. You are now ready to start the base of your basket!
All of the double strips will come together to form the base. Starting with 4, overlap them at their centers so that each one is on top of another. Use the glue or tape to secure these in place.
Add 7 more horizontal strips, alternating the over-under weave. Secure with glue or tape.
Now it's time to get some weaving practice in! Use the final 7 double strips as the verticals for the basket's base. Slide each strip under every other horizontal strip, alternating the pattern as you complete each line. Secure as you go along.
Your base should now look like this. Check that none of the pieces are able to slide around, especially along the edges and corners.
Flip the base over and bend up all the loose strips along a ruler or other straightedge. The next step is to weave up the sides!
The triple-length strips will be used to create the basket's sides. Each one should start somewhere mid-side, not in the corner. This will make it easier to attach the ends. Start by folding up every other vertical strip on the side closest to you (leave the last two strips alone for now). Place glue or double-sided tape on the pieces that remain flat. Attach a triple strip horizontally.
Place more glue or tape on this piece where the three vertical strips will attach on the inside and press them all together. The first side should look like this so far.
Whenever you get to a corner, fold your long strip before trying to weave it in so the basket doesn't start to get round. (Unless you would prefer it that way!)
Continue weaving the first strip around all four sides, using the glue or tape to keep it in place. When you get back to the first side, trim the strip so that it will double up with its other end, forming a square woven loop. Secure this well.
Once you get the first triple strip woven in, it will get a little easier as the basket will keep its shape better and all the vertical side strips will now be pointing up.
Continue with 4 more triple strips, alternating the over-under weave with each one. You shouldn't need to secure each point of attachment by now, but you should continue to do so around corners and at the end of each strip to help keep it in place.
Once you have 5 horizontal strips woven through the sides, trim off the excess from the vertical strips. Leave ½" - ¾" of height above the top horizontal strip.
Fold over the vertical strips coming from the outside of the basket and secure with glue or tape. You can do the same with the inside strips or simply trim them down further as shown here.
Use your final triple strip as the inner border piece to seal everything in. If you have been using tape up until this point, you may want to switch to glue for this step to get a more secure hold on your finishing piece. If you don't have hot glue available, simply hold everything together with paper clips while your craft glue dries.
It's done! Try experimenting with different sizes (both strip size and basket size) and shapes (just modify the number of horizontal or vertical strips in the base to make a rectangle). Save boxes with similar colors or patterns to make a coordinating set of storage containers!
