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2/16/13

Colors of Springtime ~ DIY Farmers Market Baskets


Wouldn't it be nice if it were springtime already?  I'm craving the things that come along with spring.
  
Today we were blessed with some golden warm sunshine here.  It came close to 60 degrees!  Just a little tease for us Pacific NorthWesterners.  We're pretty much guaranteed a couple months of rain still.  

So a magical day like today is just what we needed to tide us over until those beautiful sunny months are finally upon us.  



A little "fix" of pure sunshine will get us through the gray, wet months still to come.

You know what else reminds me of springtime?

Fluffy Clouds and Rainbows
Tree Blossoms
The Smell of Fresh Mown Grass
Short Sleeves
Kids Voices and Laughter Carrying On the Breeze
Ladybugs and Butterflies
Evening Strolls and Bike Rides
Hammocks
Planting Gardens
and 
Farmers' Markets


Last summer I created a white Anthropologie Knockoff Farmers Market Basket (Below).  

Say that a few times quick!

I used one of the cardboard baskets that berries come in and coated it with some Gesso (used to prime and stiffen artists' canvases), white spray paint, and spray polyurethane.
You can read about it HERE.


I thought it would be fun to make more using some spring colors, so I got busy mixing my Gesso with acrylic craft paint until I had the pastel colors I desired. 

Once they were painted I got all glittery-eyed and decided they needed some glitter too.


The Gesso makes them really stiff and the polyurethane makes them water proof.  

The glitter just makes them cheerful!


Then I dressed them up with ribbons and filled them with a few little trinkets. 
These will make adorable mini Easter baskets or fun little gift baskets for friends.

In the first basket I put some raffia, a Sweet Little Bluebird, and a mini egg.


The next one got some pretty seashells and a silver starfish.  


Gifts from the Seashore.


This next one holds some fragrant lemon body treats.  I love lemon!  


I haven't decided what to do with this Tiffany Blue one yet.  Its my favorite, with the gleaming organza bow.  I might just have to keep it next to my bed for holding jewelry and other stray stuff.  :)


These were easy to make and didn't cost anything since I already had the cardboard baskets saved from last summer.  The Gesso, paint, glitter and polyurethane were already in my craft cabinet.  


My Inspiration:
anthro farmers market baskets
Anthropologie's Farmers' Mkt Baskets

Here's to more sunny days and laughter being carried on the breeze!
Sherry


46 comments :

  1. What a great idea - so fresh and springy! Pinning and sharing on my FB page!
    Kelly

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  2. Darling! What a cute idea! And I love the look and the fact that the poly makes them waterproof. I probably have everyone of those items around here someplace....even the baskets! LOL! I'm such a pack rat! If you're looking for Spring...take a look at my post today! Too coincidental....your wish is coming true!

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  3. Love the springy colors! Now you have me craving spring :)

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  4. You have come up with an adorable idea. Love the soft pastels. Thanks for sharing.
    Traci

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  5. Oh I love those and they are all springy looking! I have never used gesso, I need to learn a little more about it. As much as I love snow (which we can't seem to get any of) I am longing for spring now.

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  6. These are so pretty! I haven't thought about gesso since I taught high school art before my daughters were born. (And that has been awhile!) It makes perfect sense to seal the surface like this.
    Also, I'm amazed at what you did to give that poor lazy susan a new life - and I might plant a scale in front of the fridge after I'm done eating the pound of chocolates hubby gave me for Valentine's Day!
    Lovely blog! Glad to be part of your entourage now!

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  7. Yearning for Spring here in the UK! Need some warm sunshine instead of the constant rain we have had too. Lovely spring colors here!! Xx

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  8. These are so pretty! I love the glitter! Stunning gift baskets. I definitely am drooling for spring now! Thanks for stopping by!
    Sandy
    www.savardstudios.blogspot.com

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  9. Wow! You are so creative Sherry! They are so beautiful. I love them all but I am a big bird enthusiast so my favourite is the one featuring the bird with the egg!:) Spring is really a wonderful time. I look forward to this season. If possible please link up this post with the Creative Monday Blog Hop that I co-host. It is already live on my blog. Thanks for becoming a Follower of my Blog. I am happy to follow back.
    Judy - Judy H-J's Thoughts

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  10. Cute idea to do with the kids. Thank you for the invite. New follower. I would love for you to come to my link party on Tuesday's at http://www.memoriesbythemile.com/

    Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile

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  11. Hi Sherry. I told you I would hop over, and here I am! I like what I see already. I am now following you too. Like I said before, I look forward to getting to know you and connecting.
    Leslie
    www.thememorynest.blogspot.com

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  12. Those are really cute! Unfortunately for me I don't ever see those little boxes like that at my grocery stores... it all comes in plastic :o( I will keep looking though!

    Tania

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  13. Hi Sherry, thanks for dropping in to Follow North of Wiarton. I am looking forward to seeing more of your future posts too.
    "Just Me"
    Cindy

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  14. LOVE these Sherry. I must do this for Easter this yr.! Pinning :)

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  15. Following you back.. thanks for visiting my blog. Love this basket idea!

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  16. Love these! I saw some really cute glass ones at anthro- but never thought about making my own! Great idea. I'm excited to follow your blog :)

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  17. Adorable! They could be used for most anything but Easter baskets come to mind. Thanks for your visit --I'm following you now :-)

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  18. Hi! Sherry, Thank you for stopping by Soup Spice Everything Nice. So glad to meet you. These baskets are so cute. I just saw berry baskets at World Market. I wanted them. Thanks to your clever idea, I may just make my own. I am your new follower. Have a great day!

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  19. Oh this looks so fun and so pretty! Thank you for stopping by and following along! I am now following your lovely blog as well. ;)

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  20. Those are ADORABLE for Easter! Love them!!

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  21. Really cute what you did with the baskets and a great way to recycle! Following you back now via GFC! Thanks for sharing!

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  22. I love spring!! And these little baskets just make me happy to look at them:))
    Just dropping in from Live Laugh Rowe to meet you and follow you:) (via GFC)

    I would also love to invite you to join Let's Get Social Sunday and link up your blog and all your social sites at one great place to meet some lovely new friends and gain more followers!! (150 bloggers every week:)

    http://www.myturnforus.com/2013/02/lets-get-social-sunday-8.html

    Hope to see you there and have a totally awesome day!!

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  23. Hi Sherry,
    I love this idea! I have never used Gesso before as well as a lot of products I have seen on the web. But tutorials such as yours really help to show us what to do with them! Such pretty colors. I am going to have to find the berry boxes. Thanks for visiting me. I am following you now!
    Patty

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  24. They're really cute - glitter takes awesome up another level :)

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  25. What a great idea. Love these -- and the pricetag is much better than the Anthro versions.

    Atta Girl Amy
    www.attagirlsays.com

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  26. That little blue bird is seriously cute! Cleaver upcycle with the baskets.

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  27. I'm a new follower so I thought I'd say hi. These baskets are the sweets things; I love them!

    xo Ami
    a champagne dream

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  28. So clever! And they're beautiful.

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  29. I love these baskets, Sherry, so adorable and sweet for Spring. ♥ the little bluebird! Pinning!

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  30. So pretty! I think i need to make some of these for Easter decorating!

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  31. Adorable! I love the glitter on them. First time visiting. I hope you come by to link- http://atozebracelebrations.com/2013/02/link-party-8.html
    Nancy

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  32. I love these!! So cute! Thanks for linking up.
    XO
    Kristin

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  33. I absolutely adore this idea! What a great idea to give a little gift to a neighbor :o)

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  34. I love these! Now if only I could find berries in this kind of basket instead of those clear plastic ones all the stores around here seems to use!

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  35. These are so stinkin' cute! What a great little Easter basket!

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  36. OMGoodness! These are adorable! You will be one of the features tomorrow at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Pop on in and grab a feature button for your blog. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  37. I just LOVE them!!!!!! Perfect for Easter!

    Thanks for linking up at The DIY Dreamer... From Dream To Reality! See you tomorrow evening! :)

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  38. These are adorable! I'm going to have to hunt down some baskets and make a few for myself. Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

    Lani
    SimplyFreshVintage.com

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  39. These are just fabulous! Especially the Tiffany pink one...perfect for holding jewelry. These would be fun for Easter goodies...I was a slacker at Christmas so perhaps I'll do my Christmas cookies for Easter....these boxes certainly inspire me to do so.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Kelly
    babioledewindsor.blogspot.com

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  40. Great idea to use gesso so they harden. I love the blue one, but somehow I love the rainbow of colours the best.

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  41. I love these!! Hope you can link this up at my trendy tuesday party! http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2013/03/trendy-tuesday-26.html

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  42. Glad you shared these at our spring party - you know I love these!!
    Kelly

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  43. Perfect for spring. Love your choice of colors. I'm sharing this on my Once Upon a Firefly FB page.

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