Every year on February 14, children receive dozens of valentines from friends and classmates. How to safely carry the valentines and candy home without spilling can be a problem. Valentine boxes can be bulky and difficult to decorate. This woven basket is a craft that can be made inexpensively in the classroom.
The design of this basket lays flat on a desk, or hangs from a handle. As it fills up with valentines and candy, it expands to hold the goodies. Students take pride in their craft, and they proudly display their baskets on Valentine’s Day.
Supplies Needed
- 2 sheets of 9x12 construction paper
- One 12-inch strip of construction paper or ribbon
- Pattern for cutting the lines
- Staples and scissors
- Glue stick
How to Make the Basket
- First, the teacher should make the pattern for cutting the lines by drawing three lines lengthwise on a paper. Make the lines nine inches long. Draw a curve for cutting off the corners. This will become the curve on the top of the heart.
- Next, copy the pattern onto 9x12 construction paper in contrasting Valentine’s Day colors. Red, pastel pink, and white are perfect choices. Hot pink and lavender may also be used.
- Give each child four sheets of construction paper in contrasting colors. The students should cut the lines and cut the rounded corners. The papers should now have four strips on them.
- Demonstrate how to weave the strips under and over, to create the woven front of the basket. Some children may need extra help with this step. When the weaving is done it should look like a heart shape.
- Repeat the same process with two more sheets of construction paper. The second weaving will become the back of the woven heart basket.
- Lay the two woven hearts together. Staple them along the bottom edges down to the point. At this point, trim away any uneven ends of the construction paper strips. If any corners are loose, glue them in place with the glue stick. Trim the rounded edges to make them more heart shaped.
- Last, add the handle. Use the 12-inch strip of construction paper or ribbon, and staple one end to the front, and one end to the back.
The basket is now complete and ready to receive valentine’s cards and candy!
Extra Tips:
This basket may also be made out of 4"x6" construction paper in contrasting colors. Then fill it with a valentine and a treat to give as a gift.
The top edge of the basket may be decorated with flower trim or heart trim or colored with art designs.
Don't forget to plan plenty of Valentine's Day Games for a classroom party.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
Join the Conversation