Magia Mia: Woodland Fairy Baskets from Seed Starter Pots

While the East coast is dealing with record-breaking snow, we here in the PNW are confused as to what season it is. It looks and feels like Spring in my neighborhood, so naturally it's affecting my Muse.

I've had some unused peat pots waiting for me to craft with for a very long time. After seeing a lot of peat pot creations being pinned lately, I became inspired to put my own spin on them. While working on my project, another idea popped into my head. To make good use of my time, I started creating the new epiphany while the paint was drying on the first idea.

This second project actually involves the smaller seed starter pots, which aren't made of peat, but pulp like egg cartons. The texture of them transported my imagination into the forest.

So here is what I came up with......

Before:

After:

I'm calling this a Woodland Fairy basket.

Look at what you can do with the texture of little seed starter pots from the Dollar store! Doesn't it remind you of tree bark?

You're looking at crepe paper ruffles, Chartreuse Reindeer moss, wire, floral tape, raffia, and paint.

This project satisfies my need to use my glue gun....::)

I glued a thin circle of chipboard to the bottom of the pot. Then I had fun with the glue gun, drawing “roots” from the pot to the edge of the circle.

I painted a brown base, then I dry-brushed a leafy green over the texture, followed by Chartreuse. Before painting it, I sealed it inside and out with wood glue for durability, since these are meant to eventually break down with moisture. It doesn't have to be wood glue, as you could use varnish, Mod Podge, or white glue.)

I wanted the crepe paper to look more natural and leafy, so I hand-dyed it using alcohol inks. The crepe color was a very dull olive, so I jazzed it up using Teal and Yellow inks. To help the colors bleed into eachother, I brushed on rubbing alcohol. I folded the strip so it would be a double ruffle, then hot-glued it to the inside rim of the pot.

The handle is wire wrapped in brown floral tape. I wanted some vine-like texture, but instead of using hot glue, I wound raffia around the wrapped wire. I didn't want the raffia in its flat state, so I soaked it in water to soften it, then twisted it tight like twine, then winding it around the handle. After securing the ends with hot glue, I sealed the whole handle with Mod Podge. After it dried, I painted it the same as the pot,
with brown first, then dry-brushed
green and chartreuse on the raffia only.

Finally, I added teeny tiny pieces of Reindeer moss to the rim of the pot, keeping it a little random and imperfect.

For a filler, I've added delicate sisal grass, which I hand-dyed with alcohol ink, though you could just as easily use any dye, since sisal is natural.