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Make a cute shoebox picnic basket

Written by: | Published: June 10, 2016 | Updated: June 27, 2022

It’s picnic time! Create this easy to make picnic basket with a shoebox. School is out and the sun is shining. It’s super fun for the kids to pack up a lunch and head into the backyard or the park for a lunchtime adventure outside. This is one of the picnic DIY crafts you can make this summer.

Make your own picnic basket from a shoebox with ribbon handles
Make your own picnic basket from a shoebox with ribbon handles

I think part of the picnic fun is opening the basket and finding all the yummy goodies stored inside. Years ago I found a neat picnic basket at the thrift store, but we never seem to use it like I intended. Instead we pack up boring brown bags full of regular ol’ lunches. Add a little extra fun to your sack lunch by making your kids their own little picnic basket in no time flat!

Make a picnic basket out of a shoebox by Jen Goode
Make a picnic basket out of a shoebox by Jen Goode

Make a cute shoebox picnic basket

This project doesn’t need to be for kids but is simple enough kids can make it too. Take your time and use pretty fabrics you love and this picnic basket would be great for a fun picnic date too.

Shoebox picnic basket
Shoebox picnic basket

Materials:

  • Shoe box
  • Fabric
  • Fabric-tac fabric glue
  • Scissors
  • Ribbon
  • Handkerchiefs (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Using fabric, cover the bottom of the shoebox like you would wrap a gift folding edges inside. Adhere on all edges of each surface using the Fabri-tac fabric glue.
  2. Adhere two ribbon handles starting at the bottom of the box and attaching up toward the top edge of the box and wrapping back down the opposite side, back down to the bottom. Leave 1″ of ribbon not adhered so the lid fits on correctly.
  3. Using another piece of ribbon, wrap and adhere around the front to back of the box, overlapping the first ribbon, near the top. Tie in a bow at the front of the box, glue in place.
  4. Cover the lid and adhere, wrapping fabric inside the lid. I used a pretty handkerchief instead of fabric.

Note about fabric glue: I used Fabri-tac because it goes on clear and dries super fast. It’s great for the quick diy fabric craft projects. Regular craft glue would work for this also, but I wanted to make sure there were no glue lines once dry as my fabric is pretty thin.

Wrap ribbon started at the bottom of the shoebox
Wrap ribbon started at the bottom of the shoebox
wrap second ribbon around box and over first ribbon
wrap second ribbon around box and over first ribbon
Tie a bow
Tie a bow
Kids shoeboxes are cute inside already
Kids shoeboxes are cute inside already, but you can line your picnic basket if you’d like

You can add extra touches and embellishments as you’d like. Have the kids help to make this a fun family basket. We made this set as part of a picnic play-set so the box is pretty small. Use a bigger shoebox if needed. Later I’ll show you how to make cute no-sew utensil holders made out of handkerchiefs.

Check out the other picnic inspired ideas by clicking on the Designer Craft Connection link in my sidebar.

Share the picnic fun! If you have a picnic inspired project, add it to the linky party below!

(originally published 6/4/2012)



More Picnic Ideas you Might Like

DIY Picnic basket with a shoebox - full tutorial and easy instructions
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Jen is Passionate about Creativity. She is the owner and "doodle in charge" of JGoode Designs, a Denver based design studio. She is an illustrator, mixed media artist and creative lifestyle blogger. Jen has been a creative professional since 1998 but says she's been an artist since she was old enough to eat glue.

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14 thoughts on “Make a cute shoebox picnic basket”

  1. What an awesome idea! I can’t wait to make one of these. I’m thinking it would be great to carry around my On-the-go Hexie supplies!
    Thank you for sharing your tute!

    Reply
  2. Hi Jen, I loved this and posted it on Pinterest – and its gone crazy! I love the look of blue check and red. And thanks for the instructions.

    Reply
    • Peggy, thank you so much for sharing this project, I’m so glad to hear you like it and so do your followers- If you make a shoebox picnic basket of your own, make sure to stop by and tell me about it so I can share yours too!

      Reply

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