This is the next post in my new series Styled Eats that focuses on how to package and make food pretty. This brilliant DIY picnic basket is the work of Alexis Birkmeyer. The materials to make this are really simple. Here we used an extra heavy butcher paper but you could even use poster board or a flexible cardstock. You just trace the template, cut it out and fold. So easy! If you wanted to use these for a bigger party I would call together some friends to help make them. These are a special detail that you can add when you are entertaining but they don’t feel fussy or too precious. Find the full instructions and more photos below.
See full instructions and free printable after the jump.
Materials Needed: Free Printable Template, posterboard or extra thick butcher paper 18″ x 24″ for each bucket, exacto knife (or scissors if you aren’t worried about straight lines.) For the picnic here we also used these food bags, some wooden baskets
Step 1: Print out free printable (click here to download) and cut it out.
Step 2: You trace the template four times onto the 18″ x 24″ heavy paper. Starting in one corner trace the template with the handle at the top and facing inward. Flip it like a mirror image and trace again. Flip it from the bottom and trace again. Trace it to the side one last time. (See photos for reference.)
Step 3: Once it is traced cut it out.
Step 4: Take the two sides with the slits and slip them over the corresponding handle to create a sweet little picnic basket.
Step 5: Fill with goodies and serve to your guests.
Concept + Photos + Styling by Alexis Birkmeyer for Oh Happy Day
See all the Styled Eats posts right here.
Adventures in Dressmaking
April 17, 2012
What a great idea! I would maybe do something similar using old heavy paper grocery bags. I hate when I don’t have enough canvas bags so have to get them. Such a cute DIY!
Hi Suzannah– We tried paper grocery bags and they are a little too small. If you wanted to make the bucket size smaller you could reduce the the template size.
Lisette
April 17, 2012
What a clever and functional idea. I will have to try making these.
Angela Marie
April 17, 2012
How fun! Too bad picnic season will be over soon here in Arizona (if it isn’t already). I will have to try this next year <3
– Angela Marie @ sunkissedivory.blogspot.com
Michelle A
April 17, 2012
So clever and darling. A great way to use up wrapping paper too!
Sarah
April 17, 2012
Are you kidding me about the wooden baskets? A set of 240? I love those things, but most people wouldn’t buy 240 of those, even if they are a bargain at $214.
Kacie
April 17, 2012
These are so fantastic! There is NOTHING better than a Parisian picnic, but a picnic in general is pretty fabulous too!
Kacie
http://acollectionofpassions.com/
jillian
April 17, 2012
how cute – and practical! i can’t wait until it stops raining in scotland so i can try this out!
jillian
http://hitherandthitherblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Stacy
April 17, 2012
Love these! Will try them with some sturdy but pretty Christmas paper for office presents. Thank you.
Jane
April 17, 2012
Love the look of these. You could also fold one like this http://pinterest.com/pin/160792649165476091/ which I tried, and you can glue the handles for a stronger grip.
karolina {confetti+cookies}
April 17, 2012
This is sooo cool. I plan to make post-bday picnic for friends. These would be perfect! Thanks for sharing!!!
Hanneke
April 17, 2012
that is such a cute idea!
Sarah
April 17, 2012
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this. I’m so thankful you love picnics as much as I do. There isn’t enough content out in the blog world giving good picnic ideas =)
– Sarah
agirlintransit.blogspot.com
paola@love+cupcakes
April 17, 2012
So clever! I LOVE picnics and I can’t wait to give this a try 🙂
Miya
April 17, 2012
I cannot wait to try this with my little foodie. My allergies are not as excited…
Great idea!
marci
April 17, 2012
I love this idea! I think I’m going to do this for our little gal’s second birthday party! thanks for this clever idea!
Jessi
April 17, 2012
Great idea! I can’t wait to try this with our friends 🙂
HEIDI
April 17, 2012
just brilliant, too bad I have to wait a while till picnic season starts in Poland!
Sarah
April 17, 2012
I’m sorry that I complained about your wooden baskets. They are way cool. I just think there’s gotta be a better source for them than buying so many.
engquist@see what i sea designs
April 17, 2012
I just did something similar this past weekend for Easter celebrations. We made our own baskets out of paper bags..was a huge success. These picnic totes are absolutely darling though! What fun they would be for bringing gifts to a friend.
http://www.seewhatiseadesigns.com/2012/04/sociable.html
Jennifer McCaffrey
April 17, 2012
Absolutely love this!!! What a great idea, and so pretty!
kayla
April 17, 2012
This is such a cute idea! thanks for sharing 🙂
-kayla
bevy
April 17, 2012
awww, i like it so much! makes me want to go on a picnic right this second! and drink lemonade, yum!
Kathryn Cumming
April 17, 2012
I love the idea of individual packed lunches for a picnic… just like school again!
I did something similar here….
http://cummingandcompany.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/indian-summer-picnic.html
nonchalant green
April 17, 2012
Picnic in May. Thx for the DIY Picnic Baskets Free Printable!! My Friends going to LOVE it!! 🙂
Hannah
April 17, 2012
Oh this is such a cute idea! i love picnics ♥
EllenQ
April 17, 2012
Wow. Genius, just genius.
Viv
April 17, 2012
This is a really cute idea! 🙂
Robync
April 17, 2012
These are so cute! I can’t wait to make them for a picnic in the park eek!
http://knownitwasyou.blogspot.com/
kim
April 17, 2012
wow – that looks like fun! great idea guys!
Lo
April 18, 2012
Thanks a lot for this very good idea!
I’ve never seen this kind of paper, as thick as yours.
Do you find it in Paris?
aloÿse
April 18, 2012
I want the sun back to try to do this!!!
Simplement adorable.
Amanda | Little Door On The Sound
April 18, 2012
Wow what a creative idea! How do you make such awesome templates?? It’s so amazing. I’m very inspired to go picnic-ing with the fam this weekend!
Xo,
Amanda
The slow pace
April 18, 2012
What a wonderful idea! I love picnics and I can’t wait for Spring to come!! Yeah, where I live it’s still Winter umpf…
Katie
April 18, 2012
So cute. Think it would be fun or next weekend brunch.
Quindome
April 18, 2012
Wow! These are really cool. I am kind of blown away by how cute you could make these for a party with a printed heavy card stock!
Michelle
April 18, 2012
Fun!
miniNigella
April 18, 2012
your DIY are always THE best……I love love love this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!
sara walk
April 18, 2012
ADORABLE! Im inspired to picnic now
Morgan
April 18, 2012
Love this idea! With all this warm weather – what better way to spend the day than soaking up the sun and bring along a picnic?!
Morgan
April 18, 2012
Love this idea! Very eco friendly and what better way to spend these hot days we’ve been having than to soak up the sun and bring along a picnic!?
carole
April 18, 2012
Such a cool idea, but then I have come to expect it from OHD. I love that it is nota time consuming project and can be tossed at the end of the picnic. No toting home and dealing with the remains of the day! Always a plus in my book.
Erin
April 18, 2012
This is absolutely darling! Definitely trying this out once summer arrives!
Daniela
April 18, 2012
Hi! Such a cute idea…I’m curious where all the other accessories come from? Love the napkins, the sack for the potato chips, the grape container, etc…Thanks!
Irene
April 19, 2012
Super cute! I really love picnics!!
WhileHeWasOut
April 19, 2012
Lovely, I’ll try to make one of these to serve as the gift bag for the home-made home-spa goodies for my friend’s birthday. Thank you for the tutorial!