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    Home » DIY » Easy DIY Milk Carton Baskets

    LAST UPDATED: May 6, 2018 • FIRST PUBLISHED: March 15, 2016 By Toni Dash 23 Comments

    Easy DIY Milk Carton Baskets

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Milk carton baskets are a fun and easy DIY Easter craft. This milk carton craft post is shared as part of Boulder Locavore’s ongoing partnership with Silk, exploring healthy lifestyles choices and exciting plant-based dietary options.

    DIY Milk Carton Easter Baskets

    Milk Carton Craft Ideas

    I have always loved to repurpose things. I’m not sure why I find it so gratifying but I do. It feels like a bit of genius and originality I suppose. The same goes for upcycling. Unlike recycling which reprocessing something to a different usable state (like into compost or new metal or plastic objects) upcycling is the process of giving something a new life still using its current form. I love doing this too. Some of my favorite upcycling projects during my partnership with Silk have included a Milk Carton Rainbow Piñata, Milk Carton Herb Gardens, and Milk Carton Garden Lanterns. All very fun to make and utilitarian too. This Milk Carton Bird Feeder stayed on a tree outside my home office from last summer until a violent windstorm finally claimed it in the past few weeks.

    Today’s DIY craft project is a simple one, however quite possibly the most directly useable: DIY Milk Carton Baskets. Though we do recycle our milk cartons, we go through a lot of milk in our house weekly. If I can think of something creative to do with the cartons vs. recycling them, I like to repurpose them.

    DIY Milk Carton Basket filled with art supplies

    These little baskets sprang to mind with Easter on its way but we immediately found other uses. We could not have enough desktop organizers or art caddies. The milk carton baskets provide mobility options which in our house is a plus. We have several homework sites around the house and carrying supplies to them is key.

    I imagine using a milk carton basket under the kitchen sink to store damp sponges. In the pantry, for heads of garlic, which always seem to be rolling around out of reach for me. For more ventilation, holes could be poked through the sides of the basket, too. I might keep my clothespins in one in my laundry room. Of course they would be great for a nature hike with wee ones or gathering treasures in the yard. Collecting eggs such as the Toy-Filled Cascarones I recently shared. The possibilities really are endless. They also could be covered with duct tape for a cute look and to seal them even more robustly.

    DIY Milk Carton Basket decorated for Easter

    How to Make Easy Milk Carton Baskets:

    SUPPLIES:

    Full size milk cartons (1 per mini basket)

    Ruler

    Fine Sharpie

    Xacto knife or sharp scissors

    supplies needed to make DIY milk carton baskets

    Instructions for Milk Carton Basket:

    Fully rinse and drain milk carton; allow to dry.

    Measuring from the bottom of the milk carton, make a line 3 inches from the bottom across the surface on two opposite milk carton sides.

    Print and cut out the downloadable template, match the bottom and sides to the milk carton. Using a fine-tip Sharpie trace around the template for the top and handle of the basket on two opposite sides of the milk carton.

    making a Milk Carton Basket

    Using a ruler or straight edge, draw a line connecting the top of the basket on the remaining two sides of the milk carton. Cut around the top of the basket and handle.

    creating a basket out of a repurposed milk carton

    photo tutorial for making a milk carton basket

    Fold the two sides of the handle over so they overlap by an inch. Staple on each side of the handle.

    stapling a milk carton to make Milk Carton Baskets

    This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.

    « How to Make DIY Toy-Filled Cascarones {confetti eggs}
    Fruity Springtime Crispy Rice Cereal Treats »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. JA says

      March 19, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      Great job. If you re-folded the box (inside out), you would have a great white background to decorate with Sharpies or add glitter etc.

      Reply
    2. Shannon Gurnee says

      March 18, 2016 at 12:44 pm

      This is such a great idea for Easter! I would love to try this with our kids sometime! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Becca Wilson says

      March 18, 2016 at 7:08 am

      This is a great way to reuse an item you already have to make something adorable!

      Reply
    4. Nicole Escat says

      March 16, 2016 at 7:45 pm

      This is a huge help for our earth, recycling something to be used is awesome!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        March 16, 2016 at 8:34 pm

        Thank you Nicole!

        Reply
    5. Camesha | Mama Motivator says

      March 16, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      These are really cute! What a unique idea for making an Easter basket.

      Reply
    6. Louise Bishop says

      March 16, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      These are so cute and unique! I’m sure it would take me failing a few times to get these right haha

      Reply
    7. Christie says

      March 16, 2016 at 12:00 pm

      You have such an eye for creativity! I would have never thought about using a milk carton for a basket, so clever

      Reply
    8. Debbie Denny says

      March 16, 2016 at 10:55 am

      Oh gosh. We used to make these when I was young. I had totally forgot about this.

      Reply
    9. mary says

      March 16, 2016 at 9:45 am

      We were JUST looking up crafts to do during spring break next week. This is so perfect for my 7yr old, and the teens can help her out. Thanks for the idea

      Reply
    10. Jeanine says

      March 16, 2016 at 7:23 am

      What a really creative idea! So good. I think this would be perfect especially for a teacher or someone who is really big on re-using and recycling. So great!

      Reply
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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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