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How to Make a Inexpensive Beautiful French Basket

I had this old basket for a long time. It was in that pile of "maybe I could use this someday". Well, today's the day. It was time for a French makeover. First, I  sprayed gray primer on the basket. Then I brushed over it with thinned down Annie Sloan  Old White Chalk Paint. I was careful to let some of the gray show through. 


Now for the fun part! I wanted a picture on the front of my basket. I used my woodworker's transfer tool on a scrap of fabric and transferred a French picture from my laser printer. The woodworker's transfer tool melts the toner off the paper and onto the fabric.
Watch the video on my sidebar, it's easy. The video teaches you how to use the woodworker's transfer tool. Plus you can buy the tool cheaply from Amazon if you don't already have one.


Cool Huh!
I just had to remember to mirror image my picture.
If I didn't the writing would be backwards.


Here is how the basket looked before. 


I added the French crown key and tied it on with twine. I made a ribbon rose with the same fabric and added silver buttons to finish off my French basket. 


The basket is nice and deep and will hold many decorating magazines.


See how easy that was. Now you can make your French style baskets. Give them away or keep them yourself. Either way, someone is going to be happy!

Thanks for stopping by!
xo.
Dee

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48 comments:

  1. Grandma Barb's This and ThatOctober 17, 2012 at 4:20 PM

    What a great make over! I love it.
    Thanks for all you nice comments on my blog.

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  2. Little Miss MaggieOctober 17, 2012 at 4:26 PM

    This came out beautiful I love your French basket and watching the video really helped. I'm going to try the tool again.

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  3. GinaOctober 17, 2012 at 4:37 PM

    Oh I am in love with this basket! It's beautiful. I have just such a basket that could use a pretty makeover like that.

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  4. Rosemary@villabarnesOctober 17, 2012 at 5:30 PM

    Great makeover, Dee. Love the graphics.

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  5. DawnOctober 17, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    How cute, love the transformation:)

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  6. GailOctober 17, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    Love your basket make-over Dee!

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  7. Sherry @ Thrift My HouseOctober 17, 2012 at 6:55 PM

    Beautiful! Awesome project!

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  8. AnonymousOctober 17, 2012 at 7:01 PM

    Dee, this is gorgeous! I love the graphic and the way you dressed up the basket! I would have never thought to spray it with gray primer; great idea! I'm having so much fun with this woodworker's tool! Thanks for sharing it!

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  9. Linda October 17, 2012 at 7:15 PM

    Wow! That's some impressive makeover.

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  10. RhissannaOctober 17, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    Oh Dee, this is really pretty! What a gorgeous accessory to any room.

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  11. Kathy @ Creative Home ExpressionsOctober 17, 2012 at 7:52 PM

    I love that graphic, Dee! It is perfect for you! Your basket turned out beautifully and I love how you finished off the fabric piece.

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  12. Cindy The Victorian JourneyOctober 17, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    Beautiful... I love basket... so nice.

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  13. Okio B DesignsOctober 17, 2012 at 9:16 PM

    Very cool technique! Your basket came out amazing. I have to check to see if my hubby has one of those gadgets!

    Jeanine

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  14. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderOctober 17, 2012 at 9:37 PM

    Dearest Dee,

    You always find such cool ways for up-cycling things!
    Hugst to you,
    Mariette

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  15. The French HutchOctober 17, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    Love, love, love this basket makeover Dee. Great how you made the picture for the basket. This is sooooo creative! I'm going to have to look into the transfer tool. I'll have to watch the video and see if is is something someone who's all thumbs could do!!! Love the key on the basket and it's frenchy perfect. Great job and tutorial..........

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  16. KarenaOctober 17, 2012 at 9:53 PM

    Dee I love, love this Parisian Basket. I have a couple in the garage I can work with.

    Xoxo
    Karena
    2012 Artists Series

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  17. BrandiOctober 17, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Such a great makeover, Dee. I love the way you added the graphic.

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  18. Daniela @Frugal Aint CheapOctober 17, 2012 at 10:40 PM

    NICE! love what you did!

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  19. DebbiedoosOctober 17, 2012 at 10:47 PM

    Fantastic Dee. I love your little French basket. Very cute.

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  20. Danni@SiloHillFarmOctober 17, 2012 at 11:19 PM

    Dee this is fabulous! I have several baskets I could try this on! I'm intrigued by that transfer technique. That one is new to me! You do some beautiful and interesting stuff!

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  21. GloriaOctober 18, 2012 at 6:19 AM

    Very, very nice and I like the extra touches with the key, rose, and buttons ♥

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  22. BlissOctober 18, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    From pinky stinky to white bright French. You deserve a commission for woodworkers tool 'ya know.

    Bliss

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  23. ANNEOctober 18, 2012 at 8:48 AM

    ADORE!!! It looks fantastic, love your little sign and that key!!

    xox

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  24. Miss Val's CreationsOctober 18, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    Absolutely gorgeous Dee!

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  25. UnknownOctober 18, 2012 at 9:25 AM

    I love your French transformation! It is so pretty, and you were able to use something you already had. Even better!

    xoxo, Tanya

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  26. SueOctober 18, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    What a lovely transformation, Dee! I recently painted a large hinged basket- I wish I had thought to prime it gray prior to using my thinned down paint. It took a couple of coats to cover the yellow wicker and I would have loved to have seen the gray beneath the off-white. Live and learn.....

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  27. xinexOctober 18, 2012 at 10:50 AM

    Wow! That's really pretty. Thanks for the tutorial, Dee....Christine

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  28. CynthiaOctober 18, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    Dee,

    This basket is beautiful, I love the graphic. Great job.

    Cynthia

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  29. Jeannie MarieOctober 18, 2012 at 1:28 PM

    I'm drop dead impressed!! So glad I popped in to see what you were doing!

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  30. Linda @ Life and LindaOctober 18, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    A beautiful makeover. The graphic is so pretty. Thanks for sharing your tutorial too. I might have to try it.

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  31. Donna WilkesOctober 18, 2012 at 7:57 PM

    Thank you for the new-to-me transfer method with the tool. I love new gadgets! The basket is very pretty. Isn't amazing a plain pink basket can be transformed like this?

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  32. Barbara @ 21 Rosemary LaneOctober 18, 2012 at 8:06 PM

    Now how clever are you? Love this project Dee...this would be a great gift filled with magazine subscriptions, gourmet coffee, box of chocolates and so on! Thank you so much for sharing and have a great day!!!
    Barbara

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  33. Yvonne @ StoneGableOctober 18, 2012 at 8:22 PM

    Dee, I watched your video for the transfer tool. I think I'll get one... it could be very very useful!!!
    LOVE the basket... what a transformation!
    Thanks for introducing me to a new fun gadget!

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  34. Pam@OurAdventuresInHomeImprovementOctober 18, 2012 at 8:36 PM

    Dee,

    I'm so glad you were able to use my gift in such a cute way! I love it!

    Have a great day!
    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  35. Jennifer @ Town and Country LivingOctober 18, 2012 at 9:04 PM

    First, I love the basket! Second, what a great tutorial!! I've been wanting to do image transfers on fabric but hadn't found a method I thought I'd want to tackle ... until now. Thanks so much, Dee!

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  36. The Polka Dot ClosetOctober 19, 2012 at 1:00 AM

    Dee, that is gorgeous!!! From a plain basket to WOW

    Carol

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  37. Donna HeberOctober 19, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    Hi Dee,

    Oh, I just love your French basket! This would have so many wonderful uses. What a transformation!

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  38. Designing DomesticityOctober 22, 2012 at 10:32 AM

    great makeover...looks completely different. and the key is such a fun touch. thanks for sharing, liz

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  39. chateau chicOctober 24, 2012 at 10:51 AM

    Dee, Your french basket is adorable! I love it. Amazing transformation.
    Mary Alice

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  40. KarenOctober 24, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    Wow Dee it's gorgeous.

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  41. ℳartina @ Northern NestingOctober 30, 2012 at 5:54 PM

    Dee I just saw this featured over at From my Front Porch to Yours, Love it!!

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  42. AnonymousOctober 30, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    I finally found you! My blog crashed and i had to start brand new, this basket is lovely, oo la la , I have rejoined as a follower, I won;t lose you again,

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  43. UnknownOctober 30, 2012 at 8:02 PM

    Love this basket and hand to pin it! Saw you on the Treasure Hunt Tuesday features with me and I fell in love! New follower via GFC!

    Kristy @ Shona Skye Creations
    http://shonaskye.blogspot.com

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  44. VanessaOctober 30, 2012 at 9:18 PM

    Hi, Dee

    I love your basket. Loving the French sign too!

    Vanessa

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  45. gail@My Repurposed LifeNovember 1, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    Dee--I LOVE your basket! you did a super job.
    I just purchased a wooden crate basket on clearance yesterday at a local store to hold my many, many magazines! It has been $50, and I got it on clearance for $12.50. I mean, seriously, who would pay $50 for a wooden crate?
    gail

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  46. UnknownJanuary 12, 2013 at 2:54 AM

    Beautiful!!! Here from the POP party, Pinning your lovely basket :)

    xoxo, Tanya
    twelveOeight

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  47. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Nice project...pinned it for you! Found you @ Debbi's POP. Am a new linky, and home talk follower, now. Hope you'll check out my work, too!
    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  48. BratSeptember 18, 2013 at 9:49 AM

    Dee what a fabulous project, and you are great on video! Question...would this tool work on wood (a drawer front, or cabinet door, say) as easily as it did on fabric? And what about a color print, more difficult or no difference in result vs. B&W?

    Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!

    Dena

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Thanks for stopping by! ❤ Dee