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:

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

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

Little Miss Maggie said...

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

Gina said...

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.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Great makeover, Dee. Love the graphics.

Dawn said...

How cute, love the transformation:)

Gail said...

Love your basket make-over Dee!

Sherry @ Thrift My House said...

Beautiful! Awesome project!

Anonymous said...

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!

Linda said...

Wow! That's some impressive makeover.

Rhissanna said...

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

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

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.

Cindy The Victorian Journey said...

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

Okio B Designs said...

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

Jeanine

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Dee,

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

The French Hutch said...

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

Karena said...

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

Xoxo
Karena
2012 Artists Series

Brandi said...

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

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

NICE! love what you did!

Debbiedoos said...

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

Danni@SiloHillFarm said...

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!

Gloria said...

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

Bliss said...

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

Bliss

ANNE said...

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

xox

Miss Val's Creations said...

Absolutely gorgeous Dee!

Unknown said...

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

xoxo, Tanya

Sue said...

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.....

xinex said...

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

Cynthia said...

Dee,

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

Cynthia

Jeannie Marie said...

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

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

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

Donna Wilkes said...

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?

Barbara @ 21 Rosemary Lane said...

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

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

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!

Pam@OurAdventuresInHomeImprovement said...

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

Jennifer @ Town and Country Living said...

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!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

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

Carol

Donna Heber said...

Hi Dee,

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

Designing Domesticity said...

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

chateau chic said...

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

Karen said...

Wow Dee it's gorgeous.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

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

Anonymous said...

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,

Unknown said...

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

Vanessa said...

Hi, Dee

I love your basket. Loving the French sign too!

Vanessa

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

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

Unknown said...

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

xoxo, Tanya
twelveOeight

Anonymous said...

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!

Brat said...

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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