Holidays > Easter > Decorations for the home > How to Make a Basket or Toy Purse out of a Cereal Box

Cut a U-shaped handle on each side of an empty cardboard box, such as a cereal box or cracker box. Use a mug or can as a pattern for the rounded top of the handles.

Optional: cut a strip on one side. and a loop on the opposite side for fastening the purse closed. Squeeze each side so that the sides fold in.

Cover both sides of the handles with colored paper. The easiest way to do this is to draw around the handles, cut out 4 handle shapes,  and glue to both sides of each handle. Cut any places that stick out past the cardboard. You can disguise the cardboard edges a bit by coloring the edges with permanent marker before gluing the colored handles on.

If you are a bit of a perfectionist, and want the edges of the handles covered, Cut only 2 handles by tracing around the cardboard handles. Keep track of which side goes next to the box, and which handle it goes on, since it needs to be an exact fit. You can write a note on the side to be glued to keep them straight. Then cut some strips that are wider than the handle. Glue these to the inside of the handles. Clip the curves as you would for sewing. Next fold the excess onto the outside of the handles and glue in place. Cover the outside with the cut-out handle pieces.

Glue paper over the two sides, then on the front and back

OR

Cut a strip to go the whole way around the purse and glue it is place.

Glue paper on the strip and loop, if you have made these.

Glue on a real ribbon, and tie it in a bow. Another option is to glue a strip of contrasting paper as as accent in place of the bow.

This cute little purse or basket started out as a cardboard cereal box. With just a little bit of colored paper and glue, it is transformed from a piece of trash into a flower basket for a centerpiece, or a purse for your daughter or granddaughter.