recycled milk bottle easter baskets

These easter baskets are a great craft activity to do with children whilst recycling a very common product.  Just make sure if you are saving up your milk bottles or cartons that you wash them straight away - otherwise the little leftover bits of milk are hard to remove and they STINK! :)

Take your milk bottle or carton and with a marker draw around the bottom to mark out the basket and the handle.  The handle shape will be attached to the basket on one side initially and extend up one side of your bottle.

With some sharp scissors cut along your marker lines.  Once you have cut out your shape you can then pretty up the edges with decorative scissors or pinking shears if desired.

Fold your handle part over to the opposite side and attach with a stapler.

Now go crazy with the decorating!  The sky is the limit and children of just about any age can do this part - even if they can't do the cutting out part.

You can line with fabric, wind ribbon around the handle, cover with stickers, put a ruffle around the basket - or my favourite attach a bunny face and some polyfil or cotton wool balls as a tail.  We always used to put cotton wool balls on the inside too as a bit of a 'nest' for our eggs.  And of course you don't have to put eggs in them - they are perfect for any little gift.