DIY Easter Basket Idea

DIY Easter Basket Idea from Upcycled Packing Paper (Cute, Easy, and Budget‑Friendly!)

If you love Easter crafts that are charming, inexpensive, and made from items you already have around the house, this DIY Easter basket idea is going to make your day. I turned leftover packing paper and an old nursery planter into the sweetest little bunny basket — and it cost me next to nothing. This is the kind of frugal, creative project that makes my cottage‑loving heart happy.

A Sweet Easter Memory That Inspired This Craft

When I think of Easter, I don't picture pastel eggs or chocolate bunnies first - I picture my mom. She made Easter baskets for us well into our twenties... maybe even our thirties. She hid them, too. Full-on scavenger hunt. I once told her we were a little old for this, and she just laughed and said, "Let me have my fun."  

How do you argue with that? 

So, with Easter on my mind - and my mom's playful spirit in my heart - I created this adorable DIY Easter basket using nothing more than packing paper, a plastic planter, and a little imagination. I may be biased, but I think it turned out pretty darn cute. 

This post is a part of the Do It Over Designers hop, where we were challenged to create something using paper. As soon as I heard the theme, I knew exactly what I wanted to make. 

How This Upcycled Easter Basket Idea Came to Life

Last year, we removed our blight‑infected boxwoods and replaced them with hydrangeas. And if you know me, you know I saved those nursery pots. I used one last year to create a faux‑expensive planter, and this year, another one became the base for this Easter basket.

It’s amazing what you can make with:

• packing paper

• a plastic mesh cross‑stitch placemat

• a hot glue gun

• and a little creativity

Let me show you how it all came together.

Materials You’ll Need

• Packing paper (you’ll need more than you think!)

• Plastic nursery planter

• 1 plastic mesh cross‑stitch placemat

• Hot glue gun + 15 glue sticks

• Scissors

• Chip brush

• Home Decor Barcelona Beige Chalk Paint

• Hot pink Sharpie (optional)

Step‑by‑Step: How to Make This DIY Easter Basket

1. Paint the planter

Give the pot a quick coat of chalk paint to hide the writing underneath. Set aside to dry.

2. Cut the packing paper

Cut long strips about 1½ inches wide. The width isn’t critical, but the length must be consistent for braiding.

3. Crumple the strips

This softens the paper and makes it easier to braid.

4. Braid the packing paper

Glue three strips together at the top, braid, then glue the end. Repeat until you have a pile of braided strips.

5. Wrap the planter

Starting at the rim, glue the braids around the pot, overlapping ends for a seamless look. Continue until the pot is fully covered.

6. Make the bunny ears

Freehand ears or use a template. Trace onto the plastic mesh placemat and cut out. If you want pink ears, color the mesh with a Sharpie and soften with a damp napkin.

7. Wrap the ears

Glue braided packing paper around each ear.

8. Attach the ears

Hot glue the ears inside the pot so they peek out like a little bunny.

9. Style your basket

Fill with flowers, eggs, moss, or whatever makes your cottage heart happy.

Helpful Notes & Lessons Learned

• Use finger covers when working with hot glue. I still haven’t bought any, and my fingertips are burnt... you would think I would learn my lesson by now.

• Don’t freehand bunny ears directly onto the mesh with a pink marker unless you want to see that pink forever.

• Packing paper tears easily — braid gently and stretch lightly.

Why This Craft Works in a Cottage‑Style Home

This project checks all the cottage‑style boxes:

• Repurposed materials — the heart of cottage living

• Soft, natural textures from the braided paper

• Handmade charm that looks collected, not store‑bought

• A touch of whimsy with the bunny ears

It’s the kind of craft that feels nostalgic and homey — the way Easter should feel, or at least I feel that way.

Repurposing for the Win

This year, I’ve challenged myself to use what I already have. Between cleaning out two homes and inheriting decades of craft supplies, I have enough materials to keep me busy for years. My mom passed down several plastic mesh placemats from her 1980s crafting days — and look at them now, living their best bunny‑ear life.

If you love upcycling and using what you have, you’re in the right place. I have so many more ideas coming your way.

FAQs About This DIY Easter Basket

Can I use newspaper instead of packing paper? Yes — it will braid differently, but it works.

What if I don’t have a plastic mesh placemat? Cardboard or foam board can work, but the mesh gives the best structure.

Can I make this basket without a planter? Absolutely — any sturdy container will do.

How long does this project take? About 1–2 hours depending on how fast you braid.

A Little Note Before You Go

Every time I make a project like this, I’m reminded that the sweetest things often come from the simplest materials — a little packing paper, a leftover pot, and a whole lot of heart. If you try this DIY Easter basket, I hope it brings a bit of joy to your home the way it did to mine. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll never look at packing paper the same way again.

If you enjoy upcycling and using what you already have, you’ll love exploring more of my cottage‑style projects below.

Upcycled Plastic Candy Jar

Creative Reuse: Transforming Trash into a Spring Lamb

What to do with old prescription bottles 

How to Upcycle Business Cards 

Upcycle Loved Ones Clothing into Home Decor

Don't Forget...

Join Us for Do It Over Designers

This upcycled craft is part of the Do It Over Designers challenge, where we give old, forgotten, and—in my case—trash a new lease on life.

Will you be keeping those planter pots and packing paper for future crafts? I sure hope so! It’s exciting to keep pieces like this out of the landfill and see what I can create. Now, let's see what my friends have been up to—hop on over for more inspiration!

Pandora’s Box

Purple Hues & Me

Unique Creations by Anita

Sum of Their Stories

Tea and Forget-Me-Nots

Color Me Thrifty

Vintage Style Gal (that's me)

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Modern on Monticello

Ciao,

Cara