How to Create a Patriotic Rope Basket

Hello Sweet Friends,
For today’s DIY, I am showing you how to create a patriotic rope basket using Dollar Tree nautical rope. I was inspired by a similar basket that Barb from The Shabby Tree created with jute twine. This decor piece is PERFECT for Americana or July 4th decor. Or really, it would be pretty to display year-round. It is so simple and easy to make, you will be able to whip it out in no time at all by following the simple directions I have below.

Supply list

two bundles of nautical rope from Dollar Tree
empty cornbread box (or similar box approx. 8″ x 5”)
scissors
tape
glue gun
red, white, and blue acrylic paint
small paint brush
floral foam, optional
faux greenery or faux florals

I used this cornbread box for my rope basket, but you could literally use any similar shaped cardboard box; such as a cereal box, a cake mix box, a Hamburger Helper box, etc. The first step for this project was to cut a hole on the long side of the box as an opening to the rope basket. Also the top of the box needed to be taped or glued closed.

Starting on the what will be the top back side of the “basket,” begin hot glueing the rope onto the cardboard box. I continued glueing, circling the box as I went, adding row after row of the nautical rope.

After I had the entire surface of the box covered with rope, I added some to the very bottom of the “basket”. When I was finished, I realized that I had 13 rows of the nautical rope on the basket which ended up being just PERFECT for an American flag project. For this size box, I used exactly two bundles of the nautical rope, with only a little piece left over.

Next, I painted every other row with red paint for the stripes, only painting on the front of the basket. Then I painted a square of blue paint in the corner.

No flag would be complete without some STARS, so I painted them next. Even though I had the correct number of stripes, there was no way I could paint 50 stars, so I had to settle with 25.

Now was the time to fill it with some beautiful faux greenery. First, I added a small block of foam into the basket. The floral foam also helps make the basket a little bit sturdier. Lastly I added the greenery stems I got for 99¢ each at the local Walmart.