This is the third Tuesday in a row I’ve shared a crafty project (two Tuesdays ago I made a little fall wreath, and last Tuesday I stenciled a pillow using a metal grate). I thought it would be fun to aim for a weekly craft — ideally every Tuesday — and call it “Weekly Crafty.” Some weeks may be interrupted by life (sick kids, projects that don’t work out), but the idea is to share small, achievable DIY and craft ideas on a regular basis.
I’ve always enjoyed sharing quick DIYs (there’s a whole category of them on our Projects page). Right now we’re in the tedious but necessary phase of renovating the new house — stripping wallpaper, trimming, painting ceilings and walls — so small, creative projects like painted baskets are a nice, portable way to keep the creative momentum going while the big work continues.
Basket painting has shown up in lots of places — from Martha Stewart’s styling to retail brands trying painted accents — and we’d previously spray painted the bottoms of some baskets for Clara’s playroom. This time I wanted to try something bolder and more obviously hand-painted: playful colors and visible brushwork that feel homemade and cheerful. My mom had dropped off two basic woven baskets during her last visit, so those became the starting point for this DIY painted basket project.
I pulled together craft paints I already owned and settled on a palette that included metallic and bright hues: Folk Art’s Metallic Champagne for a pearly cream, Martha Stewart’s Surf for a light Tiffany blue, and Deco Art’s Dazzling Metallics in Glorious Gold for a richer metallic. For the second basket I chose Martha Stewart’s Geranium (red) paired with Pink Dahlia. These color choices gave one basket a soft, shimmery feel and the other a neon, lively vibe.
Painting turned into a family affair: John and Clara painted with watercolors at her desk while I sat at the white pedestal table in our office working on the baskets. About thirty minutes of relaxed brushwork later, I had two painted baskets ready to dry. For one basket I painted simple horizontal stripes of pearl, blue, and goldy-pearl in varying widths. The other basket got a fun, neon midsection with sideways heart–like marks rather than strict stripes.
Once dry, Clara put them to use as toy bins in her room and they’ve worked really well so far. Woven baskets have a textured, imperfect surface, so slightly uneven paint lines or a bit of color outside the intended area only adds to the hand-painted charm. I didn’t use tape; I painted freehand to keep a relaxed, organic look instead of crisp, masked edges.
This close-up shows that the brushwork isn’t flawless — which is fine on woven material — and that the metallic paints add a nice sheen on top of the natural fibers. The striped approach was quick and straightforward, while the red-and-pink basket required a little more deliberate placement but remained an easy, low-stress project.
Because I used leftover craft paints and hand-me-down baskets, this particular project cost me nothing. If you’re starting from scratch, estimate roughly $14 for two baskets from a discount store and about $10 for a selection of craft paint tubes at a craft retailer — you can often reduce that with coupons or sales. No special tools are required beyond brushes, paper towels, and a place to let the baskets dry.
I didn’t spray-seal these, since our previously spray-painted baskets have held up well, and woven materials tend to grip paint nicely. If you plan to use the baskets in high-wear areas or expect frequent washing, consider a clear sealer down the road and test a small area first. For toy storage or decorative use, these hand-painted baskets should be perfectly fine without extra protection.
Are you tempted to try basket painting? It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to add color and personality to storage around the house. What other seasonal or small craft projects are you working on? Maybe pumpkins will be next week’s Weekly Crafty idea.
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