Garden Baskets

In March, after a presentation about organic vs. natural foods, to keep with our gardening theme, for our craft time, we made baskets stuffed with garden implements, seed packs, and bug repellant soap. Members brought pots purchased at the dollar stores, garden spades, gloves, fertilizer, waterers, and decorations. We assembled them by first placing styrofoam or floral foam in the bottom of the pot. Then working from back to front, we placed the heavier items like the spades in the back. The gloves hang out over the rim of the pot, so the more colorful, the better. Then we placed the soap on wooden skewers and placed toward the front. We had bugs and flowers to choose from which I had made ahead of time from a melt-and-pour glycerin base with citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon grass, cedarwood, and peppermint oils, and colored with either vegetable dyes or natural mica powder. This scent is pleasant, yet seems to deter bugs, so it is great to bathe with especially during summer months. We made seed packs from pre-designed templates which I downloaded free on the internet. We stuffed them with seeds purchased at the dollar store as well. Then we arranged the other items and seed packets in the pot and filled in blank spaces with colorful shreds. We finished the project by covering them in cellophane wrap and embellishing with colorful ribbon. Each club member had a unique take on how to design the baskets. but they all turned out great. These baskets make wonderful, functional gifts.

This is a "dirt" cake which Ella made for refreshments.