04/16

DIY May Day Baskets

Happy (almost!) first day of May! Since I’m from the South, we are all about tradition. Every spring, in elementary school, we always looked forward to making our May Day baskets.

Throughout history, the making of May Day baskets signified the welcoming of warmer weather. To celebrate, people would fill the baskets with candy, gifts, and flowers and drop them off door to door. Unfortunately, this custom isn’t as prevalent as it used to be. And in my opinion, it needs to be brought back!

Normally, May Day baskets are designed by weaving strips of construction paper together with a strip glued on top for the handle. This year, I decided to change them up a bit by designing them as cute springtime animals!

Normally, May Day baskets are designed by weaving strips of construction paper together with a strip glued on top for the handle. This year, I decided to change them up a bit by designing them as cute springtime animals!

Once they are constructed, fill with candy or flowers and pass out to friends and family. Back in the day, May Day baskets were given anonymously as a way to brighten someone’s day. Brooks’ and I are making a bunch and dropping them off door to door. We love this springtime tradition!

Here’s the step-by-step + a pattern print-out to get you started:

Materials:

• Bright card stock paper in various colors
• Glue stick
• X-acto Blade
• Scissors
• Black Sharpie

Directions:

The pattern (below) is for the frog May Day Basket and can be easily modified for the two others or to create your own.

1. Pick a fun green sheet of paper, carefully cut out the cone shape and can opening on the dotted lines.
2. Cut out all remaining shapes and set aside.
3. Roll into cone shape.
4. Using your glue stick, apply glue to the tab on one edge and the entire 
length of other edge and insert tab into the cut opening.
5. Hold to adhere.
6. Glue the smaller “hand shapes” to the smaller “arm” shapes, do the same with the larger pairs.
7. Draw a black circle in the white circles to make eyes and glue onto the green circles.
8. With glue stick add the eyes and legs to the cone. I made small slits into 
the cone to insert the arms and legs to make more secure.
9. Draw a big smile and add the pink circles for cheeks.
10. Cut a strip of green paper approximately 1 in. by 12 in. to make 
the handle and adhere.