Natural and Sustainable

Bring nature indoors with this awesome moss and twig basket. It takes about an hour to make and will last for as long as you keep it. Here’s what to do.

Materials you will need:

Newspaper
Four 20 inch branches that have little twigs, remove the leaves completely
Floral wire
Small shallow round basket
Small throw away plastic bowl
White glue
Green sheet moss
Foam brush
Raffia

Here’s what to do: Attach the branch handle to the basket by bending one piece of wire into a medium length U-shape about 6-inches long, make it a U-shape. Place the cut end of one of the branches against the side of the rib of the basket and place the wire on top of it. Push them both ends of the wire through the basket weaving on the side where you chose the handle to be. Pull the wire tightly against the branch and twist the two wire ends together where they emerged on the outside of the basket. If you push the brand end through first you can then follow with the tow wire end and just weave the wires back and forth and twisting before inserting backing to the basket again.

Continue this until the branch is completely secure. You may find an easier way to secure the branch; this method is only a suggestion. Just make sure the branch is secure into the basket side using a shoelace fashion back and forth to secure the branch tightly. Cut off the excess wire and tuck the sharp ends back underneath the branch to hide them.

Do this same above process on the other side of the basket; be sure to line up the handle to the other side. You can either use the other end of the branch you started with or gather up another twiggy branch to use on the other end.

When that is finished gently pull the two branches together or leave as is if you want you handle to be short and you used the other end of the same branch from the other side of the basket. Using floral wires attach the two branches together and twist together some floral wire. Don’t use a lot of floral wire, because, you don’t want the wire to be seen.

Pour a small amount of white glue into your plastic container and lay out your moss. Gently shake to remove any dirt or rocks or twigs. Spread a thick layer of glue to the inside of the basket and fit the moss inside, tear the moss to fit, never cut. Tearing will create a more natural look. Continue the process all around till the entire basket, inside and out is covered in the moss. Smash down the moss as you apply it to the basket so the moss isn’t filling up the basket entirely. If the moss tends to come up in certain areas, simply lift that section and apply more glue.

Be sure and dry the basket for several hours before adding any gourds or pinecones and such. With your raffia, tie a bow around the top part of the handle and give as a gift with some seedlings, nut or apples inside.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Lemon Verbena leave from the Lemon-verbena tree make an invigorating citrus herbal tea. You can also have the scent released and it helps to lift your spirits of a bad mood. You can also chop up the leaves and simmer them on the stove in a pot of water to help fill you home with the great scent. You can purchase one of these trees from Mountain Valley Growers for under $6 and have this wonderful tree inside your home all year long.