How to make a shoebox picnic basket

Whether you're with your kids, your partner or some of your friends, few things are nicer on a hot summer afternoon than a refreshing picnic lunch in the park. If you're planning on lots of picnics this summer or even into the fall, you need a cute picnic basket.

You can put your creative stamp on why by recycling an old shoebox. Although this version of the project features checks, you can pick any pattern of fabric you like. Check out the video and instructions below to see how it's done. It's an easy, fun project that won't take much time at all.

Materials
- Shoebox
- Paint palette
- White acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Checkered fabric
- Scissors
- Small box with lid
- Hot glue gun
- Decorative paper
- Pencil
- Ribbon

Instructions
1. Squeeze some white paint onto the palette. Paint the inside of the shoebox with white acrylic paint, leaving the bottom of the box bare.

2. Cut a piece of checkered fabric the same size as the bottom of the shoebox and use a hot glue gun to attach it inside.

3. Cut two more pieces of the checkered fabric and glue them inside the lid and the base of the small box.

4. Place the shoebox lid onto a piece of decorative paper and trace around the edges. Cut along the line and hot glue the paper to the top of the lid.

5. Repeat step 4 for the bottom of the box so you can cover the outside.

6. Hot glue the two pieces of the smaller box to one side of the larger box.

7. Cut out four more pieces of decorative paper, one for each outer side of the shoebox. Attach them with the hot glue gun.

8. Cut a length of ribbon long enough to tie around the box. Hot glue it to the outside of the bottom half of the shoebox.

9. Fill the new picnic basket with food, tie the ribbon to hold the lid in place, and head off to your favorite picnic spot.