Little French Baskets

The French have a distinctive style that pervades everything French, including the simple wicker basket. At Maine Country Home we have several that we purchased at the Paris Flea Markets years ago.

Imagine our trip home on the plane with all of these?

Nowadays, however, it is as easy to take a cheap store basket and turn it into a work of art. You need two colors of paint, paintbrush and of course a cute little Efex Moulding to embellish your masterpiece.

Grab your supplies NOW! This basket project is super quick and easy. In just minutes you will create this beautiful French Country basket with a gray washed look on ordinary wicker or cane.

 

Step One:

Attach your Efex applique to the basket. Here we used one of our pediments P8.

Step Two

Paint your first coat of grey paint, inside and out, making sure you squish the bristles into the nooks and crannies. In the summertime, I use a Wagner paint sprayer for this part of the project.

Step Three

Dry brush the white paint color over the grey. Once the grey coat is dry, dip your clean brush in the white paint and wipe the excess paint off. Using a cardboard plate remove even more paint – to achieve “dry brushing” on this step.

Gently brush the tips across the surface of the grey, cause the white paint to just “highlight” the basket slightly.

The key to successful dry-brushing is a very light touch and whispering the brush in the same direction

Step Four

Highlight your Efex with a little artist brush using the same dry brushing technique.

And you are finished! This small project took me less than an hour to complete. What a quick and easy way to get a cute Farm To Table Style.

xoxo Lydia ( efex usa)