Recycled Milk Jug Hen Easter Basket

Several years ago I made this cute hen Easter basket from a milk jug.  It is such a cute Easter decoration or even a basket for a child.  I store it in a plastic bag all year so it doesn't collect dust and then bring it out each spring.  

It's really not too hard to make, but punching holes around the edges does take some effort and time.  

Recycled Milk Jug Hen Easter Basket

You can make an adorable Hen Easter Basket out of a recycled milk jug. 

You will need:

Clean milk jug 
Scissors
Single hole punch
Glue
Small piece of felt
Wiggly eyes or sharpie marker
Curling ribbon
Pencil

1.  Trace the outline of the shape of the hen basket on the milk carton.  Shape it so that the handle becomes the hen’s face and the top of the jug becomes a bonnet. 

2.  Cut out the shape then use the hole punch to cut holes around the edge of the hen basket.

3.  Glue the bonnet onto the top of the handle.  Cut a slit into the handle and push a small diamond of felt into the slit to form the beak.  Glue wiggly eyes onto the handle or draw eyes with a sharpie marker. 

4.  Lace ribbon through the holes in the edges of the basket to give it a smooth finished edge.   Your children can actually do the lacing.  Smaller children might need some help.  Make curls with the curling ribbon to decorate the bonnet and tail.

You can save your hen basket and reuse it year after year by storing it in a plastic bag.  Mine is several years old and has made many appearances at Easter.