Heart 3D Handle Basket

Vintage style decoration or gift container features 

walls and base that are thickened by layering 

4-5 cut shapes for the look of chipboard. 

Side outer and front/back inner walls include connecting tabs 

that fit into corresponding slots to adjacent walls or base. 

Built-up layered shaped handle has inner bottom nibs 

that fit into small slots on side walls. 

Decorate front and back with scalloped offset accent heart 

with squared-off lower extension, plain offset heart with extension 

(and optional matched whole heart) and inner plain edge heart. 

(Use smallest heart as a template to trace and 

hand cut accent shape from 3x4 printed panel, 

if desired, as is seen in the model project 

which uses "Kissing Booth" #10387 3x4 Elements

by Simple Stories.

Add other embellishments of ribbon and tiny fabric posies, 

as desired. Simple plaque label also provided 

for embellishment on front below hearts. 

Basket measures approx. 5.5” wide x 3.75” deep 

x 6.25” tall at handle height.

ASSEMBLY:  1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A front or back inner wall shapes with slots (2)
B front or back outer wall for 
build up (thickness) (cut 4 for each of 2 sets)
*C handle build up (7-8)
D base for build up (4)
E base top layer with slots
F side walls outer shapes (2)
G side walls inner shapes for build up
(cut 4 each for 2 sets)
H accent offset heart panel
I accent offset inner heart panel
J scallop heart     K plain edge heart (see step 8)
L label
*see step 2 for quantity-to-cut notes

2. Determine how many handle layers should be cut
by stacking 7 or 8 and testing the inner nib layers depth
for snug fit in the side wall slot.
3. Layer handle shapes for build up by gluing together
each of the shapes, taking care that all edges are
aligned as precisely as possible, with special
attention given to the inner edge nibs.
It may be wise to layer 4-5 and glue together
then allow to dry for a while, then complete
joining of the required quantity.

Press the handle build-up under a flat weight such as

the fabric-covered re-purposed free weight bar shown,

until the glue is dried. 

NOTE that this may take several hours.

4. Layer and glue the front main wall shapes,

taking care to align all cut edges as precisely

as possible. Complete a glued-together stack

for both front and back walls.

NOTE: the slotted front and back walls should

remain unattached at this point of assembly.

5. Layer and glue the base main panel shapes,
taking care to align all cut edge as precisely as possible.
Press under a flat weight while glue dries.
NOTE that the slotted base shape should remain
unattached at this point of assembly.

6. Layer the glue up the non-tabbed side wall stacks

for left and right wall units. 

7. Position and attach the outer side wall shapes

onto each of the two side wall stacks, taking care

to align the top rounded edges and slot edges

as precisely as possible.  Press under a flat weight.

The wall build up stack

will fit within the dashed lines of the side and

bottom tabs.

8. If using a traced medallion shape for the main

plain edge center heart, prepare the heart tracing

template as follows:

A) cut the heart template with space around it from

utility paper (non-decorative card stock) then

trim a square around it to form a frame.

B) Using only the frame with heart window,

position it over the panel as desired, then hold in place.

C) Replace the heart template inside the frame
temporarily, then . . . 

. . . remove the frame, holding the heart in position.

D) Trace around the heart edge with pencil.

E. Carefully hand scissor-cut the shape on
traced line.

9. Prepare the accent front (and back if desired)

panel by layering the medallion heart on top of

the larger offset plain edge heart, then

attaching these to the squared-bottom panel

scalloped heart (plain heart edges will match up

at upper portion), and then onto contrast larger

scalloped edge squared-bottom panel.

10. Position and attach the heart accent assembly
onto the front panel stack.
(Repeat as desired for back accent onto back panel.)

11. With side wall stack oriented so that the tabbed shape
is facing outward (stack ins inward), insert the side tabs 
of side wall assembly through the corresponding 
slots of the inner front panel. Bend tabs back and glue in place.

12. Repeat for back panel, inserting side tabs
through corresponding slots, bending and

gluing tabs back.

13. Follow the same process to attach the second

side wall shape (tabbed shape toward the outside,

and stack inward) both front and back panel

build up, inserting tabs through slots, bending

and gluing in place. 

14. Position the front stack (with accent assembly)

over the front tabbed/attached panel, match up

edges, and glue together.

Repeat for the back build up stack.

15. Insert all the bottom tabs into corresponding

slots of base single layer, bend tabs inward

and . . . 

. . . glue in place on base underside.

16. Position the base build up assembly on

the bottom of the attached base, adjust so that

all cut edge are aligned, and glue in place.

17. Position handle build up so that first nib

on handle inner edge can fit into the side wall

slot, insert and work fully into position.

Glue in place if desired.

18. Flex the handle slightly to allow the second
end nib to slide into the opposite wall slot.

19. Position and attach the label.

Here is the completed handle basket.

If desired, decorate the basket with

tiny purchased roses, ribbon loops on hull,

and bow on handle.