Polka-Dot Vase

Reminiscent of kindergarten projects, this basket starts out as a quart-size milk container. The waterproof carton is well-suited to be a vase. Water-soaked floral foam makes it easy to poke in an arrangement of -miniature carnations or flowers from your garden.

You will need:

* 1-quart drink carton
* Ruler
* Marker or pen
* Scissors
* Card stock: blue, green, yellow, pink, white
* White glue (or spray glue)
* Fiskars paper crimper
* Large-hole punch

Instructions:

1. Measure and mark 4 inches from the bottom on all sides of the carton; cut off the portion above the line. For the handle, cut a 1/2-inch-wide piece from three sides of the upper part of the carton.

2. Glue blue card stock to the basket, neatly piecing the paper if necessary to cover.

3. Cut a 1/2x10-inch handle from blue card stock and feed it through the paper crimper. Glue the blue crimped paper to the carton handle; trim excess paper. Glue the handle to the basket.

4. For polka dots, punch circles from card stock; glue the dots to the basket.

5. Cut three 3/4x11-inch pieces of green paper and feed them through the paper crimper. From one of the pieces cut a 6-inch length and a 3-inch length. Glue the ends of the 6-inch length together to make a ring. Wrap the 3-inch length around the center of the ring to form a bow. Glue the remaining two 11-inch pieces around the basket; trim excess. Glue the bow in place.