There are a few things that always remind me of summer. Sunshine, picnics, and honeybees. Bee baskets are a traditional wrapped basket that has been used as a beehive for centuries. Although they are no longer used as beehives, their simple and attractive design makes them a beautiful piece of decor. They can be displayed with a stack of books or in a closet and I love that you can use old cardboard boxes as part of this project. It’s a great upcycling! This bee craft is so cute and you can make a decorative beehive basket with rope using just a few simple supplies.
Materials needed to make a decorative beehive with rope:
Cardboard
hot glue
Untreated sisal rope
scissors
Begin making your beehive by cutting a piece of cardboard into a rectangle that is wider than it is tall. The size of the cardboard you cut will depend on how big you want your final hive to be. This hive started with a piece of cardboard that was about 12 inches wide and 8 inches high. Use your hot glue gun to run a bead of hot glue (be sure to keep your fingers clean!) along the bottom edge of the cardboard and glue the edges together. Once the hot glue dries, you will now have a cardboard tube.
Cut 5-7 slits around the top of the cardboard tube about 2 inches deep. Once the slits are cut, push them down and let them overlap each other.
Glue the cardboard flaps down, leaving a small opening at the top. This will create a rounded top on the top of the cardboard.
Cut a piece of string about 5-6 inches long and stick the ends through the hole so that you create a loop sticking out the top.
Once the loop is in place, start wrapping the rope around the outside of the tube you just glued together. This is the top. The large open end will be the bottom. Hot glue it to the cardboard. Only press the rope down into the hot glue when the hot glue has cooled to just warm, not hot (watch your fingers so you don’t burn them!). Squirt a little hot glue on and let it cool for a few moments, then press the rope into it, keeping your fingers free.
Continue gluing the rope to the open end of the cardboard tube, then cut the last end and glue it down.
Here you go! A cute, DIY decorative bee dish that will add a touch of nature and classic style to your summer decor. These dishes in various sizes would be great to stack on a summer shelf or hang in a display. If you’re looking for more bee projects, check out how to make this adorable bee dish.
