Lovely resourceful OS'ers how am I going to make....

Avocado

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alltrustgone

what about using wood lollipop sticks/craft sticks and glue to make some up. Should cut fairly easily and be sandable. They can be found in Hobbycraft and online, like these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Craft-Lolly-Sticks-Twenty-Four/dp/B000YJ97Y2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1321271053&sr=8-3

or the coloured ones could be fun.

Or spent matches, the big cooks ones, but fiddly.

Or, 3-d crochet, which involves dipping, i think in a sort of sugar solution to create stiffness/dimension. Here's some info

http://www.wikihow.com/Crochet-a-Box

http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-stiffen-or-starch-crochet-articles/

Hope you have lots of free time!

knittingcathy

I don't know what size they need to be but what about stiff cardboard boxes use stanley knife or craft knife to cut out bits not needed then paint to make them look like crates hope that makes sense.

rosieben

that sounds a really great project Avocado, any chance we might see some photos when its finished or as work progresses please?

when DD was about 4yo I made her a cooker from a cardboard box and a couple of rolls of white packing tape (freebie from our neighbour). I painted the hotplates with felt tip, and sewed/stuck big buttons for the knobs, and somehow - can't remember how I did it now - I made an opening oven door and an oven shelf. I enjoyed making it almost as much as she enjoyed playing with it

tori.k

What about some cheap wicker baskets, that what the posh Fruit& Veg place that i pass on the way to the cheap Fruit& veg wholesalers displays its veg in

System

Asda/Tesco mushrooms come in 500/750g plastic trays. Are they too small?

[Deleted User]

Its amazing what kids really like to play with that doesn't cost the earth My youngest grandson is seven and we spent almost two hours the other day with a paper aeroplane dart that I made him and he was just zooming it up and down the sitting room .He was facinated that it could fly and I had to draw roundels on it like a RAF aeroplane.Thank the lord I had two bigger brothers when I was a little girl and remembered how to make the blooming thing :)It cost a sheet of paper from the printer and about 5 minutes of my time making it then lots of time with him pretending to be the landing airport controller .He loves playing lets pretend and I think he thinks I am a rather ancient child to play with :) I don't give him money, but lots of time and cuddles which cost me nowt

THIRZAH

You can sometimes buy packets of tongue depressors which are like lolly sticks only wider. I got some in a craft shop in Skipton recently.

The Works often has lolly sticks if you don't have a Hobbycraft nearby.

Both tongue depressors and lolly sticks do take a bit of cutting though. You could use balsa which is lighter and easier to cut. Also it comes in bigger strips so you are less limited in size.

Minihauk

Our local greengrocers have blue plastic crates that mushrooms come in. They are probably about 18 ins by 12 ins. They give them away free. I don't know it they would be too big for your stall.

HelenYorkshire

What about actual shoeboxes?
Or, if you get any Xmas "smellies" in wicker baskets?

Sounds fun!

Katkin_2

You could ask on Freecycle or freegle for wicker baskets as the other op mentions. I recently got 12 for free including a really big one.

You may be supprised at how many offers you get.

If you are not wanting this until next year then you could post a couple of times i.e. every other month, and see whether you get enough.

Its a great idea! Really looking forward to seeing your photos.