Your basket sounds really nice. You can make a stain with your water based acrylics by just thinning them with water.

I have used alkyd paints as a stain. Alkyds are fast drying oils. You can get the color you want and just put a little out on a plate and add a little oderless oil base thinner to it. I put my thinner in a hair spray bottle and just spray my paint. Use a cotten rag and just rub it on. I find it user friendly. Good luck
Rose

Hi Kathy,
I make my own stain all the time. This is the method I use
squirt a large puddle of Jo Sonja's ® Clear Glazing Medium any glazing medium would work :) then squirt a smaller puddle of acrylic paint I like to use Spice Brown by Delta Ceramcoat® and mix together then stain piece. If it feels a little rough just sand with a piece of brown paper bag.This method is great because you can make any stain color you want :) Hope this helps you out!
Marie

Thank you all for your great ideas. I tried the water method, and I've used it for one of the baskets. Now I'm going to try the glazing medium. I know I have a bottle of that somewhere LOL. Thanks so much for helping me out. I truly do appreciate it. I have soooo much to learn. But that's the fun of it. Have a great day!!!
Kathy

You're very welcome Kathy. Always glad to help in any way :)
Have a great day!
Marie