Putting It All Together - Giveaway Update

Let me start this post by saying how flattered (and giddy) I am by the response to my first giveaway here at "too Blessed to Stress." You have all just made my day with your great comments about gift giving and gift baskets/packages. What a creative bunch of gals!

This Friday, I will be featuring some of your comments and ideas and then linking to some awesome posts done by other gals. Each of them has a unique and creative spin on gift baskets/packages. I know you'll just love them! Have you posted recently about gift giving? If so, I would love to read your post! Maybe even feature it this Friday along with the others. Feel free to email me the link to your post at tooblessedtostress@live.com 

Giveaway items!

As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 20 followers! Yippie! Everyone's name goes in an extra 2 times. Remember, for every 10 followers, everyone gets an extra entry. If you have not entered the giveaway yet, click here to go to the post and read the guidelines. There are 4 super easy ways to enter!

On to gift baskets!

As I shared yesterday over here, my first experience making a gift basket was a nerve wracking one. I didn't enjoy the process at all. But I have since gotten over these {silly, petty} insecurities - Will they like the basket? Does it look fancy enough? Is there enough in there? Would they have prefered a store bought gift package?

You see, I have come to realize that with a little effort, a gift basket put together by my own two little hands can be just as lovely, much more inexpensive, and a truly heartfelt gift.

Today I want to walk you through my process of putting as gift basket together. It's nothing new. It's not revolutionary. It's certainly not going to get me on Martha Stweart. But it is a practical explanation of how to make a single gift more presentable and exciting.

Are you ready? Brace yourself:
 

1. Pick out main gift (one or two items)

2. Match it to a basket/container
3. Pick out the fillers
4. Add ribbons, tags, notes, beads, etc. and arrange in basket
5. Right before delivery, add in the "last minute items" (fresh friut, candy, nuts, tickets to an event, gift certificates, etc.)
6. If wanted, wrap the whole thing in clear cellophane and top with a big bow. ( I tried to take a photo with the wrapping, but it was too shinny every time and my nasty head cold is keeping me from going outside to take the photos. Sorry! But you get the idea, right?)

Ta-da! Simple as that.

And since I'm more of a visual learner (and because I love to put baskets together), let me show you a few examples.

This little basket would be great for a bride to be, house warming gift, or a birthday.

I started with the cloth napkins {the tallest item}, wrapped them in ribbon, and slid the ceramic leaf ornament under the ribbon. Then I added the recipe cards, a pen, and the berries. By placing the tallest items in back, some at an angle, and then the smaller items in front I can ensure that every item is visible to some degree and that the basket is completely filled out.

Still needed a little something in the front - how about a wooden birdhouse? Perfect! All items she can use and decorate her kitchen/dining room with. Each of these items came from my gift tubs.

How about a cowboy or Toy Story theme?

Here I have a Toy Story cow boy hat, two cowboy boot cookie cutters, and two bandanas.

Place one bandana in the bottom of a clear take out box. (from any craft store), and the two cookie cutters on top. Include a recipe for easy homemade playdough and close the box.

Turn the hat upside down and put in the second bandana, and top it off with the take out box. Now here is where step 5 comes in: right before delivery, add in the "last minute items" (fresh friut, candy, nuts, tickets to an event, gift certificates, etc.). Right now it looks skimpy, but it is all ready for two tickes to see Toy Story 3, a jar with a batch of homemade playdough (for pre-movie fun), some beef jerkey, a few candies, and some peanuts. Wouldn't a little cowboy or cowgirl just love that? I would... maybe I should make one for me... hmmmm....

Please ignore the bright flower and pearls. The camera's flash distored the color every time.

They are really much more subtle.

This basket is for a house warming I'll be attending at the end of the month. Origionally I had bought the beaded grapes to use in my home next Thanksgiving, but when I found out the color/theme of a dear friend's new appartment (grapes in the kitchen and dinning room), I just new they would be perfect for her new home.

After finding a set of 4 napkins with grapes (bottom right of photo) I knew there were enough things in my gift tubs at home to put together a fun basket: deep purple place mats tied with a ribbon, cookie cutters for her little son who loves to make cookies, a decorated tealite cup  and some tealites. A few days before the house warming, I'll add in a handwritten note and a few recipes for cookies. What a fun way to say "Welcome To Your New Home!"

Here I have a shallow white baking dish full of strands of christmas beads purchased on clearance. These will not only make the gift look more colorful, but they will add some stability to the filler items, since the dish is so slippery.

 The gift consists of Wilton's Silly Feet for cupcakes and muffins, a mini Jello mold, recipe cards tied with sparkly ribbon, and a little mason jar full of mini cookie cutters. Right before wrapping, I will add in some fun flavors of Jello and a favorite cupcake recipe.

It's the little touches that make a gift basket so special.

What new and creative ways do you use to fill out gift baskets? Any ideas you could share on how to spruce up an ordinary gift with a  fun gift basket? How about an idea for a theme basket? I'd love to hear in the comments below!

Come on back tomorrow as we discuss great ways to package food items - cookies, candy, breads, dinners, etc. You don't want to miss it!

All photos taken by your truly.
This post is linked to WFMW over at We are that Family, and Show and Tell over at Blue Cricket Design. Head on over and link up!