You can make your very own Christmas stockings and add a special touch to each one. Use them to decorate with, fill with treats and give as gifts!

Here is a really cute idea! You can easily turn woolen socks into one of a kind Christmas stockings – imagine hanging them on your mantel or accenting your armoire with them.

All you have to do is find the woolen stockings you like, and think how you can complement their look. Adding flannel patches, pieces of wool materials, trims, buttons, bells or a fringe will make these your very own. Most items can be stitched on by using a darning needle and narrow ribbon, yarn or cotton.

Adding a name is easy as well – here are 3 easy steps for you:

Insert a cardboard liner cut slightly larger than the sock, into the sock before decorating. THe liner will prevent stitching chatching the back of the sock

Stitvh letter, using yearn and back stitches - it may be a good idea to mark your letter on the sock first - easier to keep them the same size

Knot a loop of ribbon through top of sock for a hanger. You can put small treats into your sock or stuff it with a tissue paper or polyester fiberfill if you are using it for a decor.

And here is a very cute idea – making stocking for your four-legged friends and filling them with some treats!

treat your pets this Christmas as well - they know they have been good!

Hope you will enjoy making your own Christmas stockings – please send me your comments, suggestion and experiences – and pictures – your input is very welcomed and much appreciated!

First – go through your Christmas decorations and pick pieces that you would like to have on your wreath – set them aside. Then – venture out into your local store (Walmart will do nicely and you will save a few bucks too) and buy a plain artificial wreath and a basic set of mini lights if you want to light up your wreath. The alternative is taking a walk a picking up evergreen branches and then making a really nice, natural wreath – I am actually thinking about doing that.

Then sit down with all your stuff and start creating your very own wreath! And do not worry or get discouraged – remember that if you are not happy with what you are doing – just change it!

Wreaths can be embellished to achieve a variety of looks. You can add ribbons, ornaments, floral materials – anything that will reflect your personal style and add to the theme of your home Christmas decor.Artificial evergreen wreaths are very easy to decorate – you just simply twist the branches around each item to secure them – or use floral wire or hot glue to do that.

Start with using one item at a time, spacing them evenly around the wreath to achieve a balanced look. Add the large items first and fill any bare spaces with smaller ones. Secure items at  the surface as well as closer to inside of your wreath – that is to achieve a sense of depth.

And if you are going to put mini lights on – put them on first, light them and work your other items around them – you will be able to see better what the final result will be.

Here are a few ideas for you:

Artificial evergreen garland is wrapped around a grapevine wreath. A natural look is created by adding birch bark and twig birdhouses, artificial birds and stems of rose hips.

Santa's elf wreath is created by wiring a small elf (or choose another of your liking) figurine to this wreath, creating a focal point. Dried fruit slices, cinnamon sticks and paper twist are added to give this wreath a nice country look

Create this elegant wreath by first attaching a gold wire mesh bow to the top and then adding metal ornaments. This wreath works very well with the addition of mini lights.

Village house becomes the focal point on this wreath. Additional springs of greenery, cones and berries add texture and fullness. For the snowy effect, spray artificial snow over polyester fiberfill

I think these are beautiful wreaths and consider this: if you are still thinking about how to decorate your tree – extend the wreath decorating ideas  - they could be easily applied to that task!

Hope you have enjoyed this information, please send in your comments, suggestions and experiences – and pictures as well! – your input is very welcomed and much appreciated!

Let me tell you a little bit about some of the products.

First - The Recipes in a Jar – it is a group of products that I am very proud of. Mainly because I am so very comfortable that everyone will love them. I have been told many, many times that I make wicked Chili, the best ever Butter tarts, very popular and frequently sought after Chocolate Chip Cookies, great Soups and even my two and half year old grandson checks with me every single time if I am bringing him Muffins.

Each one of these products is now packaged either in a glass jar or a nice gift bag, with a folder that includes the recipe and step-by-step directions. And you can check out all the products in the Mama Knows Online Store

Mama Knows Good Old Fashioned Chili - this jar contains 5 different kinds of beans and my very own premised spices and seasonings. It will make over 20 servings and is great to freeze.

Good Old Fashioned Chili in a Bag - same content as in the jar and of course - every product comes with a special folder with recipe and step by step directions

I have also created Gift Baskets – from the ones filled with cookies and chocolates, to one for the person that likes to bake (that one has a gift bag with my very own Chocolate Chip Cookies mix included) to a special one for the dog lover and another one for the Pasta Lover

Hope this give you a few ideas as to how you can make your very own special Christmas Gifts – and if you want to make it easy on yourself – you can just visit my online store and buy them from me!

For the baker on your list - festive cookie container filled with Betty Crocker utensils and my very own Chocolate Chip Cookie mix

For the Dog Lover - Ceramic food dish, filled with doggie goodies, including a frisbee and treats.

Perfect for you to share with others - whether they are your co-workers or employees or friends. Pretty festive red bowl filled with selections of cookies. chocolates. herbal teas, hot chocolate and candies

Great selection of items that will delight pasta lover on your list - all packaged in a white colander and of course - beautifully wrapped

There is a whole lot more items in the Mama-Knows online store – check them out today!

I really believe in making things with your own hands, giving some thought to it, getting creative juices running and involving kids in the works . Here is a few I put together for you -  easy to make and you can have fun doing it and mostly – have fun giving the special treats!

…

Special Red Roses

Nothing much says :I love You, then a single red rose! This one is easy to make and when you attach personalized tag to your rose, it can quickly become treasured keepsakes for members of you family!

What You Will Need::

• Green chenille stems (per flower)
• Red craft foam
• Scissors
• White craft glue or hot glue gun

Directions:

1. Set aside half the chenille stem for a later step. Take the full chenille stem and bend it in half. Starting at the bent end, twist the chenille stem around itself all the way up. When you reach the end trim it to make it even if needed.
2. Cut out 1″ tear drop shapes from the red foam, you will need 7 of these.
3. Cut out ¾” tear drop shapes from the red foam, you will need 3 of these.
4. Lay a 1″ tear drop on the table, point side down. Glue the open end of the twisted chenille stem to the red tear drop petal.
5. Glue a second tear drop behind the first tear drop (point side down), most of the tear drop in back will be visible. Repeat on the other side. Repeat again on each side, gluing them in a curved fashion (similar to a half circle). When you are done there should be one petal in the middle and 3 on each side.
6. Glue one of the smaller tear drop petals on top of the green chenille stem. Glue the other two smaller petals overlapping the first one, point side down.
7. Once these are all dry, bend and curve the foam petals to join both rounded sides together to form the flower. Glue in place and hold until dry, hot glue comes in handy here.
8. Use the ½ chenille stem to bend the leaves into shape and twist around the stem.

Friendship Box

Sometimes it’s not the actual gift, but the message that it brings that is most cherished. This friendship box is great for showing how much your friends and family mean to you.

What You Will  Need:

• 1 Empty box, any size
• Valentine themed wrapping paper or pink/red construction paper
• Pink construction paper
• White paper for poem
• White craft glue
• White ribbon
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Wrap the empty box in wrapping paper or construction paper.
2. Tie white ribbon around the box and tie into a bow on the top.
3. Print out the poem below.
4. Trim the poem and glue the trimmed poem to pink construction paper.
5. Trim the pink construction paper to give it an even border all the way around.
6. Glue the poem to the box.

Friendship Box Poem
Inside this fancy little box
I placed a gift so nice
You’ll probably always cherish it
Not even thinking twice

Now even though this box I give
Holds nothing you can touch
I’ve placed inside our friendship
It’s you I like so much!

Soft and Puffy Heart

Not only can you use this adorable craft to write a special message on the back, it can also be turned into a very special dinner table decoration!

What You Will Need:

• Pink and white tissue paper, cut into 1″ squares
• White craft glue
• Scissors
• Piece of card stock or construction paper
• Pencil with an eraser

Directions:

1. Cut out a heart shape from the construction paper or card stock.
2. Put white craft glue into the center of the heart, shaped like a heart.
3. Using the eraser end of a pencil, place the eraser into the center of a white tissue paper square. Twist the tissue paper square around the eraser and dot it onto the glue. Continue this process until entire middle of the heart is covered with white tissue paper. See photo.
4. Repeat the process from step #3 with pink tissue paper for the border of the heart.
5. Glue a hanger to the back if you like.

Tips:

• For younger kids who have trouble working the pencil steps, allow them to wad up the tissue paper squares and press them directly onto the glue with their fingers.
• Instead of a hanger, try gluing a magnet strip to the back and hang on your fridge!
• Always saved the tissue paper from birthday gifts for craft projects like these.

Lollipop Love

This adorable piece will not take you very long to make – engage your children to help and use to send people or use as decorations for your home or your table!

What You Will Need:

• Pink coloured glitter glue
• White cardstock
• 1 wooden skewer
• Coloured strips of ribbon (2) 1/4″ and (1) 1/8″ wide
• Large plastic clear crystals
• Pencil
• Glue gun
• Heart-shaped polystyrene/craft foam
• White glue
• Scissors

Directions:

Card Template 

1. Fold white cardstock in half.
2. Trace polystyrene heart onto cardstock.
3. Cut out heart leaving a fold line at top of card. Make sure the card heart shape is small enough to fit nicely on the front of the polystyrene heart.

Step 2:  Making the Heart

1. Glue heart card to front of heart-shaped polystyrene using white glue.
2. Cover the front and sides of heart shaped styrofoam with pink glitter glue.
3. Dip styrofoam heart in a bowl of plastic clear crystals. Let it dry.
4. Cover back of card with pink glitter glue.
5. Dip again in clear plastic crystals. Let it dry.

Step 3: Lollipop Stick

1. Twist and glue one piece of 1/4″x10″ coloured ribbon around stick.
2. Twist and glue a second piece of 1/8″x10″ coloured ribbon around stick.
3. Trim off excess ribbon.
4. Pierce tip of skewer into bottom end of polystyrene heart.
5. Glue a piece of 1/4″x 7″ribbon end to inside front bottom card.
6. Glue a piece 1/8″ x 7″ ribbon end to the back inside bottom card.
7. Tie both ribbons together.
8. Cut a piece of 1/4″x 15″ ribbon.
9. Tie a bow around the base of heart.

Key to Your Heart

One of my personal favourites and again – your creativity will make it special!

What You Will Need:

• Design cardstock
• 1/4″ x 20″ cream-colored ribbon
• Antique key
• Medium-sized pearl
• 6 small rhinestones
• Gold thread
• Glue gun
• Hole puncher
• Velvet fabric
• Fabric filler
• Cardboard
• Watered down glue
• Small paint brush

Directions:

Step 1:   Card Template 

1. Cut out two  5″ x 7″ rectangles with design cardstock.
2. Cut out a 2 ½” heart from cardboard.
3. Cut out 3 ½” heart from fabric.

Step 2:  Heart pillow

1. Wrap heart-shaped fabric around cardboard heart.
2. Glue fabric to back of cardboard heart with glue gun.
3. Leave 1 ½” on one side of heart unglued.
4. Stuff heart with small amount of fabric filler.
5. Glue open seam on back of heart closed.
6. Tie a small bow with 1/4″ ribbon.
7. Glue bow to top of heart with glue gun.
8. Glue medium sized pearl below the center of the bow with glue gun.

Step 3:  Key

1. Tie gold thread to the key. Cut thread.
2. Glue the free end of the gold thread on the backside of the padded heart.

Step 4:  Card

1. Place the 5″ x 7″ rectangles of cardstock together to make the card. Make sure the design side is visable on both sides.
2. Punch (7) even-spaced holes along left edge of card with hole puncher.
3. Lace 1/4″ ribbon through each hole from top to bottom and back to top
4. Glue ribbon ends on inside of card at top.
5. Glue padded heart on front center at 1 ½” from top of card with glue gun.
6. Glue rhinestones to the front of card with watered down glue

Enjoy making these pretty keepsakes ad please send in your comments, suggestions and ideas. Your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated!

Here are a few ideas that are easy to make, are quite inexpensive and definitely are a bit different:

I Am Nuts About You:

You can add a card with this statement to this gift – in your handwriting of course! Just get a nice jar or a gift box, fill it with his favourite nuts and there you go – how easy was that? Personally, I would use chocolate covered almonds, they are my husband’s favourite, but you can use any nuts or a nut mixture.

Love You To Pieces:

How about getting a large print of a photo of the two of you and cutting it into a puzzle? You can then put the pieces into a nice little gift box, put a fancy ribbon on it and you will have a gift that he will remember for a long time

You Complete Me:

We all know that famous line from Jerry McGuire – it really stuck ion many, many minds and is no doubt being used over and over. But – borrow the idea from above gift and same as in Love You To Pieces, grab your favourite picture, get a large print – and you can even add the statement into the picture. Then cut into puzzle pieces, break the pieces into a gift box, adorn with a gift ribbon and you have yet another creative gift for him!

If you don’t feel like either one of the above suggestions are good for what you would like to give, here is a list of the most popular Valentines Day gifts for a man:

1. Chocolates – apparently because they are a noncommittal gift. It should be a good quality box of chocolates and if you are not sure about what kind of chocolates, get the assorted ones.
2. Dog Treats – if there is four legged buddy in the picture, why not get a nice box of healthy treats? Just make sure he doesn’t think they are cookies for him…..
3. Flowers – personally, I don’t see anything wrong with giving guy flowers – they shouldn’t be roses, but how about a nice exotic flowering orchids or a bunch of fragrant gardenias?
4. A Pendant  – it could be a heart shaped one and doesn’t have to be gold. If it has your initial in it….that much nicer!
5. Hand-dipped strawberries – and I don’t have to tell you that the way to give them would be to feed them to him along with offering sips of champagne – now that is a pretty romantic move!
6. Probably the best one and one of my favourite ones – Bed and Breakfast Getaway is great for both of you. Offering a mix of comfort and luxury, lot of destination will offer specials and special treats for Valentines Day.

Hope these ideas will help you find that perfect Valentines Day gift for him – please send in your comments and experiences, your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated

The colour of rose can have a very different meaning from what you have intended so to make sure your loved one understands what her roses mean, here is a guide for you:

…

RED ROSE: this one is simple - red roses say "I Love You" and they are the ultimate symbol of love and passion

YELLOW ROSE: These indicate friendship and freedom - so you do not want to send them if you have romantic intentions

PALE PINK ROSE: THis one says : grace, gentleness and gratitude

LIGHT PINK ROSE: A joy to behold, light roses express fun and happiness

DEEP PINK ROSE: These simply say "Thank You" and remember that this colour of roses has also become closely associated with breast cancer

LILAC ROSE: This colour clearly sates that the sender has fallen in love at first sight and is enchanted

WHITE ROSE: Pure white roses symbolize truth and innocence. They also send a message of: "I Miss You" and "You Are Heavenly"

PEACH ROSE: These speak of appreciation and gratitude

CORAL ROSE: This colour expresses on thing that matches the passionate colour - desire

ORANGE ROSE: This colur communicates enthusiasm and desire on the part of the sender

WHITE AND YELLOW

RED AND YELLOW ROSES: You will be sending a message of happiness and celebration if you choose this combination

RED AND WHITE ROSES: When you give this combination of roses, you will be sending the message of bonding and harmony

SINGLE RED ROSE: You will like this one: "I love you but I am not going to go broke telling you!"

I hope you have enjoyed this information and that it will help you in choosing the roses you will give to your loved one this Valentines Day! Please send in your comments – your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated

Valentine’s Day is the occasion to have some fun with your friends, close ones and the love of your life. Check out some exciting tips to arrange a perfect Valentine’s Day Party:

Invitations:
First – make a list of people who you want to invite for your Valentine’s Day party. Send out cards to the intended guests in the shape of a heart or cupid, or with the shape of a heart on the front. It’s even better if you can make some invitation cards yourself for your Valentine’s Day party. You can make them quite attractive by designing them with pictures of famous lovers and putting in some famous love quotes. Tie each card with a red satin ribbon, put inside a small red box filled with candies and stick an invitation note to it. If at all possible, deliver your invites personally. If you are going to mail your invitations, allow extra time for postal delivery – either way you do it, you guests should receive their invites no later than 2 weeks prior to the party.

The Place:
Where you hold your Valentine’s Day Party depends as much on you as on your guests. You can throw a party at your house, provided your celebrations are a family affair and you have the confidence that you can make all the necessary arrangements for it. If you want to make it a little bit different, you can invite your sweetheart/friends to a play at the theatre nearest to your home and have a little get-together before or after. You can also arrange a picnic on the lines of a camp at some good location, one that is safe and nice to spend time at. Getting creative and making a memorable event where everyone is comfortable and having fun is the key.

Decorations:
That depends mostly on the nature of your celebration. If you’re planning a special Valentine’s Day evening for you and your honey, a handful of candles and a bouquet of red roses are enough to set the mood. But if you’re throwing a Valentine’s Day celebration for your friends and family, your will need a good theme and appropriate decorations. Proper decorations go a long way to set the mood for a party and make it an outstanding one. You need to decorate your house according to the theme of the party. You can place heart shaped candle stands and flower vases at different corners and windows.

Decorate the ceilings by hanging heart shape balloons, cupids and paper hearts made of yarn, string or streamers. Red, pink, purple and white are the traditional Valentine’s Day colors. Cut paper hearts of various sizes from construction papers and write messages like “Be Mine”, “My Love” or “I Love You” on them. Add some sequins for that extra colour and sparkle. Scatter the cutouts randomly over tabletops and beds. Cover your table with a white table cloth or sheet and put little candy hearts at one side of the table. These will be your party favours. Fill candy bowls, champagne flutes and martini glasses with colourful treats. And for a special little touch, place a Happy Valentine’s Day banner on the main door.

You can also buy some of vintage Valentine’s Day cards and stand them up across a fireplace mantle or on your drawing room table, or tape them to the bathroom mirror. And last but not the least, to really complete the theme, place a statuette or cardboard cutout of arrow-toting Cupid on your dining table. No Valentine’s Day party is complete without this item. To add to the mood of your party, play some nice romantic songs and spark the mood for romance. Prepare garlands of valentine flowers and place them all over – and your entire home will be saying: “Happy Valentine’s Day”

The Ambiance:
Creating the right ambience for your party is very important – that is what will make the time a memorable one. Dress up your party zone according to the theme of the party. Choose your bed sheets, table covers and curtains in colours like red or pink that goes with the mood of Valentine’s Day. If you are having a private romantic evening with your sweetheart, plan to get some special movie to watch – or select some romantic music to set the mood. If you want to celebrate the time with your friends and family members, groovy numbers or dance tracks will be the best. Make sure, however, that the music for your party suits the taste and preferences of your guests.

The Food:
You will never go wrong if you think hard about pleasing the tastebuds of your guests so what you will select to prepare and serve at your party is an important factor. If you prefer – you could organize a get-together with your friends and family, select your favourite restaurant to meet up with your them and order what you enjoy the best. If you are planning a party in your home, write out the names of your intended guests and think about the selection of foods you will need to prepare based on what you know about them. If your guest list includes vegetarians, make adequate provisions for them. If you want to restrict the celebrations to yourself and your sweetheart, go in for a romantic candlelight dinner. For desserts, chocolate recipes like chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate truffles, chocolate fondue or chocolate heart-shaped cookies are just great.

The Party Favours
It is always nice to send your guests home with a small gift or party favour. It ends the festivities on a sweet note and keeps the memory of the party alive for your invited ones. These party favours can range from little candy hearts and chocolates to small cupid dolls. Purchase heart shaped boxes to pack sweet treats and heart-shaped chocolates for your guests to take home. It is a good idea to match the party favours to the theme of your party.

Hope these tips were helpful to you – please send in your comments, suggestions and experiences! You input is always very much appreciated!

]]> http://www.mama-knows.com/featured-articles/how-to-plan-valentines-day-party.html/feed 3 http://www.mama-knows.com/household-hints-and-tips/tips-for-making-gifts-in-a-jar.html http://www.mama-knows.com/household-hints-and-tips/tips-for-making-gifts-in-a-jar.html#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:23:30 +0000 Hanna Trafford http://www.mama-knows.com/?p=2985 I have always liked this idea – it is unique based on what you make it and definitely personal. Couple years ago, I did that, using my own – and now pretty much famous – chocolate chip cookie recipe. I participate in one Christmas Bazaar a year – and every gift jar with the chocolate chip cookie  ingredients sold out! All I can add to that is that I wish days would have twice as many hours, so that I could make everything I think is a great idea!

Here I am going to tell you how to make these jars and really – what you put into them is up to you! And of course – I will be including some creative recipes and will add more in time for you gift giving – keep watching this website regularly or sign up to get updates automatically!

How to assemble Gift in a Jar:

1. Choose the right kind of container – and make sure the lid is tight fitting to prevent spillage. The best ones are canning jars, either 1-pint or 1-quart  they are wide mouth and easy to fill.
2. Make sure you wash all containers thoroughly and dry them – any moisture left in the jar will likely spoil your efforts.
3. Measure the ingredients accurately
4. Transfer all ingredients using wide mouth funnel or of you don’t have one, cut a hole in a bottom of #2 coffee filter to create a “funnel”
5. To make sure that all ingredients fit, pack each one down real good before adding the next layer. You can do this using flat bottom glass and pressing down on in the last ingredient firmly. If a jar needs to packed lightly, tap it gently on the table to shake the ingredients down.
6. If your recipe needs bagging some ingredients, use resealable plastic bags and be sure to press out all air from the bag.
7. Your layering order are up to you – just follow a few simple rules: powdery ingredients, such as flour, should be placed at the bottom so they don’t coat other ingredients. If you pack them down the right way, they won’t mix together. Coarser ingredients, such as brown sugar can go next and finally those consisting of larger pieces – such as chocolate chips, cereals, etc.
8. Seal the jar tightly so the ingredients won’t shift.
9. If you are planning to make more than one of the same type of jars, make one first to see how much you need to pack the ingredients.
10. Make you gift tags – and decorate your completed jar by either just tying a ribbon with the gift tag or cutting out a round piece of festive material to place over the top of your gift jar. Make sure you leave enough edging to make it nice and festive looking.
11. You will also want to include recipe card with your gift jar – either by tying it with the gift card and attaching it to the jar with a piece of ribbon. I have also done it by neatly folding the recipe and placing it into the jar with your ingredients.
12. Another good idea is to add wooden spoon, spatula, set of measuring spoons or any other decorative element to the jar.

Just use your imagination and have fun!

I am adding a few samples here to give you more ideas:

Hope you will try these unique gifts – if there is a specific one you would like, let me know and I will get it for you! Adn as always – your comments, suggestions and experiences are most appreciated and welcomed!

Here are some samples of handmade baby blankets that just sold from:

http://stores.ebay.ca/momshoneypot

White Crotchet Baby Blanket

Handmade - Crotchet Blanket for Baby Boy

Two-tone Handmade Blanket for Baby Boy

Two-tone Handmade Blanket for Baby Girl

Handmade Rainbow Colours Baby Blanket

Multicolour Handmade Blanket for Baby Boy or Girl

For more one-of-a-kind handmade items for babies and toddlers, please make sure you visit:

http://stores.ebay.ca/momshoneypot

Simply defined, a gift basket is a collection of foods and/or gift items arranged in a basket or other container, then wrapped in cellophane and topped with a bow.

I am sure you have seen lots of extraordinary baskets at various stores – but the bad thing about them is that they usually have the extraordinary price tag to go along with them! This article should help you with creating your own gift baskets for just a fraction of the cost! You can make a nice gift basket for as little as $10… or you can get as creative and extravagant as your budget will allow. Plus, when you make your own gift basket, it’s a much more personal gift….and you always know the recipient will be happy with it because you only fill it with things they are known to like and enjoy!

A gift basket van be created for any occasion imaginable – birthdays, holidays, anniversaries or just because”. You can create a basket to express appreciation for someones thoughtfulness or to cheer someone during an illness. There are so many possibilities! I am including a relatively short list of the many different ideas that are possible, And as you get into putting baskets together, I guarantee you will get more and more idea with each one! And remember – you don’t need to follow my instructions to the letter, just use them as a guideline and customize your gift basket according to the likes of the person you are giving it to.

Use your imagination…. and have fun!!!

1. Choosing your basket: The first thing you will need to do is to find a suitable basket. You may even have one lying around your house that you can use! Or you can buy baskets in lots of different stores – from Pier1 to Walmart. Personally – I look for baskets in thrift stores and definitely at garage sales.Choose a medium to large-sized basket, either with or without a handle. Just make sure it will be big enough to hold all items you are planning to put in it, but not so large that you will be left with a lot of empty spaces in it once all items are put in. You also need to make sure that it is sturdy enough to hold the weight of the items you will be putting into it. Or…. consider other possibilities, because who says that it has to be a basket? You could also use any of the following items instead of a basket. These ideas could also go with the theme of your gift basket:

• A large sturdy shoebox decorated with fabric inside and out
• An antique lunch box made of tin or a plastic lunch box
• A gallon ice cream bucket decorated with fabric, ribbons or lace
• A serving tray that you buy and decorate yourself
• A terra cotta pot
• A large pasta bowl or colander
• A crock pot
• A large picnic basket
• A large salad bowl or casserole dish
• A cowboy hat
• A laundry basket
• A tackle box
• A large wok
• A cookie jar

or dab blotches of different coloured acrylic paints on the basket with a sponge. You can also paint designs, pictures or words on the basket with a paintbrush. Or you can glue silk flowers, small figures or pieces of fabric to the sides… Be creative!

2. Adding the filler: Fill the basket with wadded packing paper (that’s the thick white or tan coloured paper that mail order firms use to fill spaces between your merchandise and the box. Press the paper down firmly to fill three-quarters of the basket, leaving one-quarter from the top empty for your filler and gift items. Add your filler inside the basket on top of the paper. Here are a few ideas you can use for filler:

• Coloured cellophane grass
• Crumpled tissue paper
• Shredded coloured paper
• Tinsel or garland
• Straw
• Raffia – (straw-like twine)
• Spanish moss
• Pieces of plain or printed fabric
• Towels, placemats or napkins

There are also all kinds of any types of filler and shred that you can buy at craft stores. Choose the type of filler that enhances the colours and theme of your basket the best. If you will be adding a piece of fabric, a placemat, napkin or a towel as one of the gifts, consider draping one of the pointed ends over the rim, down the basket’s front in a triangular shape, and then folding the rest on the basket’s bottom before you insert the paper. This styling creates an attractive display in front of the basket.

3. Adding the gifts: Now it’s time to add gifts to your basket. Taller gifts should be placed in the back, with shorter items up front. This allows the recipient to easily see everything in the basket. Starting from the back, decide where the first item will be placed. Use your fingertips to make an opening in the filler large enough for the item to be inserted. Your fingers should expose the packing paper below, because the item will sit on top of the filler. Put the item in place, slightly lifting the filler around the item, so that it resets about one inch around the bottom of each gift. The filler acts as support to hold each items upright. Repeat this technique until everything is in place.

4. Enhancements: After you have placed your filler in teh basket and added all the items to it, you may still have some small empty spaces that look like they need something. Here are a few ideas of small items you can use as enhancements to fill any empty spaces in your basket.

• Silk flowers
• small jars of jelly, jams or preserves
• Fruit – apples, oranges, tangerines, etc.
• Small bottles of cologne or perfume
• Small decorative soaps in various shapes
• Small toys or figurines (for kid’s baskets)
• small wrapped candies

5. Wrapping your basket: Once you have decorated and filled your basket, then it is time to wrap it in cellophane. An easy way to do this is to use a basket bag,which can be purchased from a craft or a discount store. These bags are made of clear plastic and some are decorated with various designs. The two rectangular panels which create the bag are fused together on three sides, leaving the top open for easy basket insertion. Bring the basket down into the bag and close it at the top with a bow. The two ribbons attached to the bow should be tied snugly above  the basket handle or tallest item. If the bag is wider that the basket, fold each side lengthwise in half-inch folds until the bag is flush with the basket, then tape in place. You can also wrap your basket using a piece of regular clear or coloured cellophane or homemade wrapping paper. Cut a large piece of your wrapping materials, put your basket in the middle and pull the sides up. Tie the top with festive ribbons or raffia. Be sure to add a pretty bow to top it off. Of course, you don’t have to wrap your basket if you don’t want to…that is your choice! Many baskets, decorative boxes and tins can usually stand alone without wrapping. Some :baskets"- like tote bags, backpacks, shopping bags. etc. are actually best left unwrapped. Instead, finish them with a colourful bows and ribbons. You can also attach any of the following items as extra decorations for the outside of your wrapped ot unwrapped gift basket:

• Small holiday ornaments
• Small toys
• Silk or dried flowers
• Candy canes
• Small pinecones
• Springs of holly, mistletoe or other greenery
• Small items or figurines that go with the theme of your basket
• A homemade gift tag

That’s it! Your basket is now complete and ready to give to someone very special!