Clever & Frugal Gift & Basket Wrapping Ideas

<font size="3"><font color="seagreen">I thought some these ideas were unique and different! [img]images/smiley_icons/cloud9.gif[/img]

Angels &amp; Smiles~~~ Paula [img]images/smiley_icons/flowers.gif[/img]

[img]images/smiley_icons/1luvu.gif[/img] </font>



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<font color="seagreen">B A S K E T S</font>

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<font color="seagreen">Frugal Clear Wrap

Instead of buying expensive shrink wrap or clear cellophane paper from

craft stores, purchase the cheapest shrink film window insulating kit you

can find at a hardware store.

Purchase the patio door sized kit...

it's really big and does alot of baskets!

Just wrap the filled basket in the

shrink film and heat it with your hair dryer.</font>



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<font color="seagreen">A nice touch is to line the basket with a handmade doily.</font>



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<font color="seagreen">Basket Idea</font>



<font color="red">I've made these baskets as gifts for years and got

so many raves that they have become known as

&quot;the&quot; OOOOH and AAAAH Gift

from Mary Ann



Hand-write you favorite dessert recipe on a note card.

Place all the non-perishable recipe ingredients in a basket.

Add the already made dessert (wrapped and tied with a bow)



Variation: Add additional items, such as a wooden spoons,

measuring spoons and cups, apron, teapot/cup for one, etc.



On occassion, I've added an envelope with a grocery store

gift certificate to cover the cost of the perishable items,

such as eggs, milk, butter, etc.

for those families on a tight budget.</font>



<font color="seagreen">My Recipe Baskets this year are Decorated Holiday Cookies

and I will include various shaped cookie cutters along

with a holiday apron or holiday napkins tied with sprigs of Holly.</font>



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<font color="red">G I F T

W R A P P I N G</font>

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<font color="red">Simply Frugal

Turn a brown paper grocery bag inside out and decorate with ribbons, bows, or

raffia. Complete with candy cane, pine cones or another small token.

Insert tissue inside the bag to hide the printing.</font>



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<font color="red">Simply Natural

Glue a random pattern of dried leaves to textured or plain brown paper. Tie

with braided raffia. On top: loose strands of raffia tied in a bow. Finish

with an exotic dried fruit or faux berries.</font>



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<font color="red">Shimmering Stars

Cover dark purple paper with glassine and wrap your box. Tie a lush

satin ribbon in a bow, then slide through silver rickrack.

Mount a metallic star on wire and attach it to the ribbon.</font>



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<font color="red">Classic Elegance</font>

<font color="seagreen">Wrap a store-bought white-and-gold paper and glossy gold cord, then all

pleated paper instead of bows: Fold rectangles of paper accordion style,

open into fan shapes, then glue onto wrapped gift. Also crimp thin strips

of paper and tack on as streamers.

Small glass balls on wire steams twined around the cord

provide the final flourish.

Variation: Gold netting ribbon folds into a fan shape

easily for a beautiful touch.</font>



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<font color="seagreen">Magic and Mystery

Gather a large rectangle of stiff fabric around the box. Tie with a

contrasting silk ribbon. Just for fun, tuck two feathers under the ribbon.</font>



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<font color="seagreen">A Touch of Glamour</font>

<font color="red">Try an unusual combo: Wrap the gift box with red foil paper and a wide orange taffeta ribbon. Add swirls of chiffon ribbon and, on top, a red rose bow. For a dramatic contrast, glue on a dried leaf.</font>



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