bday gift 001 1 2How fabulous is this gift basket?! ( I am thrilled to say that this was a birthday present I received yesterday from a very good and kind friend, who is also one savvy shopper!)
I wanted to share this so that you can see that it doesn’t have to take a lot of money to create an amazing presentation when gift giving. The simple rules to follow are:
1. Go with a color/pattern scheme. If you know the friend’s kitchen is black and white toile with Robins egg blue accents (and mine is!) use those colors.
2. Use a container that makes a statement. Instead of a typical basket (although there is nothing wrong with baskets…) use a canvas container, like my friend did (these are usually over near the office supply items in HomeGoods) a vintage locker basket, a fabulous old weathered fruit crate…whatever the recipients taste dictates.
3. Fill in the gaps of the container with fanned and fluffed color coordinated tissue. This inexpensive addition really ties things all together!
A few other good tips…
bday gift 007When giving a picture frame, why not replace the paper inside the frame with a wonderful quote instead? It’s easily printed on your computer, and it makes the frame a much more personal gift! Little handmade additions to the basket add a big impact for pennies. bday gift 003If you enlarge the photo you’ll see that my sweet friend glittered up some little pinecones for added glitz, and I just love that!

20 Comments

1. Happy Birthday, Tracy. You are blessed with kind and creative friends. What a lovely basket.

by Joan — 12/8/08 at 2:04 pm #

2. Happy Birthday! Wow, it’s such a stunning presentation when everything isn’t wrapped! I’ll have to remember that! I love the idea of adding a quote to a frame too!

by cindy~my romantic home — 12/8/08 at 2:42 pm #

3. OOH! I love this canvas basket!! So pretty! I really wish I had a TJ Maxx or Homegoods to shop in. I really love this! Thanks for sharing it, Tracey!

by Katherine M — 12/8/08 at 2:56 pm #

4. …as always, Tracey…super ideas!…thanks for sharing with all of us “girlfriends”…you are sooo right about the change-out in the picture frame paper!….I’ve done that before and friend’s always love it :)

by Kristen — 12/8/08 at 5:05 pm #

5. I’m making up a couple of gift baskets this year myself. Love the box idea. As soon as it stops snowing I’m on my way to Homegoods. Mimi

by Mimi — 12/8/08 at 6:14 pm #

6. What a great gift! It turned out great!

by Hroberts — 12/8/08 at 6:24 pm #

7. Pretty, pretty, pretty! You have TWO treasures, my dear. The first is this gorgeous gift. The most important is your thoughtful friend!

by martha — 12/8/08 at 8:04 pm #

8. Happy Birthday….Great post, loved the suggestions!

by Nancy from Richmond, Virginia — 12/8/08 at 9:06 pm #

9. Great ideas!! And Happy birthday!

Suzanne

by suzanne — 12/8/08 at 10:16 pm #

10. Hi,
I recently move to the States and shopped to TJ Max since. I love the store!
Thank you for the tips on the post, I’m creating something similar for Christmas for my mother in law and you gave me few extra ideas. I will post a picture of it on my blog after the holidays.

Sara

by Sara — 12/8/08 at 10:22 pm #

11. The basket is absolutely gorgeous! I love your post, it gives me some isnpiration to create my own gift basket! :) Vanessa

by Vanessa G. — 12/8/08 at 10:51 pm #

12. You’re a lucky girl to have such a great friend! Happy Birthday :)

by Tamara — 12/9/08 at 3:13 am #

13. Happy birthday to you! What a lovely gift… the box alone would thrill me! I have started asking for Home Goods gift cards for my birthday and other days people need a little “idea” help.

by Sinta — 12/9/08 at 12:23 pm #

14. Happy Birthday, never thought of the message in a frame before, kind gesture. I want to make my own box of goodies for my sister. very moving ideas. thanks

by LuLu — 12/9/08 at 7:22 pm #

15. i wish i got this!

by Crystal — 12/15/08 at 8:46 am #

16. any suggestions for those yankee swaps with a dollar limit of only $10-.

by cheryl — 12/16/08 at 6:56 pm #

17. Happy to You….AND you have helped me by giving me an idea for
my very elderly mother’s Chrismas gift! She is in the hospital, and
this would be tidy, and yet a good place for her to put some of her other things.

by Donna — 12/16/08 at 11:25 pm #

18. Thanks for sharing this lovely and creative gift idea!

by treegee — 12/17/08 at 8:46 am #

19. Ideas for $10 or under….Off the top of my head, how about candles, soaps, a book, an assorted set of paper napkins and plates, slippers, a calendar, Christmas ornaments…..think of what YOU’D like to receive, and then go shop!
Tracey

by Tracey — 12/18/08 at 2:43 am #

20. How beautiful and inspiring. Enjoy your special gift from your creative friend.

Merry Christmas!

by Nettie — 12/18/08 at 8:21 pm #

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