Bountiful Baskets: Creating Perfect Gifts for Any Occasion [Paperback]

Sara Toliver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2006

To make a beautiful gift basket, go to the expert. Sara Toliver owns The White Fig, a popular gift basket company, and she’s passing on all her tricks of the trade. Not only does this collection include 80 amazing ideas for any holiday, celebration, or theme, but there are also extensive pointers on techniques and numerous budget-friendly tips. Bright, cheerful photographs showcase baskets for babies and children, and for men and women. Absolutely every aspect of putting together the basket is covered, from choosing a container, selecting the filler, and arranging the items inside to final touches, such as shrink-wrapping and ribbon-tying. Those who want to take the craft further will appreciate the final section on starting a gift basket business.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling/Chapelle (August 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402721323
• ISBN-13: 978-1402721328
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Add crafty touches to store-bought gifts!, May 11, 2006

By 

[e-mail] "www.allcrafts.net" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bountiful Baskets: Creating Perfect Gifts for Any Occasion (Hardcover)

When I first saw this book, I was skeptical. I've put together a few gift baskets, I thought to myself. But when I looked through the photos and read through the Basket Basics, I was hooked. The basket ideas are clever and charming. Most of her 'baskets' are not baskets at all: boxes, canisters, laundry baskets, buckets, a bread box and more! In fact, the projects are not traditional directions. This book is a collection of ideas and tips organized by occasion and recipient, punctuated with great photos. Each photo has a paragraph for a caption, explaining the gift basket shown and extra tips.

Let's go back to the beginning. The basics section starts with planning, brainstorming, and a list of basket theme ideas to get you started. Then onto the action: choosing a container and filling it. Several methods for creating the full, professional look are illustrated. The finished basket is covered in netting, cellophane or shrink wrap. Several pages show different embellishments, bows, and tags to complete your gorgeous gift basket.

The Basket Gallery is full of projects. It is divided into several sections: Gourmet, Spa, Feminine, Masculine, Baby & Child, Family, All Occasion, Professional, Get Well and Unique Baskets. After you've been inspired by the baskets, you will be ready to check out "Basket Business," the nuts and bolts of planning and running a professional gift basket business. There are several good tips on pricing and appealing to customers.

Gift baskets are a fun way to express your creativity in gift-giving. Now is a great time to start gathering items and ideas for the upcoming holidays.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes me want to take a trip to Utah..., November 10, 2006

By 

mishquilt "Embracing Ordinary" (northeast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bountiful Baskets: Creating Perfect Gifts for Any Occasion (Hardcover)

If you are interested in constructing beautiful gift baskets with attention to both form and function, then clearly, this book is a must have. The author's approach to gift selection is both practical and savvy. She encourages the reader to personalize every basket by keeping in mind the recipients likes, dislikes and lifestyle. Her baskets are classy, unique and smart.
If you're interested in the business end of the gift basket industry (and who wouldn't be after viewing her storefront - at the back of the book), she offers great tips and advice on getting started. More importantly, she offers a short quiz for readers who might be "on the fence" about self-employment" and she candidly explains that it is not a choice for everyone.
All in all, I would have to rate this, by far, my favorite book in this genre. I own 7 books related to gift baksets. This is the one that had me drooling from the first flip of the pages. I'm not sure the author ever sleeps (read her bio). Her style is impeccable, right down to her tags and letterhead.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Wonderful Ideas!, November 3, 2006

By 

LisaE. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bountiful Baskets: Creating Perfect Gifts for Any Occasion (Hardcover)

I love this book! Lots of photos to show how to put baskets together along with the suggestions of what to put in it. I have been inspired by many of the ideas it offers and have used it already in gift giving. With the holidays approaching I know I'll use it many times.