Customer Reviews

Jazzy Gift Baskets: Making & Decorating Glorious Presents

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I would have to say this book, unlike so many others, offers great ideas for modifying ordinary containers to create beautiful, unique receptacles for gift items. The author seems to be a jack-of-all-trades as she takes gifting to a whole new level. She not only enhances the baskets with paint, embellishments, weaving, floral design...etc., but she makes some of the gift products herself. The reader is offered a plethora of information from whitewashing baskets to manufacturing homemade soaps to be used as basket fillers. Her baskets are lovely and inspiring. My disappointment lies in the roadblocks I encountered in my attempt to purchase some of the items needed to re-create her baskets. I searched far and wide for a product she calls "floral foam," which will serve as an adhesive for the application of dried or silk flowers to a basket without that messy glue-gun string effect. I believe the author resides in the UK and her resource list suggests that her products originate there. My web resources came up short and I have yet to put her directions to the test.
All in all, this book is a great purchase if you are looking for basket ideas. She certainly motivates the reader to take basket design one step further.

"Eye candy" was my initial impression as I slowly consumed this book. Like me, you'll be pleased with the visuals that encourage you to start making gift baskets right away.

Browning introduces you to the "tools of the trade" and then shares ideas for different touches to add to the basket before filling it with gifts and snacks. This is mainly a technique for hobbyists, as professional gift basket designers have little time to embellish each vessel. The bowmaking tutorial is also a plus.

There are many recipes found throughout the book. Most of us enjoy adding homemade items when making gift baskets for fun, rather than just adding products found through wholesale sources, the main focus when making them for profit.

You'll love the designs -- especially pamper, baby bath, and housewarming -- three regularly-requested themes in the gift basket industry.

Shirley George Frazier
www.GiftBasketBusiness.com
Author, The Gift Basket Design Book
The Gift Basket Design Book, 2nd: Everything You Need to Know to Create Beautiful, Professional-Looking Gift Baskets for All Occasions

Great Ideas for outstanding gifts. This book has wonderful gift presentations. Thanks

I really enjoyed this book, there we great ideas and beautiful photos of the completed basket. My only complaint (if I should call it that) is that there is so much homemade things. As A new business I am concerned about putting homemade items such as cookies, breads, soaps and bath stuff due to legal issues.

This book is easy to follow and gave this novice crafter some tips! Great ideas, which you can translate to your own ideas for gifts to put in the basket, really like this book!

I first saw this book at the public library and fell in love. The photos are wonderful and illustrate the process of creating beautiful gift baskets. Extensive directions are given and supply lists. I think that I could even replicate some of the gift baskets, and I am not that creative.