A few years ago, I selected a popular sleigh as the container for gift baskets ordered by a school principal for his staff members.

They absolutely loved the contents and presentation. I was glad to have decided how to wrap the awkward vessels.

The sleigh is shown at Ask The Gift Basket Expert where I explained how to wrap this type of container.

Traditional baskets can also be challenging to wrap, and what about choosing between cellophane, shrink wrap, and basket bags? There’s lots to consider, and best of all, you have numerous options to complete the design.

Here are other oddly-shaped baskets.

This tutorial on choosing between the three wrapping choices provides more insight on which one may be more manageable depending on the basket’s shape.

Cellophane was my first choice, as it probably was for you because it’s the most accessible and affordable material. Shrink wrap and basket bags also have their place. I’m certainly glad these selections exist. Aren’t you?

I’m still a fan of shrink wrapping a basket and adding an overlay of cellophane before it’s shipped. You might opt only for shrink wrap. I know many designers who do.

You’ll find more tips on applying cellophane at CellophaneWrapTips.com.

I appreciate all of you taking time from your schedules for this week-long look at baskets. What questions are still on your mind?

Links to this Week’s Series:
This Week – All About Baskets
Tall Baskets Add Height and Sales Value
Are Fabrics and Sprays on Your Baskets?
Where Do You Buy Baskets?

Shirley George Frazier

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Remember: Enter the gift basket business contest. Get details here.

Only one budding designer enrolled at one of my recent gift basket workshops. Did I cancel? Heavens, no!

I don’t penalize an excited new gift basket maker because others decided not to join in on the fun.

The two-hour session turned into a mini consultation. She and I made gift baskets from the bottom up, and I instructed her on each step. When finished, I put my design aside and coached her on shrink wrapping.

She handled the heat gun well, and her work was beautiful. She’s never made a gift basket but shrunk the wrap perfectly to a crystal clear finish.

Then I coached her on making a bow, but before adding it, I asked her if she wanted to add cellophane to the outside of her completed gift basket design.

More ideas about ribbon and bows are on this page.

Some of us shrink wrap our gift baskets first and then add printed cellophane outside of it as a second wrapping. The shrink wrap acts as insulation against shifting and breakage during transport, and the cellophane provides a soft, personalized appearance.

The new designer loved her work and declined the cellophane option. She then added the bow. I answered more of her questions before ending the workshop and watched her leave with the basket in hand and a big smile on her face.

Here’s where you’ll find more information on shrink wrapping and cellophane.

Is adding both cellophane and shrink wrap part of your gift basket making style, or is only one type of closure material added around your designs?

Shirley George Frazier

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Did you immediately invest in a shrink wrap machine when you started making gift baskets, or was cellophane your first choice?

Years ago, the price for a shrink wrap machine and accessories topped the budget. It was incredibly expensive, which is why shrink wrap was a product used solely by large firms.

Thankfully, the cost for these machines is now within most budgets, but before you invest in one, consider this:

You’ll find, as you vary your gift basket design style, that there are times when cellophane is the best option and when shrink wrap is mandatory.

There’s more information about both products and basket bags starting here.

Shirley George Frazier

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