The Art of Gift Wrapping: 50 Innovative Ideas Using Organic, Unique, and Uncommon Materials

From organic and eco-friendly wraps to lush and romantic presentations, the more than 50 projects and ideas contained in The Art of Gift Wrapping will remind you that it is as much fun to wrap as it is to receive.

Gift wrap and paper expert Wanda Wen knows what it means to give thoughtfully wrapped presents—a talent that has made her and her store, Soolip, a favorite among celebrities and tastemakers. With her expert tips and techniques—and creative vision—she invites you to use natural, luxurious, and everyday materials to perfectly dress any present for its occasion. Whether nestling your gift in a bed of all-natural moss, creating custom packing tape, cascading fresh flowers down a tower of boxes, or simply matching a festive paper with just the right ribbon tie—your thoughtful packages will leave lasting impressions long after the gifts have been opened.

About the Author

Wanda Wen is the founder and creative force behind Soolip, the Los Angeles paper and lifestyle boutique that is a favorite among Hollywood celebrities and tastemakers and corporate clients. Wen has successfully combined her passions for paper and nature with her background in fashion, launching the unique brand Soolip with multiple extensions and satellite businesses. Wen and Soolip have been featured in numerous publications, including Martha Stewart Weddings, Town & Country, Vogue, InStyle, Elegant Bride, Travel + Leisure, People, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Wen has also appeared on Today, HGTV, the Style Network, E!, and the Fine Living Channel. She is also an expert gift wrapper for Scotch brand and a judge for the annual Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest. Wen resides in Los Angeles with her three children, a dog, two birds, and a guinea pig.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft (April 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307408477
• ISBN-13: 978-0307408471
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches

Snazzy Jars: Glorious Gift Ideas

Marie Browning, author of Jazzy Jars, Really Jazzy Jars, and Jazzy Gift Baskets, is here with more dazzling techniques and projects to please the discerning crafter. And her ideas are snazzier than ever before! These great gift jars are painted and découpaged, ornamented with polymer clay, embellished with mosaics, covered with beads and charms, topped with decorative lids, or coated with resin. Memory jars feature a photo collage; others, fun for kids, have felt or foam creatures. Because an empty jar simply begs for a filling, there are also recipes for homemade mixes and other treats that store beautifully inside—including cocoa, soups, granola, and candy.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (February 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402731582
• ASIN: B0046LUS3S
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches

The Ultimate Guide to Great Gift Ideas

The Ultimate Guide to Great Gift Ideas is geared toward ordinary men and women who simply need a quick, practical, and reasonably priced solution to that timeless lament: I have no idea what to get this person! The structure of this pocket guide is intentionally simple and straightforward. The table of contents presents an alphabetical list of occasions (e.g., Christmas), hobbyists (e.g., Golf Enthusiast), and personalities (e.g., Dog Lover). When you turn to the desired page, there is an alphabetical list of practical gift ideas, plus a list of fun gifts, gift-basket filler ideas, and free or low-cost gift ideas for that person or occasion - something that also sets this book apart from other gift books on the market.

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Hearts Publishing; 1ST edition (2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615300553
• ISBN-13: 978-0615300559
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.5 x 0.7 inches

The Gift Basket Design Book, 2nd Edition: Everything You Need to Know to Create Beautiful, Professional-Looking Gift Baskets for All Occasions

Gift baskets are an ideal small-scale business to start and run from home.This practical volume shows you how to convert creative ideas into professional-looking baskets to form the basis of your new business."The Gift Basket Design Book" reveals basket-building and design techniques that yield expert results. Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and photos show you exactly how to craft delightful gift baskets for all occasions.

Create beautiful gift baskets for:
Birthdays

Holidays

Thank-You
Get Well

Good Luck
Congratulations

New Baby
Spa Treatment

Weddings
Housewarming 

Bereavement and much more

 

Whether you want to start a small business or make gift baskets for fun, The Gift Basket Design Book reveals everything you need to know to transform your ideas into beautiful creations.

Shirley George Frazier, a successful gift basket entrepreneur, shares basket-building and design techniques that yield expert results. Her easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and photos show you exactly how to craft delightful gift baskets for all occasions, from holidays to life’s milestones to those everyday pick-me-ups.

Inside you’ll find:

• Advice about supplies, gifts, and prepackaged food items
• The best ways to assemble and enhance your creations
• The most effective wrapping techniques
• Unique container ideas, including boxes, bags, teacups, and more
• Color photos of more than thirty completed bas 
• A special chapter showcasing four professional designers   and their most successful gift basket designs

About the Author
Shirley George Frazier, a gift and gourmet consultant, writes for trade publications, conducts workshops, and speaks at trade shows and conferences throughout the country. She lives in Paterson, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 2nd edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762744367
• ISBN-13: 978-0762744367
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches

Paper: Beautiful Ideas for Gifts and Home Decorations

From notecards to albums, lampshades to gift tags, Paper is full of imaginative ideas that will open your eyes to the possibilities of this adaptable material. The book celebrates paper in all its forms, from tissue to nubbled cloth paper, and contains a wealth of beautiful decorative items for your to create. From traditional ideas--cards, gift wrap, and boxes--to bags, lampshades, and even hats, it will surprise and delight you with a fresh look at one of the world's oldest manufactured materials.

About the Author

Claire Richardson is a former design editor of Country Homes & Interiors and homes editor of Wedding and Home. She now works as a freelance stylist and photographers for numerous magazines and large companies.
Polly Wreford is a well known lifestyle and interiors photographer whose work appears in a variety of prestigious magazines and publications, including Homes & Gardens and Red. Other books she has photographed include Easy Flowers and The Relaxed Home (both Ryland Peters & Small, Inc.).

Product Details

• Paperback: 111 pages
• Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841726591
• ASIN: B0048EL9ZE

The Perfect Basket: How to Make a Fabulous Gift Basket for Any Occasion

Here's the perfect solution for those to strive to find the perfect gift! This stylish and user-friendly guide offers baskets for every occasion, with options to fit anyone's budget. Gorgeous four-color photographs offer inspiration and guidelines on choosing the proper container, selecting the right-sized items, and decorating the finished basket make this an easy and fun gift idea that anyone can embrace. Ideas range from "Off to College," "Baby's Here," "Welcome to the Neighborhood," "Book Lover's," "Martini Basket," and many, many more. A special section of food-themed baskets with homemade mixes for cookies or bread or seasonings will appeal especially to those who like to do kitchen crafts. In short, The Perfect Basket gives both seasoned and novice gift-givers everything you need to create spectacular thematic gifts for everyone on your list!

About the Author

Diane Phillips is the author of several cookbooks, including The Soup Mix Gourmet and The Perfect Mix. She teaches at cooking schools around the country, and her popular "do-ahead" holiday menu classes are usually sold out. Diane has another new book out this fall called Perfect Party Food: All the Recipes and Tips You Need For Stress-Free Entertaining, from the Diva of Do-Ahead.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press (September 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558322949
• ISBN-13: 978-1558322943
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches

Gift Wrapping with Textiles: Stylish Ideas from Japan

Chizuko Morita has tapped into the traditional Japanese art of wrapping with cloth to create startling new ideas for gift-giving. In a minute or two—or sometimes seconds—a swatch of cloth can be fashioned into a stylish wrap that shows you really care. The ideas in this volume range from wrapping CDs to books, a box of chocolates to a bottle of wine, a poster to a soccer ball. Square, oblong, oval, spherical, and tubular—almost any shape can be decorated in a unique fashion. And since the wraps rely on only three knots, they are nearly foolproof. So much grace achieved with so little effort! Ms. Morita's ideas have their roots in the Japanese furoshiki, an elegant cloth traditionally used for wrapping and carrying bundles. Wishing to adapt the centuries-old practices to today's lifestyle, she devised a number of ingenious wrapping ideas, each illustrated with step-by-step photographs—and each simple, fascinating, and fun! INCLUDES:
* Stunningly original wrapping ideas
* Gift-wraps for wine, books, CDs, pictures, posters, balls, and boxed items of all sizes
* Based on techniques that have their roots in centuries-old Japanese traditions of wrapping for gift-giving also
* Additional ideas to freshen up everyday items such as pillows, baskets, and more
* New thoughts for decorating the breakfast and dinner table
* Add an elegant touch to flowerpots, planters, or a bouquet of flowers
* Make an instant magazine "rack" or knapsack

About the Author

CHIZUKO MORITA has created her own style of wrapping with textiles based on the practices surrounding the Japanese furoshiki, a traditional carrying cloth. She has taught her techniques to Americans and Europeans in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Boston, and appears regularly on Japan's public television channel, NHK. This is her seventh book on wrapping, and her first in English. SHUICHI YAMAGATA is a photographer based in Kyoto. He specializes in shooting kimono, jewelry, cooking, Japanese fashion, and other items.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (February 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770027362
• ISBN-13: 978-4770027368
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches

Wrap It Up: 100s of Fast, Fun, and Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas

Wrap It Up offers hundreds of clever and inviting ideas to give your presents an extra flourish that loved ones are sure to appreciate. Using both traditional wrapping paper and ribbons, combined with some simple trims found in craft or stationery stores or unusual materials like maps, posters, cellophane, or newspaper, there is a wide range of inviting schemes for all occasions. With inspired color combinations and clever use of materials now you can bring a decorative touch to even the simplest package.
Instead of using ribbons for bows, try reusing materials found around the home like twine, buttons, decorative buckles, scarves, or even dog collars. Anything can be used as an unexpected decoration. There are also traditional ribbon-wrapped and flower-bedecked packages, but done in a unique manner with ideas that you don’t see elsewhere, like threading buttons through the ribbons before tying them around the packages, or wrapping a strip of torn newspaper around the middle of the package, under an elegantly tied bow, for an interesting and striking effect. With Wrap it Up you can turn even the most ordinary gifts into something special: a unique present for someone you care about.

About the Author

ESPEN MARKUSSEN  is the head of his own design firm, E-Design in Norway, as well as co-owner of an art and hobby supply store for many years. Espen studied graphic design and marketing and enjoys working creatively with his hands.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Original edition (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312574827
• ISBN-13: 978-0312574826
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches

How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business, 4th (Home-Based Business Series)

Crucial advice on how to design, promote, and sell gift baskets from a home-based operation. Tips on managing finances, beating the competition, organizing work spaces, and avoiding common pitfalls, along with helpful worksheets, will help turn an amateur into a successful entrepreneur.

Have you dreamed of starting your own gift basket business? Have you been hesitant to put your plans into action? This comprehensive book contains all the necessary tools and success strategies you need to launch and grow your own business.
Author Shirley George Frazier, a successful home-based gift basket entrepreneur, shares her experience and down-to-earth advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving business. She will show you how to develop a business plan, estimate start-up costs, select inventory, price services, and stay profitable. From painless record keeping to helpful hints on designs and savvy marketing techniques, her step-by-step methods are realistic, innovative, and easy to understand.
Whether you want to earn your living making gift baskets for the general public or specializing in custom creations for corporate clients, this guide will put you on the path to building your own home-based business.

Learn All About :

• What It Takes to Be a Gift Basket Professional
• Setting Pricing Policies
• Getting Paid
• Home Office and Workspace Setup
• Taking Your Business Online
• Setting Up a Realistic Schedule
• Appealing to the Ideal Market
• Making Corporate Contacts

 Use these special features and workbook pages:

• Sample Business Plan
• Customer Profile Form
• Buying Chart for Supplies
• Sample Purchase Order
• Expense Analysis Worksheet
• Sample Invoice Sheet
• Extensive Resource Listing
• Delivery Schedule Form

About the Author

Shirley George Frazier is president of Sweet Survival, gift and gourmet specialists providing a broad range of services to home-based professionals, specialty shops, and department stores, including training industry professionals and others who need guidance to start and grow their business to full potential. Shirley writes for trade publications, conducts business seminars and workshops, has appeared on numerous television and cable programs, speaks at trade shows and conferences throughout the country, and is an associate member of the Gift Basket Professional Network.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 4th edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762741775
• ISBN-13: 978-0762741779
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches

Best Gift Ideas for Women: Perfect Gifts for Any Special Occasion Including Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, Engagement, Christmas, Graduation, Valentine Day, Mother’s Day, Holiday and Business.

Best Gift Ideas For Women...
Perfect Gifts Ideas For Any Special Occasion Including Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day And More.
This book will tell you not only what the best gifts are to give to any woman on any occasion, but also what you should never give a woman as a gift. Things that most guys will think make a great gift are not appreciated by women.
The book is based on a survey of over 1,000 women and will tell you exactly what a woman wants to receive as a gift, what you should never give to a woman and the basic rules you should follow when shopping for a new gift. Not only will you find many great gift ideas inside, but you will also learn how to find unique gifts on your own.
The tips and ideas inside this book can be used to find the best gifts for any woman (your lover, wife, sister, mother, work colleague, etc) for any occasion (including birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's, Mother's Day, weddings, engagements, anniversaries and many others).
This is a must-have book for any man in the world. Don't take chances when you buy the next gift, read this guide first to make sure she will never forgot it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Psylon Press (May 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098660044X
• ISBN-13: 978-0986600449
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.3 inches

Creative and Thoughtful Gift Giving: Easy Ideas for Making Gifts Special

Creative and Thoughtful Gift Giving: Easy Ideas for Making Gifts Special by Leah Ingram is filled with ideas for special yet easy-to-do gift presentations that show the recipients just how much you care about them.
Whether you're giving a present for Mother's Day, Christmas, a child's birthday, an anniversary, or any day, you'll find inspiration and practical how-to advice in these pages. With beautiful photographs illustrating ways to package, wrap, decorate, and present gifts, this book is a contemporary guide to great giving. Inside, you'll find:

• Ways to tailor packages to women, men, and kids.
  
• Fun and festive ideas for birthdays, weddings, bridal and baby showers, and a host of other occasions.
  
• Suggestions for packaging housewarming, hostess, congratulations, and "just because" gifts
• Creative new ways to put together goody bags, Easter baskets, bouquets, and gifts from the kitchen.
  
• Step-by-step directions for wrapping boxes and tying bows, plus tips for keeping gift-wrap supplies on hand.
  

Book Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
  
• Publisher: Fireside (December 11, 2007)
  
• Language: English
  
• ISBN-10: 1416563555
  
• ISBN-13: 978-1416563556
  
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
  
• List Price:$20.00
  
• Price: $17.10
  
• You Save: $2.90 (15%)
  

Gifted: 1,000 Gift Ideas for Everyone in Your Life

Gifted: 1,000 Gift Ideas for Everyone in Your Life by Sarah Weidman (Author)
From a self-proclaimed shopaholic, Gifted identifies more than 20 different personalities-from The Curious Kid and The Sporty Adventurer to The Big Boss, The Quirky Pal, and The Sweet 16-and provides specific and original ideas for each one. The first gift guide to organize gift recipients according to personality type, Gifted:

• Provides essential shopping info, such as where to buy each gift online and how much they cost.
• Inspires out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to gift ideas.
• Presents unique services, stores, and products.
• Introduces new and creative occasions for giftgiving, such as the Nouveau Divorcé, The Mommy-Any-Minute, and the Gay Hooray.

This is a great resource for Holiday shopping - or just general gift giving. It is very well organized and very creative. This has some great gift ideas for everyone on your list. It lists web addresses, phone numbers and great contacts. This is a great book full of ideas for gifts. It's also a huge source for where to purchase the items.
A fantastic resource for hundreds of "never knew that was out there" gift ideas. The book is well organized into 30 chapters with gift ideas for teens, parents, kids, bosses, gay, mom to be, etc. Each suggestion is followed by a short description and a web site address. Who knew you could buy a customized Rubik's cube with your photos on each side, Nesting dolls with your family painted on them, a tonsillectomy survivor kit, a bowling ball with Hello Kitty on it or a Jello shot kit. There are dozens of "...of the month" ideas and lots of resources for customized items. At best you'll find something that will leave everyone thinking you are a clever and imaginative gift giver. At worst you'll get a good laugh out of some of the ideas.
About the Author
Sarah Weidman has been Vice President of Development for Sony Pictures Television. At MTV, where she was Vice President of Development, she was involved in the creation, development, and production of such hit shows as The Osbournes, Making the Video, FM Nation, and I Want to be a VJ.
Book Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399532994
• ASIN: B000RWD44K
• Book Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• List Price: $13.95
• Amazon.com Price: $3.99
• You Save: $9.96 (71%)

Jazzy Jars: Glorious Gift Ideas

Jazzy Jars: Glorious Gift Ideas by Marie Browning (Author)
This is an excellent work for replicating decorative, recycled, plastic and other types of jars. The author describes how to utilize air-dry enamel paints, the surface preparation, basecoats and lid decoration. In addition, the use of acryllic paints is demonstrated for decorating lids. A strength of this work is that it is easy to read. In addition, the many diagrams depict the process of preparing jars in accordance with various decorating techniques of preparation and conditioning. Photos are terrific. The directions are detailed and easy to follow. Wonderfully, fabulous jars to create!!
Handmade gifts take a lot more thoughtful preparation than just fashioning the actual gift. After all, packaging, too, indicates a high level of care and special attention lavished on the present which is the entire focus of Canadian crafter Browning's latest book. First, the basics are introduced, including types of jars to use (old and new) and cleaning tips as well as instructions for different techniques, from painting and decoupage to polymer clay and resin coating. Then, more than 45 one-page patterns, complete with color photographs and directions, follow; most are fairly easy to complete. Of inordinate help, even more so than the jars, are the ideas for filling the packaged jar--like ingredients for a cake, along with the recipe, or a sewing kit sandwiched inside a decorated jar. A good source for those needing inspiration.
Book Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (October 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402708580
• ISBN-13: 978-1402708589
• Book Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• List Price: $14.95
• Amazon.com Price: $11.66
• You Save: $3.29 (22%)

Ultimate Gift Experiences (Infinite Ideas)

Ultimate Gift Experiences (Infinite Ideas) by Infinite Ideas (Author)

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Infinite Ideas Limited (October 27, 2006)
• ISBN-10: 1904902537
• ISBN-13: 978-1904902539
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• List Price: $30.71
• Price: $20.27
• You Save: $10.44 (34%)

Homespun Gifts from the Heart: More Than 200 Creative Ideas, 250 Gift Tags, & Easy Directions

Homespun Gifts from the Heart: More Than 200 Creative Ideas, 250 Gift Tags, & Easy Directions by Karen Ehman (Author), Kelly Hovermale (Author), Trish Smith (Author)
If you're tired of giving the same old-same old and want to give a gift with meaning and from the heart, this is it. The materials and instructions are easy. There is a great section on themed gift baskets. This book has lots of good ideas for thoughtful homemade gifts. Parents and grandparents will especially appreciate the time and love that goes into homemade gifts. This book is great because it doesn't just give you a zillion ideas. It also gives you the actual gift tag and any directions that you need to include. Now that's a package deal.
One woman looks frantically for a hostess gift while her daughter reminds her that, by the way, there's a gift exchange at school tomorrow--and isn't Aunt Sally's baby shower Saturday? Where can she find quick, inexpensive, yet distinctive gifts just right for each situation? Homespun Gifts from the Heart provides more than 200 simple, yet creative gift ideas-from easy Apple Spice Cake to fun recipes for sidewalk chalk and bubbles.
These unique, field-tested gifts are economical to make and just the right thing for every special person and occasion. Whether women are craft queens or glue-gun challenged, they'll find clear and easy directions to accompany every idea, along with illustrations and one hundred copy-ready gift tags to add the finishing touch.
Also included: inventive gift basket instructions; creative packaging tips; delicious gift recipes, including layered mixes; simple, inexpensive presents for all seasons; can't-miss, kid-pleasing gift ideas (and gifts kids can make too). Sprinkled throughout the text are Scripture verses, biblical examples of gift-giving, and the story of the greatest gift ever given. Homespun Gifts from the Heart is destined to become a staple reference book for busy women of all ages who will want a copy for personal use and several to give to their friends.
Book Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Revell (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800758706
• ISBN-13: 978-0800758707
• Book Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• List Price: $14.99
• Amazon.com Price: $11.69
• You Save: $3.30 (22%)