Wrapping a gift in a box is hard enough. But a basket? Wow! Oval, circular, hexagonal - it can become a real nightmare! But with a little cellophane and adhesive tape, you'll be surprised at capabilities you didn't even think you had!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparations
Step 1. Get everything you need
Once the basket is assembled, you will be ready for packing. The content may protrude a little from the edges, but not too much. And don't worry about the shape of the basket - any shape and size will do. Here's what you need:
- Assembled basket.
- Printed cellophane, cling film or wrapping paper (three times the size of the basket).
- Transparent Scotch.
- Scissors.
- Animated straps (such as the ties that are used to close freezing bags), cords, anything that can be used to hold the wrapping together.
- Flake.
- Packaging tape (optional).
Step 2. Unroll the cellophane on the table and place the basket in the middle
Spread it out on a flat surface and place the basket in the center considering all sides of the rectangle formed by the cellophane sheet. If the basket is very large, it may be necessary to put another sheet horizontally under the container.
Again, remember to put it right in the center
Step 3. Position the basket so that you have about 30 cm of cellophane in the front and back of the container
You'll probably only have a few inches on either side, and that's fine for now. But, as with the front and back, center the basket so that you have about 30 cm of cellophane on both sides as well. This way you will cover the basket well and you will have some cellophane left on top to make some frills.
- When you've got your measurements right, cut the cellophane (or cling film). If your basket is huge, remember to cut another cellophane sheet of similar size to cover the sides.
- Make sure all four sides are even. Line up the edges and adjust them if necessary.
Part 2 of 3: Perfect Packaging
Step 1. Lift the long sides of the cellophane and fold the short ones over
Take the front and back of the cellophane and lift them up, pressing them against the basket, so that they cover both sides and join the two parts on top of the basket. The sides of the wrapping will protrude out.
- Then take the wrapping that touches the table (or surface) in the center and bring it to the side of the basket. You will then have to the right and left some kind of protruding "wings". Do the same for both sides of the basket.
- Alternatively you can pull the sides down. Keep them tight - there will be a slight overlap in the center, where the front and back meet, but that's okay. At this point, you can attach them to the bottom of the basket using scotch tape.
Step 2. Fold the front edges to the back and the back edges to the front
Do you remember the two "flaps" on the sides of the basket? Fold them towards their bottom edge (as if you were wrapping a box) and insert them into the wrapping, starting from the rear flap. Then fold the front flaps over the back flaps, creating a kind of V shape on the sides.
Take the last parts you folded (probably the front flaps) and fix them with tape (transparent, double-sided or packaging); you will probably need pieces of about 5 cm
Step 3. Grab the basket through the top of the cellophane wrapping, and tighten it tightly
This is where you will start making your basket super decoration. By now the cellophane is well fixed on the sides and protrudes well above the basket. Right on top of the container, grab the cellophane and hold it together, as tight as possible.
With the packaging in one hand, use the other to "inflate" the cellophane a little on top. Open the edges well so that it protrudes symmetrically on all sides
Part 3 of 3: Adding the Bow and Final Touches
Step 1. Twist the animated strip around the neck of the basket
Place a strap where you are holding the basket raised with your hand (so on top, where the cellophane parts join). You can use whatever it takes to bind. And remember that you can always remove the lace once you have put on the bow.
Alternatively, you can use transparent scotch tape, which you will not be able to remove
Step 2. Tie the bow around the neck of the basket
No gift basket is complete without a bow. Twist it twice, forming a knot that won't untie. Make sure you place it in the front of the basket!
If you want, you can now remove the lanyard you used earlier. Now the bow will take care of keeping everything together
Step 3. Put a little scotch tape in the open points
Oval-shaped baskets will tend to form packages with particular angles. If you have protrusions towards the bottom of the basket (all of the circular ones will tend to form them), fold them down and tape them down. The tape should mostly be on the bottom of the basket, rather than on the sides.
- If necessary, inflate and adjust the wrapper a little. Your work is done! If you used cling film, it might be ready for shipping too.
- Do you want to put a note? The best place is to attach it to the bow ribbon. The wrap neck also works well.
