Now use bamboo skewers and tape to place “stakes” on back of each gift item. Make sure to leave about 1-1 ½” of stake hanging over edge of each item. This is how you will stake item into foam so that it won’t move around. Place taller gift items in back of basket, and smaller items toward front. Before you “stake” gift items, set them up in basket to see which items will fit best where. Design with an eye for an overall pleasing shape to your basket, distributing weight of gift items evenly. Tip: Layering items at different heights in container makes overall design more pleasing. To do this, simply leave more of bamboo skewer hanging over edge of particular items, so that they appear taller when you stake them into foam.

As an alternative to using bamboo skewer “stakes” to place your items, you can put pieces of wadded up newspaper in container, and then use your hands to smash down “pockets” in newspaper (or craft paper) where your items can be placed. You can then use GlueDots to hold items in place. You would put one or two GlueDots on each item, and then secure it to item next to or to container itself. Tip: make sure that you don’t put too many heavy items all in back of container, as it will make basket tip over.

After all of your items are secured in container, fill in empty spaces with shred (available at craft stores) or curling ribbon. Now you can really get creative! Use silk flowers, eucalyptus stems, or other items you bought as enhancement, and place them into foam around sides, and along back edge of basket. This is finishing touch for your beautiful gift!

Now it’s time to wrap basket in cellophane. Spread cellophane out on a flat surface, placing basket in center. To cut to desired length, hold up one end of cellophane, and other end that is still attached to roll, and bring them together above basket, making sure to leave at least 5-6” extra cellophane above top of basket. After you have cut cellophane from roll, bring both ends together above basket, then pull up other sides of cellophane so that all of it meets in middle above basket. Take a piece of curling ribbon, and tie gathered cellophane together with this. Now gather excess cellophane above curling ribbon into a bunch. Cut bunch straight across leaving 4-5” of cellophane above curling ribbon. Now you can fluff out remaining cellophane above curling ribbon. Finish basket with a beautiful hand-tied bow using wired ribbon!

Congratulations! You did it, and I bet it looks great!

Cross-stitch portraits graced walls of homes of privileged in early age. They brought timeless class and elegance not only to portraits but to entire home as well. Since cross-stitch, then, was a status symbol, only elites were privileged enough to have this kind of luxury. Instead of having their images in photograph or paintings, they chose to have it stitched - every detail and nuance of their image.

Cross-stitch portraits have touch of class and elegance because every detail is carefully considered. Every detail is painstakingly stitched to perfection that result is as good as real image. Every color and every feature is very carefully considered that gives portrait personal touch.

These days, class and elegance are seldom elements of a household since most of equipment in homes are technologically upgraded. Everything works in a click, a push or even a snap. Modernization has lost timeless grace and style somewhere along way. Now, everything has to be fast, efficient and advanced. It appears that people have less time to appreciate beauty and flair. Wouldn't it be nice for your home to be appreciated for its uniqueness, style and elegance?

Snapshots are tokens of memories that you treasure. And you would want to remember them for always. It is fun to look (and look and look again) at collection of pictures of most terrific events of your life. Sometimes you couldn't help yourself to trace face of your loved ones on pictures. Your touch bears longing and fondness for person or event.

In cross-stitch, every detail stitched means every account of unforgettable occasion is remembered and labored with. It's like stitching together intricate details of memories and feelings during those times when affair happened.

And when portrait is done, you'll know that all memories and feelings are captured in that magnificent and elegant portrait in cross-stitch. And you'll always be pleased and proud of it because of labor of love that was poured in it.

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