How to Put Together a Gift Bouquet or Box, at Any Budget

When I was young, I never understood why my parents preferred that I make them gifts instead of simply buying things for them around the holidays. It was only until I was older that I realized just how special it is to receive something that’s been handmade with love. Barrett Prendergast of Valleybrink Road has shared her tips on floral arranging (here and here), but her talent goes beyond flowers and into creating gorgeous gift boxes with one-of-a-kind items and, of course, a floral touch. I stopped by her light-filled home a few weeks ago to learn some of her tips for DIYing last-minute gift boxes and bouquets, at $25, $50, and $100+. Read on for her tips:

You can never go wrong with flowers, and there are plenty of affordable options for building a beautiful bouquet under $25. If you’re in L.A., Barrett recommends the Downtown Flower Mart, which is open to the public at 8 A.M. Once you have your blooms, fill your base with sturdy greens, then lay an assortment of colorful flowers on top, in the same color scheme. “It makes the arrangement look full and substantial,” she says. To keep the flowers fresh longer, wrap the ends of the stems in a damp paper towel, then secure a plastic bag over them with a rubber band (a sandwich baggie or small zipper bag works great here). To hide the plastic bag, fold a little kraft paper over, then wrap the entire thing in burlap for a softer, layered look.

Items:
Plastic baggie
Rubber band
Kraft paper
Burlap

Flowers:
Dahlias
Lisianthus
Wax Flowers
Tulips
Italian Ruscus Greenery
Italian Pittosporum Greenery

To create a chic gift basket, start with a simple wooden box (available on Amazon or at a craft store like Michael’s). In one corner, add a small glass or mason jar with water, add crinkle paper as base and then fill it with your favorite sweets. “I like to go to local shops to find beautifully packaged and unique products like chocolate bars, caramels, and cookies,” Barrett said. If you’re gifting it within a few days, you could even add some homemade items! But don’t over-do it. For a small box, three to four items is enough. Finally, add some fresh flowers, then a neutral ribbon for a pretty touch that won’t upstage the items in the box.

Items:
Wooden crate
Ribbon (similar here)
Mason jar
Paper packing ribbons
Ritual Chocolate in 75%
McCrea’s Caramels in ‘Classic Vanilla’
Bahen & Co. Chocolate in ‘Chilli & Salt’
Alma Chocolates’ ‘The Pistachio Toffee Mini Bar’

Flowers:
Dahlias
Lisianthuss
Tulips
Maple Leaves
Italian Ruscus Greenery

“If you really want to ‘wow’ someone,” Barrett said, “Go for the spa box!” Inspired by the box offered on her site, she suggests starting with the same base as your sweets box, then fill it with your favorite spa and beauty products, like a wonderful soak or scrub, natural sponge (available for around $10 on Amazon!), a body lotion, and bar of soap.