Apple Slice Gift Basket

• 2 yard of Wired Ribbon that is about 2 1/2" wide
• 24 Dried Apple Slices
• Assorted Gift Items and Knick Knacks
• Brown Basket with preferably 5" radius
• Hot Glue/Gun

• Cut the apples in ¼ inch slices and dip them in lemon juice so that they do not discolor.
• Place them on paper towel lined dish and cover with more paper towels.
• Line a glass pie pan with 4 layers of paper towels and then microwave it at half the power for about three minutes.
• Turn the fruit over to drier areas of paper towels and again microwave it at half the power for 2 minutes.
• Let it air dry by keeping these apple slices on a glass plate lined with paper towels and keep it in a warm, dry place.
• To quicken the process of drying and better color of the slices, change the paper towels several times in a day.
• Shape two beautiful bows from the ribbon and keep them aside.
• Glue the leftover ribbon to the rim of the basket.
• You may make curves and small loops as you glue down the ribbon to the rim of the basket to make it look more beautiful.
• Add the bows to the base of each handle of the basket or on either sides of the handle of the basket.
• Add one apple slice to the center of each bow using the glue and stick other slices around the rim of the basket in clusters of two or three.
• Stuff the bottom of the basket with pretty paper or fabric.
• Fill the basket with appropriate goodies depending on whom you are making the gift basket for.
• For teachers, you can put in pens, small diaries etc while for baby showers, you can put in toys, baby-grooming set and even a box of baby diapers or wipers.