Christmas Gift Baskets: A Fun and Inexpensive Gift Giving Idea

Sometimes giving gifts is tough especially gifts for those people that have everything. Gift baskets are one idea that might be a good solution. The fun thing about gift baskets is that they are fun to make and fun to get. It is much more fun to have a dozen little gifts rather than just one big gift that you may or may not use.

To make gift baskets could take you the whole year. If you decide a year ahead of time, this is a good way to do it. After Christmas is over there are many mega sales that are out there for you to try. Buy up all the Christmas themed stuff that you think would work well in gift baskets. About January 15^th everything is almost sold but this is the time to get things for really cheap.

The dollar store is a great resource for buying the actual baskets. They have various straw and plastic baskets that work really well. Sometimes you can use a laundry basket or some sort of plastic container that can be used after the gift giving is over. It also depends on what you are putting in the basket. Sometimes you need a container that is much larger than a traditional basket and a stroll through the plastic department at the local dollar store will provide you with nice alternatives.

Speaking of the dollar store, I would check them out over the year for good candles and toiletries that could be used in your gift baskets. Many of theses items at the dollar store are just cheapie junk, but if you are a good shopper you can really find some good stuff. If you do find a good item for the baskets, buy up a bunch of what you find and save to put together with other goodies that you find.

This time of year at the dollar store, or similar stores, you will find "gift basket bags". These are usually made of clear holiday colored cellophane and these are great to use to wrap up your completed basket. These generally come 2 to a package so get quite of few of these.

Some of the baskets you can make will appeal to a special interest that the person may have. You can make a holiday cooking basket and fill it with Christmas dishtowels, potholders, and an apron. You might put in a couple of cute Christmas coffee mugs and maybe a sample size package of nice coffee and some homemade cookies or biscotti.

Perhaps you can add a fancy cake mix or some spices you know your cook will use. You can make herbed cooking oils and vinegars to throw into the basket. You can find some excellent recipes for these online. At our Farmers Market during the summer there is a local company that makes salt free dip mixes that are to die for. Any and all of these items will work.

For the workingwoman that has no time to herself, you can make a spa gift basket. In this you can put a pretty washcloth. Choose some really scrumptious bath oils, shower gels, lotions, and perhaps a little scented spray to wear. Add some candles and a special blend of tea with a few of their favorite magazines thrown in. Eating chocolate is also a very special thing to include so anything that is chocolate will relax a woman and satisfy her need to be pampered. You might want to make a special CD with all this special person's favorite musical numbers.

You can make sports baskets, car care baskets, and pet baskets. For men that fish you can make up fishing baskets. Special lures, fishing magazines, a fishing hat and anything else you think your guy might need.

For kids gift baskets are easy. You just need to find all those Christmas themed toys and put them up until Christmas arrives. Candy and toys make a kid's basket complete. You may want to personalize these with gender specific items, like cars for the boys and dolls for the girls.

For any and all of your baskets you can put in personal touches. Making candy, cookies, and other goodies will always be a hit. If you make candles bath oils, bath salts, or soap these make great gifts as well. You can also get the kids involved make the card or gift tags that go along with the basket. This will help to channel some of that energy they have before the holidays.

A good simple recipe for bath salts is equal parts Epsom salts and baking soda with a scented oil added for scent and a little food coloring to spice up the look of the salts. Put all the dry ingredients in a jar and put in drops of the scented oil and food coloring. Close lid tightly over the jar and turn the jar shaking up the ingredients and spreading the coloring and scent throughout the mixture. Put in a pretty container and throw it in your basket.

One thing you might want to do for those special individuals in you life, is to actually put a wrapped gift or 2 in the basket. Also gift certificates work really well in gift baskets as well as favorite magazines or favorite CD's. While this may take a little time for you to put together it is well worth the effort because a snazzy gift basket is always fun to get