Christmas Gift Baskets with a Theme

Why not make Christmas shopping creative and fun this year, by making a special Christmas gift basket with a theme? I enjoy making gift baskets for all occasions throughout the year. The recipients are truly pleased with their one of a kind gift.

The first thing you need is a basket. I collect baskets all year long from thrift stores, or other stores that may have a special sale. Baskets can be quite expensive, so look for bargains throughout the year. Determine how much you want to put in the basket, and select the size accordingly. I have found that all shapes and sizes work, but I especially enjoy the flat, round baskets because they hold a lot, and all the gifts can be seen at a glance. There are also baskets decorated or painted in a Christmas theme available at discount stores such as Walmart, Target, or Kmart.

Lining the basket with a decorative tissue paper adds to the holiday theme. You can choose traditional red and green (and even mix the colors for a nice touch), or go for some of the patterned tissue papers now offered with florals, snowmen, Christmas sayings, glitter, etc. Or you might want to think outside the box, by choosing a pink or blue shade to match the gifts inside.

I recently made a Christmas gift basket for a counselor who meant a lot to me. I chose a Victorian theme for her basket and included a teapot, teacup and saucer, a rose bouqet, stationery with roses, a Mistletoe Yankee candle, a rose ornament, a box of tea, and a cloth napkin with a rose napkin ring. I also added a box of shortbread cookies, and some chocolate. She was absolutely thrilled.

Another basket I enjoy making is a Snowman Soup basket. I found the idea for this online. (This can be designed for one or for a family.) It can also be a great gift for a male or female. Choose an appropriate mug (or mugs). For a man you can choose a solid colored mug, or something more masculine. For a female, a bone china mug, or a mug with roses would be nice. Line the basket with red or green tissue paper, or a snowman motif tissue. Place the mug, several packets of instant hot chocolate, a baggie with miniature marshmallows (tied with a ribbon), and some candy canes for stirrers. Sprinkle Hershey's kisses and peppermints throughout the basket. Add a couple of cloth napkins with Christmas napkin rings. Something that adds a really nice extra touch is a chocolate covered spoon, which can often be found in gift stores, such as Hallmark Cards, around Christmas time, or you can make your own by dipping a plastic spoon in melted chocolate. You can wrap the spoon in cellophane, and tie it with a ribbon, when it is hardened. I will include in my sources a link to the cute poem you can attach to the gift basket. I have used this idea so many times for teachers, neighbors, or friends.

A terrific idea for a teenager or a family is a Movie Night Basket. I have been fortunate enough to find large ceramic popcorn buckets that have the red and white 'Popcorn" logo written on them. Some stores also carry a plastic version of the popcorn bags you get at the movie theater. If you can't find either of these, then a regular basket will work. Line the container with red tissue paper. Consider including gifts like popcorn, large movie candy such as Junior Mints, M&Ms, Sweet Tarts, Musketeers, etc. (These over-sized candies can be purchased at discount stores, and even Walgreens.) Add a movie cd, and you have a fun gift that everyone can enjoy.

Another idea to consider might be a Gardener's Basket, complete with a small shovel, garden gloves, a few garden tools, and some seed packets. You might want to make a Golfer's Basket with golf balls, golf towels, golf knick knacks, golf tees, and a golfing magazine. I once made a basket for a lady who loves to cook. I included all kinds of cooking utensils and a cookbook. The ideas are as limitless as the people you know. Just keep your eyes open as to what interests different people on your list may have.

If you don't want to go with a theme basket, you can also create a generic Christmas gift basket. I do this for my mom every year. I get a huge basket, line it with tissue, and put in various gifts like nightgowns, lotion, jewelry, a Christmas ornament, candles, stationery, etc. You can wrap some of the gifts, and leave some unwrapped. She looks forward to her special gift basket every year, and I look forward to creating it for her.

Don't forget to use these ideas for other holidays as well. I also enjoy making Easter Baskets, Valentine's Baskets, and Birthday Baskets. Another great idea is a Hospital Basket. You can include things like magazines, lotions, combs, chap stick or lip gloss, colorful straws, small puzzles or games, and books.

Here's one last idea for a Christmas Basket. A couple down the street from us was having a difficult year financially, and my husband noticed when he went to their house, they only had a few ornaments on their tree. So I fixed them a Christmas gift basket with lots of beautiful ornaments, and also tucked in a Home for the Holidays Yankee candle to add to their Christmas atmosphere. This basket was greatly appreciated .

This Christmas, be creative. Your friends and relatives will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and you will have a great time creating the baskets!

Sources: http://organizedchristmas.com/printable-gift-tag-snowman-soup
http://organizedchristmas.com/snowman-soup