Create Your Own Holiday Gift Baskets

Gift Baskets are great gifts for teachers, co-workers, mail carriers, etc. There are hundreds of assortments of beautiful gift baskets on the market. While these baskets make truly lovely gifts, they are very expensive. Instead of purchasing a pricey gift basket, consider assembling one yourself. They are very easy to create and you can include special, personal touches specifically in mind for your recipient. Not to mention, they are much more affordable. Creating your own gift baskets is actually very fun. They also make wonderful year-round gifts, so don't limit them to the holidays.

Think of your recipient before getting started. What are some of their favorite things? Maybe it is movies, books, candles, music, or chocolate that they love. Once you have your starting point, then it is time for the fun part, deciding what to put inside the basket.

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. These are simply ideas, add or subtract as you wish.

For the Gardener:

Fill a pretty planter with:

gardening gloves

gardening tools

seed packets

plant markers

Wrap with cellophane and tie with a green satin ribbon.

For the Movie Lover:

Fill a large popcorn bowl with the following items:

microwave popcorn packets

popcorn seasoning

2-3 bottles of soda-pop

blockbuster gift card

movie theater tickets

candy

Cover with cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Embellish your basket by attaching a pair of 3D glasses to the ribbon.

For the Book Lover

Fill a cute tote bag with the following items:

reading light

bookmark

bestselling book (consider giving an autographed copy for an extra special touch)

Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card

membership to Barnes & Noble

Attach a gift tag to the handles and embellish with a bookmark.

For the Candle Lover

Use the prettiest basket you can find or an extra large candle holder and fill it with these items:

candles, of course - include different scents, colors, sizes, and textures

candle lighter and/or pretty fireplace matches

candle snuffer

Wrap with cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Tuck two candlesticks into the ribbon.

For the Chocolate Lover

Fill a large candy bowl or basket with:

gourmet chocolates such Godiva or Ghiradelli

chocolate dipped treats (strawberries, cherries, and plastic spoons are my personal favorites)

cocoa mix

Cover with cellophane and tie with a chocolate colored satin ribbon.

For the Baker

Fill a large mixing bowl or measuring cup with these items:

measuring spoons

wooden spoons

whisk

apron rolled and tied with a ribbon

chocolate chips

cupcake liners

Wrap with cellophane and tie with a red satin ribbon. Embellish with measuring spoons, a wooden spoon, or a cookie cutter.

For the Exercise Enthusiast

Fill a small gym bag with the following items:

water bottle

energy packets

granola/power bar

iTunes gift card

pedometer

Wrap cellophane around basket and tie with a jump rope.

For the Green Girl

Fill a reusable grocery tote with:

reusable water bottle

burts bees products

soap nuts natural laundry detergent

energy saving lightbulbs

organic cotton socks

Make a bow out of raffia and tie to the handle of the tote bag.

For the Wine Lover

Find a basket and fill it with:

wine, duh!

wine key

wine charms

cheese

crackers

Cover the basket with cellophane and tie with a ribbon. For a nice touch, attach a bunch a fake grapes to the ribbon.

Tip:
Pack the bottom of your basket with crumbled up newspapers to make sure your goodies don't sink to the bottom of the basket.

The ideas are truly endless for great gift basket ideas. Be creative, think outside the box. Don't always use the standard basket. Think creatively about what else you could use to contain your presents. I also think it is a nice idea to use creative embellishments. Look for them at your local dollar store. You might be amazed at what you find! Have fun!