How to Make a Graduation Gift Basket

High school and college graduation season means your mailbox will soon be filling up with announcements and party invitations. It's a special time in a young person's life that deserves recognition and reward, but many people struggle to find the perfect present. Perhaps a high school or college graduation gift basket is the way to go. Gift baskets are fun to make and give. They can be tailored to suit the personality of the recipient and showcase your creativity at the same time.

Choose a color scheme to fit the occasion and taste of the recipient. Consider using the person's favorite colors or the colors of their high school / college. Keep those shades in mind when choosing shredded tissue paper, balloons, and ribbons. You can also incorporate different shades and variations of the color scheme when picking out certain gift items.

Select a container to hold the gift items such as a wicker basket, a briefcase, a new backpack, or a nice piece of luggage. Before picking a container to hold the contents, consider the size, shape, and number of items you will be putting into the holder. Just make sure the size of the receptacle is large enough to accommodate the size and shape of the goodies you'll be putting into it.

Decide on the items to fill the basket. There is no end to the list of goodies you can stuff into a graduation gift basket. Sunglasses, beach towel, lip balm, sunscreen, pens, pencils, flash drive, key chain, collapsible laundry hamper, photo frame, first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, magazine subscription, sample sized laundry products, cologne or perfume, jewelry, throw blanket, travel sized pillow, tire pressure gauge, small screwdriver set, postage stamps, books on career planning, books on money management and budgeting, car washing accessories, music CD's, home video's of childhood memories, personalized stationary, gift cards, gas cards, road maps, car mats, car air freshener, or the always popular cold hard cash.

Once you decide on the container, color scheme, and gift items, it's time to assemble the basket. All you do is arrange everything neatly inside the container to create an attractive display. You might need to use double-sided sticky tape to hold some of the larger items in place. Shredded paper or tissue paper make good filler material for any empty spots and will add a festive touch as well. Finish it all off with some colorful ribbon or balloons and a card.

High school and college graduations should be a time of celebration, so make sure the completed gift basket is bright, colorful and fun!