How to Make a Holiday Gift Basket Cheaper Than You Can Buy It

I made gift baskets for my family and friends last Christmas and they were a big hit! Everyone loved them! I even sold about ten of them on ebay making about 15$ each. You can make themed baskets by grouping together the same fragrances and colors. I used lotions, body washes, soaps, candles and loofas. Buy named brand lotions from Bath and Body works after a major holiday like Christmas and you will them 75% of the retail price. You can also request free samples from a lot of companies. These free samples are perfect to include in your gift baskets. Check out www.coffeefair.co to request free coffee samples. Request free Olay samples on www.olay.com. Check out www.freakyfreddies.com to find a variety of different free samples.

You can also make a gift basket filled with food items. It's a non expensive way to make a gift. I add chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, and butter cookies. You could also make a basket with wine and cheese with crackers. If you are giving to a coffee drinker then create a coffee and or tea basket. Gather a few samples of each and maybe throw in a grinder or quality stirring rods to finish it off. If giving to a child buy a small stuffed animal and some toys to fill the basket.

I purchase from discount warehouses or from the dollar tree. At the dollar store (and make sure everything is in fact $1 not around $1) you can find a wide selection of fragrances, soaps lotions, kids toys, baskets, bows, frames, photo albums and Christmas candles. You can even purchase your gift baskets here. Shop at garage / yard sales to find unique fabrics and bows to incorporate into your baskets. I found an awesome warehouse store that has thousands of flowers and ribbon and bows that i purchase for .10$ a piece.

To put the basket together first put some basket filler like you get for Easter basket and fill the bottom of the basket. Make sure it is thick layer almost to the top so that the goods will be seen. Also it is a color that matches the ribbon and bows. I also try to match the color of lotions and everything else together. Then arrange the goods in the position they look best, usually with the taller items in the back and tilted upward. I always put a card in the front to personalize it.

Wrap the whole basket with cellophane. The cellophane comes in many colors and styles like poinsettia.. This can be purchased at most craft stores like Michaels or Jo-Anns. Wrap the basket so that the ends come together at the top and tie the ends together. Wrap a wide matching ribbon around the spot where you tied it. Then take a ready made bow and glue it to the top where the handle is. Keep the size of the bow proportionate to the size of the basket.

Once you add the bow you have completed the project. All you have left to do now is give the gift.

Happy Holidays!