Ideas for Homemade Christmas Gift Baskets

Homemade Christmas gift baskets give you the chance to both express your creativity and to show your loved ones that you care enough to use your own time and money to give them a great Christmas present. Homemade Christmas gift baskets also are a good way of saving money if you want to give thoughtful, appropriate gifts, but you can't afford the more expensive options found in-store. Here, then, is a list of the best ideas for homemade Christmas Gift Baskets for Under Ten Dollars.

1. The Cookie Basket. There are a million different kinds of cookies, so pick your favorite three. Try to go for a wide variety (so not chocolate chip and chocolate crunch...unless your giftee is a chocoholic).Bake the cookies close to the time when you are going to be giving them the present so that they are as fresh as possible, and also try to keep them in a container that will help avoid staleness. If you want to give out a lot of these, make them small, individual baskets with a smaller selection of cookies and throw in some hot chocolate, coffee or powdered milk as a bonus. The end result is a homemade Christmas gift basket that looks great and tastes even better. Cookie dough can be purchased at your local grocery store for as little as a dollar, and the drink suggestions would only be a couple dollars more. Total price: under $10.

2. The Sewing Basket. If cookies aren't your forte, considering a basket filled with things you've sewn by hand. This is an especially good option for a homemade Christmas gift basket you are giving to a small child. Find the basic patterns of a couple animals, the material you want (probably something soft), the stuffing, and some needle and thread, and sew away. The pillow-like animals can then be stacked into the basket. Add a bow and you have a great gift basket. The patterns can be found free online (run a search for 'animal sewing patterns'), the material can be chosen at your local Wal-Mart (look in the $1.00 a yard section, if you're on a tight budget), and the stuffing, thread, and needles can be picked up from the dollar store. Total price: under $10. Note: if you like to knit or crochet, you could try a basket with things you made that way, instead.

3. The Mixed Tape Basket. Nothing says 'I thought of you' like a mixed tape - though these days, it's more likely to be a mixed CD. If the person you're giving the homemade Christmas gift basket to likes music, then they are a perfect candidate for this. Pick a genre of music that they like (or several genres) and make your own CDs. Take care to design the CD covers for your mixed CDs, with the computer or with your hands if you're artistic. If you need a set of blank CD cases, they can be purchased at your local Target or Wal-Mart for less than $5 for a set.

A note: If you're looking for baskets, look no further than your local consignment store. They often have small baskets for a dollar or less, and slightly larger baskets for under $3. Don't let a lack of money stop you from giving a high-quality Christmas present; if you can't afford it, make your own. Homemade Christmas gift baskets show you care.