Looking for a Great Gift Idea for Christmas? Why Not Make a Gift Basket?

Are you looking for a gift idea for Christmas for someone who you'd like to get something special? Why not make this person a gift basket? Gift baskets are a creative way to combine several smaller gifts to make a great gift. Lots of people love gift baskets as a gift, and also as the perfect gift to give. They are fun and very thoughtful.

Many gift baskets can also be compiled for very reasonable prices. If you are creative and watch the sales - you can compile many gift baskets for thirty dollars or even less (depending on the type of items you put in them). Many retailers hold great sales during the holidays, so take advantage of them to find perfect ideas for your basket.

When creating a gift basket for someone, it can help to begin by making a list of activities that they enjoy. Include hobbies, their profession, any personal interests that they have. So your list could look something like this: camping, tennis, firefighter, barbeque, NASCAR, coffee drinker, loves action movies. This list gives you a place to start from, some ideas of gift baskets to make for this person.

Once you have a list of ideas to select from, it is time to narrow it down to what would make a great basket idea. At this point, there are so many stores on the internet, you can literally find a store for just about any interest under the sun - so you are sure to find items that you need. Food and drink items especially make for great gift basket ideas.

A great idea is to make your gift basket - but to put it in a different container (not a basket). This can make your gift stand out from all of the others and look very creative, thoughtful and unique. Consider a gardening gift basket that is in a large terra cotta planting pot (those are fairly inexpensive). Or why not put your gift basket in a tote bag that the person can re-use for the rest of the year? Once you start thinking about it, you can certainly come up with lots of ideas for gift basket containers that are unique, and probably don't cost very much money - but will certainly look fantastic.

Once you are ready, compile items that would make a great gift basket. Here are several examples from the list above:

Coffee drinker: two different kinds of gourmet coffee beans, a travel mug, a coffee grinder

Barbeque lover: three different kinds of barbeque sauce, a dry rub for barbequing, a barbeque cookbook, an apron

Action movies: two action movies (or gift card to Blockbuster or Netflix), microwave popcorn, put this in a popcorn bowl

Another great idea for an item for gift baskets is to include Christmas ornaments - because there are so many types of Christmas ornaments that you are sure to find a Christmas ornament that suits the person's hobby or interest. I know that I have seen Christmas ornaments for knitting, gardening and for chocolate lovers, just to name a few. You can find ornaments at Miles Kimball www.mileskimball.com or also at Oriental Trading Company www.orientaltradingcompany.com
Giving a Christmas ornament is the perfect thing to add to a Christmas gift basket gift.

There are so many ideas for gift baskets. Here are some other ideas to get you thinking of gift ideas:

Spa Basket: Loofa sponge, bubble bath or bath salts, facial mask, body lotion.

Book Lovers: The latest bestseller that would interest them, consider getting an audiotape book (great for commuting), add a great gourmet snack to eat while reading, another great idea is a book light.

Scrapbookers: Stickers, new scrapbooking magazine, rubber stamps, pens, fancy scissors, cardstock.

Yoga Lovers: A yoga DVD, yoga paws (to keep from slipping on the mat), energy/protein bars, new age music, body lotion

Music Lover: earphones, batteries, some CDs of their favorite music, a music magazine, a biography of a musician that would interest them

Chocolate Lover: hot chocolate mix, chocolate truffles, chocolate bar, mini chocolates, flavored chocolates, chocolate covered espresso beans