Making Your Own Gift Baskets—Step Two

The Container

After you’ve decided on a theme--whether by occasion, topic, or recipient, or a combination of those three—you now need to choose a container.

Pretty much anything will work as a container. I use the term ‘gift basket’ in a general way. Just be sure that it will hold the size and weight of the items you plan to include.

Personally, I love to make gifts as unique as possible. Use your imagination and be creative. Of course, if the recipient happens to love baskets, they would really appreciate an actual basket.

Where to look:

• Around the house

• Dollar store

• Wal-Mart

• Online sites such as Amazon.com or The Container Store

• Flea markets

• Yard sales

• Craft shops

Choose the container to complement the theme and the recipient. It also helps to have a general idea of the type of items you will include.

Examples:

• Get Well – a cardboard box decorated as a ‘first aid kit’

• Mother’s Day – a clay pot or planter; pretty tote bag

• Father’s Day – tool box; football-shaped rattan basket; toy golf bag

• Easter – actual woven basket; egg-shaped container

• House Warming – cardboard box decorated to look like a house; wooden crate made to look like a picket fence

• New Baby – diaper bag; Radio Flyer little red wagon

• Wedding – boxes in 3 different sizes (small, medium, large), stacked and decorated to look like a wedding cake

• Spa – cosmetic case; pink metal ‘bathtub’

• Snack foods – extra large popcorn box; bucket; decorative tin; small hamper

• Thanksgiving – wicker cornucopia

• Christmas – tin Santa sleigh, red or white

I like to choose containers that are practical as well as decorative. When the contents have been eaten or used, the container still serves a purpose—as well as being a keepsake.

Having decided on the container, you are now ready to select the contents—whether they are to be food items, bath products, toys, useful gadgets, or a combination.