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.

Making Your Own Gift Baskets—Step One

Reasons for making your own:

If you can say yes to any of the questions below, then your answer could be to make your own gift basket. Whether you’re creative or ‘all thumbs’ there’s a version of a homemade basket for any level.

• Would you like to give an especially nice gift but only know of small items that are suitable for the recipient?

• Is your budget rather limited but you don’t want your gift to reflect that?

• Is there no particular, single item that would be suitable?

• Is your recipient somewhat hard to buy for and/or has unusual tastes?

• Want to give some of your tastiest goodies but want to ‘dress them up a bit?’

• Have close friends with large families and you just can’t afford to get something for everyone?

One of the great things about a gift basket is that it is a collection of items, not just one gift. Also, the possibilities for the contents are endless. You’re only limited by your imagination. Even the container you choose is a gift!

Getting started:

Now that you’ve decided to make that basket, the first thing you will need to do is decide on a theme.

It could be one simple theme or a combination of themes. Also consider the individual’s interests and specific likes and dislikes.

General list of themes

By occasion:

• Anniversary

• Birthday

• Congratulations

• Friendship

• Get Well

• Good Luck

• Holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter….

• House Warming

• Just Because

• New Baby & Baby Shower: baby boy, baby girl, unisex

• Sympathy

• Thank You

• Wedding & Engagement

By topic:

• Assortment

• Baked goodies

• Beauty/Spa

• Cheese/Wine

• Chocolates/Candies

• Gourmet foods

• Snack foods

By recipient:

• Men

• Women

• Kids

• Seniors

Example:

Let’s say it’s for a lady’s birthday. This lady loves scented lotions, soaps, and a relaxing bath. Ta da! Excellent idea: a spa basket, decorated with birthday designs, with a card (homemade or store-bought) that is relevant to the entire theme. (I was the recipient of a basket of age-defying products….oh, my!)

Of course, you could go online or to your nearest gift shop and purchase a spa gift basket. But if you know this lady’s favorite scent or that she’s allergic to certain ingredients, then it would be a better idea to select the items yourself, keeping those things in mind.

[I’m allergic to lanolin and floral scents. One gentleman, courting me long-distance, sent me two different baskets with floral-scented products (rose and lavender). Sweet thought but unfortunate choices.]

Beginning to get any ideas? When you have a basic plan in mind, then the next step is choosing a container.

Coming Soon

Coming soon will be the first in a series on making your own gift baskets. Each post will focus on a different aspect of creating and making your own: deciding on a theme, choosing a container, selecting the contents, decorative touches, even packing and shipping info.

For project ideas, you can visit online craft sites, such as FaveCrafts Quick and Crafty. Also find gift tag designs and how-to info.

For detailed, step-by-step instructions for specific projects, check with your local library for books on gift basket making. Or purchase such books online. Several good ones are available at Amazon.com right now. Used paperback versions are available, starting at $2.23, for the best-selling The Perfect Gift Basket: How To Make a Fabulous Gift Basket for Any Occasion.

Holiday Care Packages

As the ladies in my church prepare to assemble and deliver Christmas baskets to shut-ins, I think of the individuals who have just had surgery, are coping with cancer treatments, or are simply unable to get out and about as most folks do. We visit and help however we can throughout the year, but we like to do something extra special for them on holidays.

Our baskets always include homemade bread and cookies, as well as fruit, nuts, and candies (sugar-free ones for diabetics).

Last month we delivered 284 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, to be distributed by Samaritan’s Purse ministries around the world. We do this annually, increasing the number each year, collecting items to be included all year long. Many hands are needed to assemble them and prayers are said over each one for the child who will receive it.

These boxes include personal care items, a stuffed animal and small toy, basic school supplies, and of course candies. It may be the only gift many of these children ever receive.

Care packages for soldiers overseas were also prepared and shipped last month. The children were responsible for this effort. They gave offerings to pay for postage and collected items to be enclosed. They also wrote letters to each soldier. (If you would like to send a care package but don’t know where to start, I’ve written an article with basic information plus names of web sites to which you can go for details.)

Whether it’s for an elderly person, a child, a family, a soldier, or a whole troop, brighten someone’s holiday this year by sending a gift basket you personally prepare or select one prepared for you.

May you experience the peace and joy of this Christmas season available to all who will believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.