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.