Homemade Gift Baskets

It's very easy to buy a pre-made gift basket. Stop in any florist, department store or even a local discount store and you'll find rows of ready to purchase baskets. So why would someone want to make their own?

Well, for one thing, it's less expensive. You can shop the sales and pick up items for far less you would normally. You can even shop in your local thrift shops and hunt for new items that can be used.

Another reason to make your own gift basket is that you can personalize it better than a store can. You know the person you're giving it to, they don't. You can add special touches that will make it a truly personalized gift from the heart.

Read on for more ideas!

Creating a One-Of-A-Kind Gift
By Joanne Greco

Who would love a gift that was made just for them? When people say "It's the thought that counts", they aren't just words. Creating a personalized gift for someone shows them that you cared enough to put not only money, but your time into a gift for them.

The following steps will take you through creating a personalized gift basket that can be tailored to anybodies tastes, any occasion or holiday.

Start with a container to hold your goodies. You can choose a wicker basket, preferably with a handle. These baskets can be spray painted to match any decor, theme or holiday. You can also use any type of container that is deep enough to hold several items. Some ideas are waste paper pails, cooking pots, flower pots or tool boxes. Think about the person you're making the gift for and choose a container that is as much a part of the gift and the contents inside will be.

Line the bottom with shredded wrapping paper, streamers, tissue paper or cloth napkins. Choose complimentary colors for a festive touch.

Now comes the real fun part!

Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Think about the person you're making this gift for and write down words to describe them, what their hobbies and interest are, what they enjoy watching on TV, reading and music they like listening to. All this information will help you in determining what to fill their basket with.

Also consider if this gift is being given for a reason. Is it their birthday, a special occasion or a holiday? That will help you decide what should go inside. Here is two examples to get you started.

1. All occasion gift for a pre-teen girl: Buy a pink or purple waste paper pail and glue some flat bask jewels around the top border. Fill it with a new diary, a colored funky looking pen, some hair accessories and a CD of her favorite artist. Use your list for other ideas.

2. Thank you gift for a coach or scouting troop leader: Start with two over sized soup mugs. Fill one with cookies, muffins and candy. Fill the other one with flavored tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

With a little though and some creativity, you can put together a fantastic gift that will be not only useful, but appreciated.

Gift Baskets You Can Create For Christmas
By Joanne Greco

Christmas is a wonderful and joyful time of the year. One of the ways we show our love and appreciation for friends and loved ones is by making or buying gifts for them. It's the perfect occasion for a homemade gift basket.

Start with a wicker basket and spray paint it red or green. If you prefer, you can paint it gold or silver. Line it with a Christmas napkin or dish towel. You can also use colored shredded paper or tissue paper.

Some ideas for goodies to fill it with are:

candy canes
homemade cookies
homemade candy
chocolate covered spoons (see below)
hot chocolate
chocolate covered pretzels (see below)
cranberry muffins
scented candles
Christmas trinkets
soup and soup mug
teas and coffees
unbreakable ornaments
cinnamon scented candles or cookies
gingerbread candles

Chocolate-covered spoons:
Melt chocolate in the microwave.
Dip plastic spoons until generously covered with chocolate.
Lay them on waxed paper lined cookie sheet to cool down.
Roll in crushed candy canes.

Chocolate-covered pretzels:
Dip one end of a big pretzel stick in melted chocolate.
Roll in either mini M&Ms, colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed candy cane.
Allow to harden by placing the undipped end down in a drinking glass.
Wrap in cellophane.

Also consider the persons hobbies and interests when filling the basket. You're sure to get a few extra ideas by thinking creatively. Creating a homemade Christmas gift basket will be appreciated by anyone, especially if you fill it with items you know they will enjoy.

Gift Baskets You Can Create For Father's Day
By Joanne Greco

Fathers day was created by Sonora Smart in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. She chose June, the month of her fathers birthday, to start this special day.

Most fathers don't look for appreciation for all they do. They care and look after their families with a sense of duty and pride, which is why it's so important to set aside a day to honor them. What better way than with a personalized gift basket?

Start with a basket or any container that will hold small to medium size items. You could use a lunchbox, a small cooler chest, a tool box, a tackle box or an ice bucket. Line it with a checkered cloth napkin or some shredded shiny gift wrap.

When looking for items to fill the basket with, think about what hobbies he has or what foods or activities he enjoys. Here's some ideas to get you started:

beer
nuts
wine
cheese and crackers
sausage
gourmet coffees and creamers
a special mug.
barbecue utensils and apron
fishing supplies
golf balls and tees
insulated drink holder
manicure set
gift certificate to a movie or his favorite restaurant
magazine subscription

Homemade chocolate covered snacks:
1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
Cookies, miniature pretzels, strawberries
Cover tray with wax paper.
Place chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 1 minute and stir.
Dip 2/3 of each snack into chocolate mixture.
Place on a dish and refrigerate, uncovered until the chocolate is firm.
Store in airtight container in cool, dry place.
Makes about 1/2 cup coating.

The possibilities are endless. Take some time walking through your local stores, keeping his interests in mind and you'll be on the path to creating a personalized gift that he'll treasure and appreciate.

Gift Baskets You Can Create For Halloween
By Joanne Greco

Boo!

Halloween began as an ancient Celtic (Irish, Scottish, Welsh) festival called Samhain. November 1 was the start of the New Year and October 31 was the last night of the old year where spirits of the deceased were thought to roam the land.

Halloween is not usually thought of as a holiday where we exchange gifts, but rather we give treats to the trick or treaters that come to visit. But there may be someone you'd like to give a gift to, maybe a teacher, coach or as a hostess gift for a Halloween party. A homemade Halloween gift basket is the perfect gift for such an occasion.

First you'll need something to hold all the goodies in. You can use one of those plastic pumpkins that trick or treaters use as the "basket". Also a black or orange bowl will work. If you have a basket, spray paint it black or orange. Shred some orange paper and lay it on the bottom.

Now that you've got the "basket" ready, shop for Halloween candy or gifts that you'll place inside. Here are some ideas to get you started:

candy corn
Halloween make up kit
vampire teeth
orange cookies
orange scented candles
scary books
horror movies
CD of scary music

Try this Halloween version of Rice Krispy treats to add to your gift baskets!
1/2 cup butter or margarine
9 cup miniature marshmallows
10 cup chocolate Rice Krispy cereal
2 cup candy corn
3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips
assorted candy pumpkins
Melt the butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until the mixture is smooth. Pour the cereal, candy corn and chocolate chips into large bowl. Pour the butter and marshmallow mixture over cereal, stirring quickly to coat. For best results, use a wooden spoon sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Spread mixture on large buttered cookie sheet
pressing out evenly with buttered hands. While it's still warm, press on candy pumpkins spaced about 1-1/2" apart. Cool, then cut into squares. Makes about 48 squares .

Gift Baskets You Can Create For Thanksgiving
By Joanne Greco

Thanksgiving is a time of the year where we remember to appreciate all our blessings. The people in our lives, our good health and fortune are things we sometimes take for granted and it's a good reminder to stop have gratitude for those things. Although traditionally it is not a gift giving holiday, there are probably people in your life that you want to show your appreciation to with a gift. Creating a gift basket is the perfect combination of wanting to give something useful and personal.

Use your imagination for the container! You can buy a turkey roasting pan to use as the "basket". Or a wicker basket spray painted gold. Use orange, beige or gold tissue paper as a liner. You can also use a pretty napkin to line the bottom.

Some ideas for the goodies can be:
meat and cheese
crackers
gourmet snacks
coffee or tea blends
jelly or jam
tepee treats (see below)
nut and seed assortment
dried fruit
chocolate
honey
small plant
seeds for planting
Thanksgiving collectibles
wine

Tepee treats:
eight sugar cones
two cups of confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup of softened unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
cake-decorating icing
decorative candies

1. Use an electric mixed set at low speed and mix confectioners sugar, butter and vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable. Stir in a bit of milk, if needed.
2. Use the icing to lightly frost eight ice cream sugar cones, then place them in the freezer for a few minutes until the icing hardens.
3. Now use tubes of cake-decorating icing to draw patterns and images and glue on decorative candies.

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