GIFTBASKETS TO MAKE & GIVE...


Fun to Make, Fun to Give....


  • GIFT BASKETS ANYONE CAN MAKE:




    baskets with a personalized theme will always be a big hit.
    There are so many different ways to decorate a basket,
    there's really no limit to what you can do with a simple basket,
    some ribbon, and a few decorations.

    • Materials:

    • Wicker basket with handle
    • Hot glue gun
    • Ribbon
    • Dried or silk flowers, leaves, etc.
    • Thin wire
    • Wire cutters
    • Needlenose pliers

    • Simple bathroom soap basket:
    Use silk flowers for baskets to be used in a
    bathroom - they'll be less susceptible to water/moisture damage.
    Decide on your color scheme. Measure a length of ribbon to go
    around the lip of the basket. Twist it into a narrow rope and glue
    it around the rim. You can also wind matching ribbon around the handle,
    securing the ends with dabs of hot glue. Take a long-stemmed
    silk flower with some leaves/greenery and bend it along the curve
    of the handle. Tuck the bottom of the stem inside the basket
    and use wire to attach the stem to the handle at the top,
    middle and bottom. Take another flower and secure to handle
    about 1/3 of the way down. (I like to buy silk flowers that have
    multiple stems and then separate them, snipping off the lengths
    I want with wire cutters.) Secure a shorter length
    flower 2/3 of the way down. You now have a nice cascading
    effect along the basket handle.

    Make a bow to match your ribbon (or buy ready-made).
    Attach the bow to the base of the handle or the rim of
    the basket with wire and/or hot glue.

    Line the inside of the basket with plastic wrap, tissue,
    straw or colored confetti. Then fill the basket with
    interesting soaps, bath oil beads, scented hand creams, etc.

    • MORE Gift Basket Ideas:

    • Pamper Me+ Basket -
    Fill a basket with some homemade bath salts, lotions,
    etc., along with loofa, scented candle, and a cardboard
    note to hang on the door that says +Pampering, Do Not Disturb.

    • Tea Time Basket -
    • Include some interesting teas, and a small jar of honey.
    Add homemade jams or jellies with crackers or a small loaf
    of homemade bread and a copy of If Teacups Could Talk.
    Decorate with ribbon and an interestingkitchen utensil
    attached to the handle (a teaspoon or honey dipper perhaps...).

    • Gardener's Basket -
    • For the gardener, fill the basket with packets of seeds,
    garden hand tools, gloves, plant markers. Decorate with flowers.

    • Teacher's Basket - Fill a basket with fun pencils,
    reward toys, erasers, Post-It notepads, Award pads, etc.
    Decorate the basket with a +school+ theme -
    instead of ribbon around the rim, glue on a row of pink erasers,
    alternating with some cute large plastic clips.

    • Coffee Lover's Basket -
    Get a bunch of the small packets of flavored coffees
    for the coffee lover to sample. Add some chocolate
    dipped cinnamon sticks, butter cookies, a special coffee cup,
    a jar of homemade Hot Chocolate Mix.
    Dip a spoon in melted chocolate - allow it to harden,
    wrap in cellophane and tied w/ a pretty ribbon.
    Attach the spoon to the handle.

    • The Ultimate Chocolate Basket:
    A pkg of Hershey's bars, triple fudge
    brownies, better than sex chocolate cake,
    red velvet torte, chocolate
    truffles, German chocolate brownies,
    3 different types of fudge, chocolate
    syrup, yoo-hoo in the can, a few boxes
    of chocolate pudding, and chocolate
    covered pretzels, chocolate/fudge butter
    cookies, homemade hot cocoa powder
    and a box of cocoa krispies.

    • The Baby Basket:
    A boo boo bunny. A baby's first Christmas ornament, a small
    canister of powder, baby lotion, diaper rash ointment, baby wipes,
    washcloths, receiving blankets, a teething ring, a bib and a night light.

    • The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Role players basket:
    3 different types of chocolate
    candy. A 6-pack of the gamers favorite beverage.
    A gift certificate for their favorite photo copy store.
    a couple of sets of dice. some miniatures
    or the new supplement they want. I also include
    a couple of pencils and a note book.

    • The Wearable Art Basket:
    An Ironing board cover, some iron ons. Fusible web,
    some pretty fabrics for applique-, an assortment
    of fabric paints and pens.
    Rhinestone studs, and the metal studs,
    a box of Band-Aids and a candy bar.

    • The New Mom's Basket:
    A large bottle of aspirin, a picture frame or photo
    album. A cassette of favorite music, a package of
    burp cloths, hand cream, chocolate and coffee.

    • The New Car Basket:
    A fire extinguisher. A steering wheel cover.
    Some annoying fuzzy dice. an air freshener.
    A bottle of car wash, tire cleaner,
    spot remover and car wax.

    • The Bakers Basket:
    A recipe for something that you made that someone liked,
    along with all the pre-measured ingredients (within reason)
    and a pack of recipe cards.perhaps a bottle of extract
    or some food colouring.




  • **From a cookbook called "Just a Matter of Thyme" that has some gift basket

  • ideas for all ages in it. These are all from this book:**



  • "The Bath Basket" (birth to one year old)

  • Line a large white, wicker basket with a soft baby bath towel and fill with a

  • bottle of baby bath, shampoo, wash cloths, a comb and brush set, a rubber

  • ducky, powder lotion, a good ointment for diaper rash, and cotton balls.

  • Attach a big bow on the side. Make a tag in the shape of an old claw foot tub

  • and include your best wishes.



  • "The One Man Band Basket"(one to three years old)

  • If you can locate an old bushel basket (the type apples used to come in),

  • this would be a perfect start. Fill it with a drum (you may want to make one

  • out of an empty oatmeal box, or purchase a more sophisticated one at the

  • store), a whistle, a harmonica, a tamborine, a xylophone, etc.



  • "The Budding Artist Basket" (three to five years old)

  • A bright colored basket would work well for this particular age. Include any

  • of the following; Crayons, washable markers, coloring books, "paint with

  • water" books, water color paints, and brushes, safety scissors, and a few

  • containers of play dough, with cookie cutters. Make an artists palette for

  • the tag.



  • "The Backpack Basket" (five to seven years old)

  • These items may be put in a backpack for the child, or the backpack and all

  • of the items may be put in a box or a basket: Bookplates, with the child's

  • name engraved on them (these may be purchases at most stationery stores),

  • pencil box, three or four books suited for this age, a ruler, pencil

  • sharpener, and last-but-not-least, a wallet with the child's own library card

  • in it. You might include a note with the promise of a trip to the local

  • library within a few days.



  • "The Desk and Doodle Basket" (ages seven to ten years)

  • Fill with his or her very own personal set of desk accessories or craft

  • "tools". You might include items like a nice pair of scissors in a neon or

  • pastel color, a stapler, a scotch tape dispenser, a ruler, pencil sharpener,

  • some engraved stationery and stamps. Or a nice tool box could be filler with

  • a screwdriver, a hammer, a tape measure, a ruler, a block of wood, nails,

  • pliers, etc.



  • Ten to Twelve Years Old...

  • This is perhaps the most difficult age to please in gift-giving. They are

  • not yet young adults. But they definitely do not consider themselves

  • children. It seems best to try and concentrate on a hobby or special

  • interest, and make that your theme. For example:



  • "The Beach Basket" - sunscreen, a beach towel, large-toothed comb, a teen

  • magazine, a deck of playing cards, sunglasses, etc.



  • "The Nature's Friend Basket" - a bug catcher, books on endangered species, a

  • cricket box, binoculars, bird seed, a compass, bug repellant, a canteen, etc.



  • "The Baking Basket" - a cookbook, some measuring spoons and cups, a rolling

  • pin, some spatulas, cookie cutters, hot pads, etc.



  • "The Good Sport Basket" - baseball cards and album, tickets to a game,

  • sporting equipment, etc.



  • ******

  • "The Bottomless Pit Basket "(Twelve to Fifteen Years Old)

  • Fill with snack foods of all varieties, gift certificates to local fast food

  • chains or ice cream shops, a roll of quarters for vending machine emergencies



  • "Driving You Crazy Basket" (Fifteen to Seventeen Years Old)

  • Make a tag to resemble a license plate, and include inside: the keys to the

  • car, a key chain, car wax, a chamois, a contract stating under which

  • conditions the car may be driven, with blank lines for you and the young

  • driver to agree upon and fill out, stating what will happen if the rules are

  • broken, and a business size card on which you will write of your unconditional

  • love for them. This card should be carried with them right alongside their

  • drivers license.



  • "You're on Your Own Basket" (Eighteen to Twenty One Years Old)

  • A mending kit, and address book, a dozen stamped envelopes all addressed to

  • Mom and/or Dad, quarters for laundry, coupons, a Bible, family recipes, etc.



  • Any Age Adult.....

  • Again, it's best to find a theme that surrounds a particular interest or

  • hobby. Food is always a welcome sight at any age. Perhaps a specific type of

  • food or beverage that you know this person loves could be the central idea.

  • You could also concentrate on their chosen profession as a theme. For

  • instance, a teacher might enjoy a ....



  • "Teacher's Pet Basket"

  • Fill it with several big, polished apples, a calendar, notecards, pencils,

  • paper clip holder, memo pads, post-it's, etc. (not mentioned, but gift

  • certificates to a good book store are probably most welcomed by a teacher)



  • *****

  • "The Best is Yet to Be Basket" (senior adults)

  • An assortment of greeting cards and a card organizer that lists special dates

  • involving friends and family members, fresh fruit, gift certificate for

  • favorite restaurant, a miniature purse size photo album with all of the

  • children and grandchildren pictured and a short message written by each one of

  • them, a deck of playing cards, theatre tickets.





  • "Car Travelers Basket":

  • a phone card (so they could phone home and let us know where they were and

  • get news), a road map, snacks, and a few other things I can't remember, but

  • you could include emergency road flares or a kit, fast food gift certificates,

  • a neck pillow, a tape or CD, books on their destination, a small reading light

  • for the car, a flashlight, etc.






    Links to other sites on the Web

    GIFTS TO MAKE & GIVE...TOILETEIES
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