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How to Make Theme Gift Baskets for Christmas

Creative Holidays / Celebrations
Posted by Jane on Dec 12, 2005 - 11:12 PM
Get creative with your holiday gift-giving this year and make your own theme gift baskets.


Create Theme Gift Baskets for Christmas



By Susan Sanders-Kinzel

 Gift baskets are a great way to make a personal gift for family or friends. This article includes many ideas of containers and themes to help you get started on a gift basket for everyone on your list. Gift baskets can be a lot of fun for you and the recipient and don't have to cost a lot of money.

The Recipient
The first thing to consider is who you are giving the basket to:
  • What do they like?
  • What are their hobbies?
  • What do they need?
  • What do they like to eat?


    • Containers
    The container or "basket" doesn't have to be expensive. Pick a theme (some are listed below) and find a container that goes with the theme that can hold some items or have items attached to it. You want the container and the items to go together and for everything to be usable and practical. (This is not to say that a few fun things can't be thrown in too.) Below are some of my ideas for containers but there certainly are many more possibilities.
  • Baskets - all shapes and sizes
  • Bowls
  • Flower pots
  • Watering can
  • Fishing creel
  • Canvas bag
  • Day pack
  • Waste basket
  • Bucket - ice, plastic or garden
  • Colander
  • Plastic container
  • Storage box
  • Platter
  • Tin
    • Basket Theme Ideas
    The items that go within the gift basket should be tied together by a common theme. The themes that follow are gift basket ideas that can be modified to fit your needs or to get you started on developing your own themed gift basket.

    College Student Gift Basket
    Use a basket or usable container with:
  • Pens and Pencils
  • Printer paper and supplies
  • Mouse pad
  • Washcloth and hand towel
  • Yummy healthy snacks
  • Phone Card
  • Gift certificate for a CD
  • Nail Clippers
  • Book light


    • Kids Coloring Gift Basket
    Use a rubber/plastic storage box with:
  • Assorted papers, coloring books
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Nontoxic markers
  • Assorted stickers
  • Paint box and brushes
  • Safe scissors


    • Crafters Gift Basket
    Use a rubber storage container with:
  • Glue gun and glue sticks
  • Acrylic paints
  • Assorted brushes
  • Craft knife
  • Craft supplies
  • Craft patterns or how-to books
  • Craft papers
  • Scissors


    • Pasta Lover Gift Basket
    Use a colander or bowl with:
  • Package of gourmet pasta
  • Tongs or pasta grabber
  • Package of sun-dried tomatoes
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Fancy olives
  • Spices: oregano, basil, garlic powder
  • Your favorite pasta recipes hand-printed on recipe cards
  • Pasta cookbook
  • Jar of gourmet sauce


    • Skier or Snowboarder's Gift Basket
    Use a small pack or canvas bag with:
  • Gloves, mittens and/or warm hat
  • Hot packs
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Moisturizer
  • Pass to the local ski hill
  • Hot chocolate
  • Ski, snowboard or sled waxes


    • Wine Lover's Basket
    Use a wine cooling bucket with:
  • Wine Glasses
  • Cheese and Crackers
  • Cork screw
  • Bottle of wine


    		•  Bath Gift Basket
    Use a nice basket with:
  • Gel eye-pack
  • Epsom salts or bubble bath
  • Aroma therapy oils
  • Scented candles and holders
  • Pumice stone
  • Washcloths, scrubber or loofah sponge
  • Back cleaning brush
  • Relaxing music on CD or cassette
  • Rubber ducky


    • Photographer's Gift Basket
    Use a basket or a camera bag with:
  • Film
  • Coupons for picture developing
  • Camera Filters
  • Lens cleaner
  • Lens cloth
  • Photo print paper
  • Picture frame and matte
  • Picture Album


    • Letter Writer's Gift Basket
    Use a square basket or plastic box with:
  • Note paper or cards
  • Envelopes (choose a variety of sizes)
  • Letter opener
  • Pen or pencil
  • Personalized seal
  • Sealing wax
  • Return address labels
  • Rubber stamps to decorate envelopes
  • Stamps


    • Guitar Player's Gift Basket:
    Use a basket or gig bag with:
  • Assorted guitar picks
  • Tuning pipe or electronic tuner
  • Sheet music
  • CDs or cassettes of great guitar players
  • Guitar strings
  • Capo
  • Polishing rag
  • Guitar polish
  • Chord or lesson books


    • Grandparent Gift Basket
    Use a basket or reusable container with:
  • Scrapbook
  • Children's artwork
  • Gifts made by the kids
  • Framed family pictures
  • Videos of the family
  • Long-distance calling card
  • Candy, coffee, or tea
  • Handmade Christmas ornaments
  • Polar fleece lap blanket


    		•  Gardener's Gift Basket
    Use a clay plant pot, bucket or watering can with:
  • Gardening gloves
  • Hand tools
  • Vegetable, flower seeds
  • Liquid fertilizer
  • Kneeling pad
  • Gardening book
  • Subscription for a gardening magazine
  • Plant markers
  • Heavy Duty Hand Lotion


    • Cat Lover Gift Basket
    Use a cat bowl or pet bed with:
  • Catnip Mouse or other cat toy
  • Hair ball paste
  • Cat treats
  • Cat Brush
  • Scratching post
  • Gourmet cat food


    • Dog Lover Gift Basket
    Use a dog bowl or pet bed with:
  • Rawhide bone
  • Dog biscuits
  • Squeaky toy
  • Dog shampoo
  • Brush
  • Collar and/or leash

    • Dogs come in all sizes so make sure you are buying for the right size dog. Also if it is for a puppy, chewy stuff is the best.

    New Home Owner's Gift Basket:
    Use a tool box or tool tray with:
  • Screw drivers - Slot and Phillips
  • Wrench, Pliers or Vice Grip Pliers
  • Hammer
  • Assorted nails, tacks, screws, washers
  • Gift certificate for the local hardware store
  • Do-it-yourself Home Repair book
  • super glue
  • light switch covers
  • light bulbs
  • duct tape
  • paint brushes
  • knobs and handles


    • Holiday Entertainment Basket
    Use a nice holiday basket with:
  • Holiday Napkins
  • Holiday Plates
  • Holiday Cups
  • Whole Mixed Nuts
  • Nutcracker
  • Cookies or baked goods
  • Holiday floral picks or ornaments for decorating
  • Cheese ball or Sausage stick and crackers
    • Fillers for Your Baskets
    Once you have obtained your items here are some fillers to put around them:
  • Piece of fabric
  • Shredded paper, newspaper or colored paper
  • Straw
  • Easter basket grass
  • Tissue paper or newspaper comics
  • Raffia
  • Colored towels or cloth napkins
  • Cedar shavings


    		•  Extra Items To Consider
    For Christmas Baskets add:
  • Candy canes
  • Candles - scented or unscented, votive, tea lights or tapers
  • Pine cones
  • Cinnamon sticks tied with red ribbon
  • Greenery - spruce, pine, cedar, holly
  • Christmas ornaments


    • For any occasion add:
  • Potpourri
  • Hot cider, special tea bags, special coffee or cocoa mixes
  • Mandarin oranges, tangerines, oranges or apples
  • Unshelled nuts or packets of roasted nuts
  • Wrapped candy or baked goods
  • Small toys or puzzles
  • Sample hand creams
  • Lip gloss or Chap-stick
    • Finishing Your Basket

    If you buy colored cellophane you can cover the entire container with it disguising what is inside. Tie a ribbon around the whole thing or paste a ribbon on top. Have fun!

    Author Susan Sanders-Kinzel is the founder of ThriftyFun.com [1] Visit for thousands of thrifty tips, articles and helpful hints. Click here [2] to subscribe to ThriftyFun's free newsletters.
    This article is from Creative Home
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