Cheap and Easy Gift Baskets to Make for a Gift

Instructions -  Gift Basket Ideas,  Gift Basket Containers, Filling Gift Baskets, Wrapping Gift Baskets 

By Helen Hecker

If you're thinking about cheap and easy gift baskets to make for a gift or for your gift basket business, I've put together a few great ideas for making specialty gift baskets, complete with instructions on how to make them.  You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget.  You can find many inexpensive items for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets at 'dollar' stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc.

Themes for Cheap and Easy Gift Baskets to Make for a Gift 

Here are just a few gift basket ideas:

·   Holiday gift baskets -- Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandmother’s Day, Easter, New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day

·   Events – birthdays, new baby, wedding, sympathy, get well, housewarming, anniversary, graduation, baby shower, bridal shower

·   Food gift baskets – fruit, chocolate, cookie, candy, coffee, tea, snack, cheese, wine, champagne, beer

·   Specialty gift baskets – environment friendly, gourmet, corporate, business, thank you, custom, unique, for man, for woman, mom, dad, kid, baby girl, baby boy, best friend, dog, cat, pet, spa, candle, bath and body, aromatherapy, ethnic, Italian food, Mexican food, theme, romantic, golf, tennis, sports, kosher, personalized, customer appreciation, troop, troops

Cheap and Easy Gift Baskets to Make for a Gift - Instructions  - Ideas 

For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, toy dump truck or other large toy truck, purse, tin, Christmas tin, seasonal container, large tea pot, large upside-down hat, plastic storage container-put lid underneath, extra-large coffee mug, boot, potted plant holder, wire basket, large pasta bowl, large popcorn bowl, cooking pot, clay pot, tackle box, colander, small wagon, skillet, antique trunk, champagne bucket, hamper, Asian-style trunk or picnic basket.

For gift basket liner you can use:  tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, diapers, baby blankets or fabric pieces.

For gift basket filler you can use:  shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.

For items in the container it'll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket-- here is a small random sampling to give you some good ideas: small plant, disposable camera, a small book, inspirational book, spa pillows, bath pillows, spa supplies, bath and body products, facial and body scrubs, handmade soaps, fragrant soaps, shampoos, hand and foot lotion, fluffy towel, potholders, gift certificate for massage or spa visit, scented oils, scented massage oils, gift certificate to favorite store, gift certificate for restaurant, loofah, fragrant candle, matches to light candles, CD of nature sounds, favorite artist CD, DVD of newer release movie, how-to video or CD, garden trowel or other garden tools, garden gloves, work gloves, cold weather gloves, leather gloves,  garden picks, seeds, hand lotion, flower pot, flavored teas, green tea, specialty tea, herbal tea,  biscotti, tea infuser, small tools, gadgets,  stuffed animals, toys, playing cards, healthy snacks, travel-size games, small puzzles, fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, hot chocolate mix, specialty coffee mix, handwritten poem, perfume, cologne, watch, framed photo, t-shirt, baseball cap, collectible cards, tickets to events, small dolls, homemade cookies, homemade brownies, homemade jams, movie tickets, popcorn, caramel corn,  giant-size boxed candy, candy canes, suckers, lollipops, apple, pear, orange, persimmon, mango, papaya, chips, pretzels, nuts, plastic skulls, spiders, fake cob webs, magic shop items, coffee mug, gourmet pasta, gourmet olive oil, doggie biscuits,  cat treats, dog or cat collar, dog or cat toys, stationery supplies, cooking tools, cooking gadgets, measuring spoons,  receiving blanket, baby rattles, baby powder, baby shampoo, baby bath wash, hooded towels, pre-packaged food items, pancake mixes, brownie mixes, cookie mixes, wooden spoons, baby shower games, baby shower items , your best chocolate chip cookie recipe, Italian recipes, Mexican food recipes or other ethnic recipes,  birthday poems, corkscrews , computer-related items, mouse pad, yarn, painting or artist supplies, golf balls, golf tees, golf knick knacks, tennis balls, tennis knick knacks, key chains, small calendars or desk calendars, barometer, outdoor thermometer, science gadgets, electronic gadgets, health-related items, auto-related items or cinnamon sticks.

For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or I like to use cellophane wrap.  You can buy it in large rolls.  Look for specialty packaging outlets where you can buy it wholesale. Tie off  the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it.

For Bows:  You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bows is easy and best---  see our DVD--

"How to Make Simple Award-Winning Bows" 

click here: Products For Gift Basket Businesses

To learn how to make gift baskets  for fun or to give to family and friends or how to make gift baskets as a  business -- home based business, gift shop, gift basket shop or by adding to another business, check out our DVD or video--

"How to Make Gift Baskets"

click here: Products For Gift Basket Businesses 

Cheap and Easy Gift Baskets to Make for a Gift - Instructions 

Assemble all your gift basket items, tools, etc.

Now line your selected gift container.

Now stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give  added height to your items.

Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front. Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc.) Also you can use 'picks' of artificial flowers to fill in space.  Place your cellophane or other  wrap under the gift basket.  Center the gift basket on the wrap.  Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors. 

Tuck a card in the ribbon and that's it!

Cheap and Easy Gift Baskets to Make for a Gift - Instructions  -- General Tips

You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco-- especially in the fall prior to Christmas but often throughout the year in some stores.

You can shred paper in a paper shredder.

If you're going to need a lot of cellophane you can purchase it wholesale through the "Packaging Specialty" stores throughout the U.S.

Try to use non-perishable items except for fruit for fruit baskets. 

Use freshly packaged food items, because even packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months.

You can find filler flower 'picks' at garage sales for pennies.  If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar each.

Try not to mix chocolate or other food fragrant items with non-food fragrant items in the same basket.

There is nothing like learning how from a video or DVD for cheap and easy gift baskets to make for a gift--   you can view over and over again and share with your children, other family members and friends.  You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business.  See our DVD and video--

"How to Make Gift Baskets" 

click here: Products For Gift Basket Businesses 

"Hope is the thing with feathers, That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all." -- Emily Dickinson 

copyright©2005-2006 Helen Hecker  All Rights Reserved.