Description: Themes for making your own Father's Day gift baskets.

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There's no doubt about it--finding a gift for dad can be downright challenging! You can conquer that challenge quickly and easily this year--give dad a personalized gift basket that you have filled with items representing his hobbies, interests and tastes.

Simply begin with a theme, find or make the appropriate container and then start hunting for unique items to match that theme. To spark your imagination, I've listed a few themes below, along with suggestions for innovative containers and basket fillers. Be creative and have fun!

1."Nuts About You"

This is a perfect gift for the dad who loves to munch on snack nuts while cheering on his favorite sports team! Cover a large round container with construction paper and make a sign (by hand or on the computer) that resembles the label on a can of peanuts. Then fill the container with paper shred and canisters of cashews, honey roasted almonds, macadamias or his other favorite snack nuts.

2. "King for a Day"

School-aged children can easily assemble this great gift. Purchase a paper king's crown, available from many party supply stores. Then tape the crown to a round box which you have covered with gold mylar paper. Fill the container with gold mylar shred and include a note telling dad that he will be king for the day. Then stuff the container with items such as dad's favorite sports magazine, fuzzy socks, chips and pretzels, sodas and handmade coupons for an uninterrupted afternoon of t.v. watching or a gift certificate to his favorite golf course.

3."Car Wash Bucket"

If dad's pride and joy is his '57 Chevy Convertible, why not create a gift that he can use to keep that car squeaky clean? Purchase a new bucket and attach a handmade label that says "Dad's Car Wash Bucket." Then fill that bucket with everything he needs to pamper that car--a chamois cloth, window cleaner, paper towels, car wax, etc. If your budget allows, consider including a gift certificate for detailing at a local car wash.

4. "Jumping through Hoops"

A lighthearted way to bring some fun into his office environment, this is a great gift for the dad who lives for basketball.

Start with a Nerf basketball and hoop set which you've placed in trash can bearing the logo of his favorite team. Add color coordinated paper shred and fill the trash can with a sports jersey, an autographed photograph of his favorite player, a commemorative plaque or a sports poster. Dad can use these items to decorate his office (whether at home or at his job) around a sports theme.

5. "World's Best Handyman"

Designed especially for the father who's handy around the house, this whimsical gift recognizes his talents as a jack-of-all-trades. Start with a toolbox, which you have customized with labels made on your computer using handyman clipart. Use the same clipart on a t-shirt and decoupage it to a plaque that he can hang in his garage. Add homemade cookies cut in the shape of a hand. Take the gift a step further and make customized labels for canisters of beef jerky, barbecue flavored chips and dad's other favorite snacks.

6. "Gone Fishing"

Has your favorite angler's fishing equipment seen better days? Why not surprise him with new gear? Start with a new fishing creel decorated with an assortment of new fishing lures and sinkers. Then fill the inside of the creel with some dried fruit and nuts for snacking, a new walkman, a tape of his favorite music and a humorous book on fishing so he can pass the time while waiting for the "big one" to bite.

7. "For the Racer"

Perhaps dad has always dreamed of driving a race car. You can make this fantasy come true, if only for a day. Ask a local racing equipment store about racing schools. Purchase a gift certificate for a class. To complete the gift, tuck the certificate--along with other racing paraphernalia (e.g., a racing magazine or book, racing jacket, sunglasses, etc.)--into a box that you've decorated with black and white checkered wrapping paper.

Cheryl Schroeder publishes the Creative Gift Giver, an online guide to imaginative gift giving. For a free subscription to her monthly Creative Gift Givers e-newsletter, send a blank e-mail to: creativegiftgivers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

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