Gift Baskets
by Nikki Willhite - willhite@aol.com
Description: Creative gift basket ideas.
Gift baskets make great presents. When planned ahead, they can
also be inexpensive.
There are many opportunities during the year to get free things
on the Internet. When similar free things are grouped together,
with a few finishing touches they can turn into a great gift.
For instance, there have been many opportunities during the year
to get free cookbooks on the Internet. All these books can be
grouped together to form an impressive stack.
It is easy to organize gift baskets. The baskets themselves
become the storage places for these similar items. All you need
to do is decide on a theme, and then add to them throughout the
year. Finish them off with a few carefully selected items and
decorate to make them look attractive. You can wrap them in
cellophane or use tissue paper. Anything that looks nice.
While it may be too late this year, think about this for next
year, or perhaps a birthday. Here are some ideas for gift baskets
that would suit a lot of people:
GRANDPARENT'S BASKETS -- Grandparents love pictures. They love
cassette tapes. If you have musical talent in your family,
record it, and let your family all speak on the tape. The tape
will be played over and over, until it breaks! Send pictures
made by your children. If you have a video camera, make tapes.
You might consider borrowing or renting one if you don't.
Grandparents do not usually want or need material things. They
want sentimental gifts and will treasure them.
CHILDREN'S BASKETS -- Use a wide variety of items, such as crayons,
colored pencils, finger paints, coloring books, paper, small
balls, tiny toys, story books, stickers, etc. There have been
quite a few of these items offered free on the Internet this
year.
PET BASKETS -- People love their pets. In many households, they
seem to take the place of children. In those cases, a basket for
their pets is a good choice. There have been many pet freebies
this year, from food and treats, to personalized food containers.
There have been pet calendars. Find a couple unusual items on
the Internet for a great pet gift.
COOKING BASKETS -- As mentioned previously, a variety of cookbooks
is the foundation for this basket. Some things to add to this
basket would be food items and utensils. You could take your
inspiration from one of the cookbooks, or from the foods you know
the person to like.
DESSERT BASKETS -- These can range from cookies to ingredients for
ice cream sundaes. Cookbooks are again appropriate, although
harder to find just for deserts. I would include in this
category homemade jellies and jams, ice cream toppings, utensils
like ice cream scoops, cocoa drink mixes, cookie cutters, etc.
Homemade recipe cards for special desserts add a special touch.
BATH BASKETS -- These are very popular now. This gift is popular
with both young girls and older women. Items in the basket can
range from aromatic candles to bubble baths. There were many
lotions, shampoos, perfumes, soaps and even make-up that was free
this year that would work in this basket.
NATURE BASKETS -- If you are a gardener, you can give seeds,
cuttings, bulbs, or you can buy them. Tiny shovels seem to
disappear, and are always appreciated. Gardening aprons and knee
pads can be made. Free catalogs are fun to look at. Craft items
such as birdhouses or wind chimes upgrade this gift.
GAME BASKETS -- Fill a basket with games for the whole family. Use
lots of small games, cards, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles-
anything that families can do together and have fun.
MUSIC BASKETS -- Fill a music basket with cassette tapes you have
recorded yourself. This is very easy to do with music rented
from the library. Include some unusual tapes, such as for
relaxation.
Reprinted with permission from:
The Pennypincher
An E-zine for the Frugally Minded
