Instruction For Making Gift Baskets

Themed Baskets

Baskets really look nice when they have a theme to them. This means putting things in the basket that go with each other. A theme of a basket might be a birthday. Or maybe you want a basket for a baby shower. Other themes can be: a christmas basket, a particular holiday basket, wedding, food, get well, travel or a spa.

After you know what the theme of your basket will be, gather up items that go with that theme.

Supplies That You Will Need:

A basket or container
Items to put in your basket
A pipe cleaner
Cellophane
Ribbon and a bow
A card or gift tag

Pick Your Container

You can use whatever you want as the base container for your gift basket. You can use a basket (with or without a handle.), a pale, a tin of some sort, a wooden crate, a purse or bag. For a food themed basket you could use a mixing bowl, a pie plate, a casserole dish or decorated bowl to put your items in. The thing to remember is that you don't have to have a basket to put your items in. Just about anything can be the container for your gift basket.

Once you pick your container, fill the bottom with some sort of filling. This can be straw, tissue paper or crumpeled up paper. Fill the container up about 3/4 of the way. This allows your items to sit up and be seen. You do not want your items hidden inside of your basket.

If you happen to fill the bottom of the basket with something like crumpled up newspaper that doesn't look so nice, don't worry. Cover up the crumpled up newspaper with a piece of scrap material or a cloth napkin.

Filling The Basket

Start filling the back of the basket first. Put your taller or biggest item in first. Place it towards the back and in the middle. Add items to your basket, putting medium items on the sides and smaller items towards the front.

Wrapping The Basket Up In Cellophane

Once your basket is filled, you need to wrap it up so that everything stays securely in the basket. Wrap your basket up using cellophane. This comes in several colors as well as clear.

Cut the cellophane to a piece that is big enough to go around the basket and about 8-10 inches taller than the basket. Sometimes you will need two or three cut pieces to go around a basket. Gather up the sides, front and back of your cellophane. Just above the products in your basket secure with a pipe cleaner. Twist the pipe cleaner tight so that the bag is securely around the basket and its items.

Another way to wrap up a basket is to get a cellobag. These are bags that are ready made of cellophane. Open up the cellobag and scrunch the sides down. Set your basket inside of the bag. Make sure that you set the basket in the center of the bag before you pull the sides up and around the basket. Secure the cellobag with a pipe cleaner above the products in your basket.

Cover the pipe cleaner with a ribbon and a bow. We find that securing the cellophane with a pipe cleaner and then covering the pipe cleaner with ribbon works the best.

The final instruction for making gift baskets is to add a gift tag to your basket by putting it on a string and taping it near your bow.

Visual Instruction For Making Gift Baskets

Ideas For Baskets

Now that you have the instruction for making gift baskets, here are some theme basket ideas! Stuff your basket with as many things as you can. Your items don't have to be expensive to go in a basket. It is cheaper to make you own basket than to buy one ready made. And if your making gift baskets to sell, add up your cost and double the price. That is how you know how much to sell your gift baskets for.

Pick up items at discount stores. Get new, clean items at garage sales. Sometimes we receive a gift that is really nice but we know that we will never use it. These kind of items are great to regift inside an appropriate basket. My instruction for making gift baskets is that anything goes!

A Spa Basket: Bubble bath, sponges, candles, fingernail polish, a body wash, perfume, makeup, a hairbrush, a comb, lip balm and lotions.

A Chocolate Basket: You could use a variety of chocolates, a hot chocolate mug, hot chocolate, mini-marshmellows, a chocolate covered spoon, truffles and chocolate shavings.

A Baby Basket: Onesies, pacifiers, diapers, rattles, burp rags, baby toys, an outfit, bottles, a picture frame, stuffed animals, a photo album and a blanket.

A Coffee Basket: A variety of coffees, a coffee mug, a chocolate covered spoon, coffee candy, shortbread cookies and coffee beans.

A Pasta Basket: Gourmet pastas, a wooden spoon, pasta sauces, cheeses, a table cloth, a bottle of wine, plates and forks, a cheese grater, italian seasonings, a bottle of olives and a music cd.

A Breakfast Basket: A bag of pancake or waffle mix, a wooden spoon, flavored sryups, a coffee mug, a bag of blueberries and a package of bacon.

Now take the above instruction for making gift baskets and start making some baskets! Have fun!

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