Start with a basket…or you can also use a waste paper pail, which can later be used in their bedroom or dorm room. Look for waste paper pails that are related to what they’re interested in or go with the decor of their bedroom. Start by lining it with colorful, shredded paper.

Here’s some ideas on items to fill your Back To School Homemade Gift Basket.

Regular and colored pencils
One of those fun, over sized pencils
regular and colored pens
colorful ruler
various sized notebooks
a pencil holder
a book light
a phone card
a gift card for a local book store
fun, chunky erasers
various colored markers
a cool mouse pad
a stapler
variety pack of printer paper

There’s a lot more items you can add, especially when you think of their actual needs (take a look at their school supply list). If your son or daughter is entering college, you can include some of the following items as well.

cup a soups
candy assortment
first aid kit
munchies and snacks
stress relief toys
coffee mug
disposable camera
photos from home

Make one today! Your kids will love them!

This post was submitted to the All About Parenting Blog Carnival.

New Mom/Dad Gift Basket: print out coupons for free babysitting, gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, CD of relaxing music, photo album, journal
Mothers/Fathers Day Gift Basket: gift certificate for a foot massage, new slippers, a poem you wrote
New Grandparent Gift Basket: photo album, journal, disposable camera
Sympathy Gift Basket: home cooked foods, ceramic angel, journal, fruit
Get Well Gift Basket: puzzle books, pencils, magazines, tissues, soup
Engagement Gift Basket: heart shaped items, champagne and glasses
Boss’s Day Gift Basket: newspaper, favorite coffee, lottery ticket
Bachelor(ette) Party Gift Basket: adult toys, gift certificate to favorite restaurant
New Job Gift Basket: framed picture of family, gift certificates for lunch near job
Birthday Gift Basket: print out of events from the day they were born, items with their birthstone
Wedding Gift Basket: champagne and glasses, spa gift certificates, adult toys, massage oils
Thank You Gift Basket: gift certificate to their favorite store, favorite cookies or candy
Apology Gift Basket: gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, flowers
Bon Voyage Gift Basket: journal, binoculars, photo album
Secretary’s Day Gift Basket: gift certificate for a massage, candy, lottery tickets
Grandparent’s Day Gift Basket: journal, photo album
Divorce Gift Basket: new address labels, comedy CD’s and movies
Retirement Gift Basket: photo album, journal, lottery tickets
Hangover Gift Basket: aspirin, ice packs, crackers
Congratulations Gift Basket: confetti, champagne and glasses, lottery tickets
House Warming Gift Basket: pot holders, kitchen towels, small kitchen items

Waste paper basket
Cooking pots
Colander
Picnic Basket
Hat
Wagon
Bucket
Lunch box
Large mug
Flower pot
Salad bowl
Ice cooler
Laundry basket
Tackle box
Tool box
Goldfish bowl
Pet food dish
Watering can

Anna Jarvis, who was born in Virgina in 1864, began her crusade to create a day to honor mothers, after her own mother passed away. On the second anniversary of her mothers death, she dedicated a small tribute to her at her church. From there, the custom caught on and eventually spread to 45 states. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war. Nine years later, commercialization of the day became so widespread that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become.

This year, instead of mindlessly picking something up in the store or paying a florist to deliver flowers that you didn’t pick out yourself, take some time and create something thats personalized for HER.

Start with a pad and pen and write down all the interests she has. Include any hobbies she has or sports she’s interested in. Does she have a favorite type of movie or food? For each interest that you listed, think of some small to medium sized items that you can make or buy and start collecting them. Also begin thinking of what type of basket or container you want to use. You don’t have to buy an actual basket. For instance, if you’re going to create a gardening basket, use a flower pot as the ‘basket”.

Homemade gift baskets are always appreciated and with a little thought and some creativity, you’ll create a one of a kind gift for a one of a kind person.

Gift baskets don’t have to cost lots of money. They’re great for those on a budget because they can be created with any price range in mind. Shopping the sales is an easy way to watch costs. Shop the after holiday sales and save items for next years gift baskets. Watch for sales on baskets and other items that can be used for containers, such as cute waste paper pails, decorative flower pots and oversized soup mugs. Check second hand shops and flea markets also. You can find new, or newly new items, at a fraction of what it would cost you in a store. Shop with your baskets in mind and you’ll be surprised at what you can find!

Consider who you are giving the basket to, what do they like, what are their hobbies? Have the shown an interest in something or do they have a favorite food or type of music? Also consider the occasion you are making the basket for. What you would purchase for a “thank you” gift basket would differ from the contents of a sympathy gift basket. Also, go window shopping and take note of other gift baskets and what you like about them. Are there certain color themes that catch your eye? Are they decorating them in a way you find appealing?

With some creativity and imagination, you can create a one of a kind gift that will be appreciated, and used. What more could you ask from a gift?

Barbecuing: barbecue sauce, tongs, apron
Beaches: beach pail, shell earrings, pedicure gift certificate
Breakfast Foods: muffin mix, pretty napkin, newspaper
Camping: flashlight, warm socks, homemade cookies
Chocolate: chocolate candy and cookies
Coffee: coffee mug, various coffee packets
Tea: tea cup, flavored teas
Dog or Cats: stickers and books on their favorite breed
Fishing: sunglasses, fishing gear
Football: snacks, items from their team
Fruit: various exotic fruits, fruit scented candles
Cars: car magazines, new key ring
Bird Watcher: binoculars, field guides
Computer or Video Gamer: cheat book, snacks
Couch Potato: tv guide, popcorn, slippers
Cowboys: old cowboy movies on DVD, beef jerky Crafter: gift certificate for craft store, paint, new brushes
Cyclists: refillable water bottles, bandanas,
Fitness and Fitness: workout DVD, hand towels, socks
Gardener: hand tools, seeds
Golfer: goft balls, wristbands
Gourmet Cook: cook book, cooking utensils
Guitar Player: new strings, song book
Hiking: socks, granola, trail mix
Jigsaw Puzzles: new puzzle, snacks
Movie Gift Baskets
Music Enthusiast: gift certificate for music store, headphones, snacks
Photographer: camera bag, film, coupons for photo developing, lens cloth, photo albums
Sci-Fi Fan: classic science fiction movies
Shopping: gift cards, canvas tote bags
Soap Opera Fan: soap opera magazine, snacks
Skier: chap stick, sunglasses, warm socks
Sports Enthusiast: subscription to sports magazine, snacks
Sun Bather: sunscreen, tanning salon gift certificates
Baking: oven mitts, apron, cook book
Nature: binoculars, nature sounds CD
Movie Theme: anything related to the movie they like
Ice Cream: ice cream scoop, ice cream dishes
Italian Food: pasta sauce, apron, Italian recipe book
Mexican Fiesta: tacos, salsa
Nautical: fish theme jewelry, plastic boats
Patriotic: sparklers, red, white and blue candy or cookies
Picnics: red checkered napkins, picnic basket
Pizza: tomato sauce, cheese, pizza dough
Wine: wine glasses, books on wine
Salad: tongs, salad dressing
Cookies: assortment of cookies, cookie recipe book
Cheese: various kinds of cheese and crackers
Travelers: travel journal and pen, disposable camera
Nuts: various types of nuts, nutcracker
Relaxation: meditation CD, scented candle
Basketball: baseball memorabilia
Football: football memorabilia
Aroma therapy: scented candles, essential oils
Lottery: lottery tickets, pencils, coins to use for scratching tickets
Flowers: seeds, flower pots
Spices: various types of hard to find or ethnic spices
Fudge: various flavor of fudge
Card Players: interesting decks of cards, poker chips, coasters, snacks
Handyman: tools, tool belt
Organic Foods: variety of organic foods
Soup: soup mug, crackers, napkin, various types of soup
Snacks: variety of snacks like chips and cookies
Fondue: bread, cheese, chocolate, tongs
Sugar Free/ Diabetic: variety of sugar free edibles
Popcorn: salt, cheese, kernels, big bowl as container
Candles: variety of scented and non scented candles
Books: interesting bookmarks, book light
Beer: beer mugs, variety of beers
Herbs: variety of hard to find herbs
Bowlers: bowlers aids, bowling bag
Bagels: variety of bagels and spreads
Bath: gel eye pack, bubble bath, pumice stone, washcloths, back cleaning brush, rubber ducky
Letter Writer: Letter opener, stationary, colored pens, address labels, stamps

Start shopping early for baskets and other containers. Flea markets and second hand shops are a great place to find new and like-new baskets. You can use green or red napkins as liners for the bottom to pretty it up. Baskets are not the only container you can use. Use a collander for a cooking basket. Use a waste paper pail for a teacher or college student’s basket.

As you look for items to fill the basket up, think about the person you are giving the gift to. What do they enjoy doing? Do they have a favorite food or movie? Also, look for items that reflect the holiday. A few candy canes or Christmas ornaments tucked in will make an all occasion gift basket look more Christmasy.

Here’s a short list of people that would appreciate a small gift basket during the holiday season:

Child’s Teacher
Girl/Boy Scout Troop Leader
Your babysitter
The instructor at your gym
Your favorite hair stylist
Neighbors on your block

Think about all the people you come into contact with on a daily or weekly basis. All of them would love a thoughtful gift such as a gift basket.

There are tons of themes you can use to create your basket around. Here are just a few to get you started.

Baking
Pizza
Nature
Beach
Angels
Fruit
Boats

There are so many themes you can create a basket around. The possibilities are endless.

Christmas only comes once a year so make it extra special for the people in your life by giving them a thoughtful gift that they’ll use and love.

Use the ideas on this site to get you started and let your imagination run wild.

New Years Eve Gift Basket:

wall or desk calendar, champagne and glasses, party hats, noise makers, sparklers, confetti, balloons, journal and fancy pen, trial gym membership, exercise video or book. Try using one of those plastic party hats that have the new year printed on it, to hold all the goodies.

Valentines Day Gift Basket:

heart shaped jewelry, romantic books, music or movies, bath and body items, scented candles, heart shaped candy and cookies, movie theater gift certificate, massage certificate, pink or red candy and cookies, coupon for a free back rub,  bubble bath, a bottle of massage oil, a ”Do Not Disturb” door sign, book about the life of St. Valentine. Try wrapping a foot basin in tulle as a container. After they open it, run a foot bath for them using some of the bath oils.   

St. Patricks Day Gift Basket:

green candy of any kind, green cookies, shamrock jewelry, book on the life of St. Patrick, Irish coffe or liquors, book on learning to speak Irish.

Easter/Spring Gift Basket:

Easter candy, cheese and crackers, gourmet snacks, jelly or jam, Easter cookies, bunny shaped treats, seeds, gardening supplies, bird seed and feeder, plants.  If the recipient is a gardner, you can pack it in a large Easter flower pot. 

4th Of July Gift Basket:

sparklers, red, white and blue cookies or candy, American flag decals,  American flag pins or other jewelry.

Halloween Gift Basket:

candy corn, pumpkin seeds, horror movies, and books, Halloween mugs, Halloween jewelery.

Thanksgiving Gift Basket:

cheese and crackers, gourmet snacks, journal for writing daily gratitude lists, fruit. 

Christmas/Winter Gift Basket:

holiday mug, reindeer food, popcorn, holiday recipes, fudge, pine scented candle, holiday  music, candy canes, hot apple cider mix,  red or green mittens, hat or scarf, mistletoe, nativity set, thick socks, hot chocolate.