Start with your local thrift shops, second hand shops and consignment stores. Shop in these places when you don’t need your gift basket supplies immediately. These are the supplies you’ll hold onto for making future gift baskets. Browse these shops for wicker baskets in all shapes and sizes, rolls of cellophane wrap, cloth napkins for lining the bottoms of the baskets and little trinkets for filling the baskets. Always make sure that the items are in like- new condition.

Next try your nearby flea markets, yard sales, tag sales and garage sales. Again, these are the places you’ll pick up gift basket supplies you don’t need right now. The great thing about shopping in these type of places is you can try to bargain with the merchant and try to get a lower price, especially if you’re buying several items. Look for wicker baskets, cellophane wrap, packs of multi items that can be opened and split among several baskets and bags of gift bows. make sure you’re buy items that are in like-new condition only.

Another place to shop for gift basket supplies are the dollar stores and outlet stores. These store get new merchandise often so check them when you’re in the area. You never know what you may find. You can usually get good deals on packs of novelty pens and pencils, mugs, snacks, candy and miscellaneous items to fill your baskets.

General merchandise stores like Target, Walmart, K-mart are great places to find items you need at the last minute because of the variety and availability of their items. These are also good places to buy containers other than baskets to use for your gift. You can pick up colorful waste paper pails, cooking pots and other items that can be used in place of the traditional wicker basket.

Another good place to try is wholesale gift supply stores and websites. Try places like http://www.papermart.com/ and http://www.luckyclovertrading.com/.

Start shopping for gift basket supplies now and you’ll find that you won’t spend as much later on.

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.

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