This stylish and user-friendly guide offers baskets for every occasion, with options to fit anyone’s budget. Gorgeous four-color photographs offer inspiration and guidelines on choosing the proper container, selecting the right-sized items, and decorating the finished basket make this an easy and fun gift idea that anyone can embrace. Ideas range from “Off to College,” “Baby’s Here,” “Welcome to the Neighborhood,” “Book Lover’s,” “Martini Basket,” and many, many more. A special section of food-themed baskets with homemade mixes for cookies or bread or seasonings will appeal especially to those who like to do kitchen crafts. In short, The Perfect Basket gives both seasoned and novice gift-givers everything you need to create spectacular thematic gifts for everyone on your list!

About the Author
Diane Phillips is the author of several cookbooks, including The Soup Mix Gourmet and The Perfect (more…)

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 wicker basket. Check your paint supply and see if you have any orange or black spray paint. If not a quick run to the local home decor or paint store is in order. Buy a color it to match Halloween, which basically is orange or black. That little extra touch will go a long way!

Also, instead of a basket, you can also use one of those plastic orange pumpkins that children use for trick or treating. They even come with a handle already attached.

Line the bottom with some shredded orange or black paper. Use the opposite color if the container so it stands out. You can also use tissue paper or a Halloween napkin.

Spend a little time in your local discount store and pick up some Halloween or Fall theme accessories such as pens, pencils, erasers, notepads, key chains, mouse pads, earrings, pins and mugs to name just a few. Think about the person you’re giving it to and what they will use.

Check out your nearest bakery, or the bakery section of your supermarket for baked goods. If you have an bakery outlet near you, all the better! Look for pumpkin flavored muffins, cookies or any other baked goods that they might have.

Last, but definitely not least…CANDY!! What’s Halloween without some yummy candy! Pick up some traditional favorites like candy corn and chocolate shaped ghosts. There is so much of a variety in Halloween candy, it would be hard for you not to find something. Don’t forget to get some non-traditional Hallowen candy if you know the recipient likes it. Maybe they like a certain brand of candy bar or a particular flavor of gum. By all means, include some in their basket!

Halloween is a fun time of the year! Your gift should be fun also!

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

If you’d rather purchase a gift basket, please click the banner below to view a wide variety of pre-made gift baskets for all occasions.

Apology Gift Basket: gift certificates 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: gift cards for a dating service, 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.

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