5 Homemade Theme Gift Basket Ideas

There's something about discovering the items in a holiday gift basket that evokes the same feeling a child has when pulling out trinkets stuffed into a Christmas stocking. It's easy to put together a homemade gift basket for a hostess gift, teacher thank you, or a co-worker present for the boss. And when you want to send something special to a loved one across the country, we have some ideas for that, too.

Creative Gift Basket Ideas

Curl Up with a Good Book Basket

Fill the basket with a few books that you know will appeal to the recipient. Embellish the basket with a coffee mug and hot cocoa for enjoying the book by a warm fire.

Be Creative Basket

Pack the basket with items to create a work of art! Visit a local craft or art store and select supplies that will appeal to the gift recipient. An artist brush, paints, and a small canvas along with a painting technique handbook is one way to go. Or, encourage a new hobby with a set of knitting needles, trendy yarn, and a simple scarf pattern.

Favorite Recipe Basket

Share your favorite recipe on an index card for the gift recipient along with the ingredients to make it. Add a cookbook to the basket, utensils, or holiday themed cooking items.

Dinner Is On Me Basket

Make dinner and wrap it up as a gift for the busy person in your life. Do you make an awesome lasagna? Whip up the meal and pack it in a nice airtight container for the gift recipient along with candles, utensils, even a CD of music for dinner ambience.

Cocktail Gift Basket

An ideal host gift, pack a basket full of cocktail ingredients and the barware to mix up the drink. Most every one loves a cool Martini shaker, fun cocktail picks, drink stirrers or a set of cocktail napkins.

Tips to Make a Gift Basket

Putting together a gift basket is just as much about its "nuts and bolts" as it is about the gift items.

Professionally packaged gift baskets are arranged so that the items are on display yet securely wrapped using some of these techniques:

Put items on risers in the basket so you can see all gifts. Risers can be small cardboard boxes or empty cans that are gift-wrapped.

Secure items to risers and each other using clear mailing tape.

Mask risers and fill in the basket with decorative shredded paper, tinsel, or a similar material that fits the style of your basket.

Wrap the entire basket up in Cellophane sheets. Gather the excess Cellophane at the top and tape it closed. Wrap ribbon around the tape at the top or add a bow along with a gift tag.

For a more professional look, use a home use heat gun and shrink-wrap to enclose your gift basket in plastic. Add a bow and gift tag to finish it off.