How to Make a Personalized Gift Basket
Easy and Inexpensive Do-It-Yourself Eco-Friendly Presents
Nov 18, 2008
A personalized gift basket can be a great way to show you care, but the all the plastic that goes into its packaging can harm the environment. Now, you can show you care in more ways than one.
Holidays are coming up, and a recession in progress, so gift giving can be a budgetary nightmare. More people are focusing on presenting their friends with a more personalized way of showing how they care, by focusing on the sentimental aspects of gift giving.
Forget what you see on TV: A really good present doesn’t have to be expensive. If you think of the past gifts you’ve received, you may realize that the one’s that mean the most to you are not the ones with a large price tag, but the ones that really demonstrated that the giver took the time to consider your hobbies, likes and dislikes, or just had a sense of humour.
The best part of making your own gift basket is that it doesn’t have to be a “girly” creation of wicker baskets and ribbons. It doesn’t even have to cost more than your budget can allow. The only resources you will need can come from your local supermarket or drug store…just select some tact in putting the package together.
Personalized Presents for your Friends
Getting to know your friend or acquaintance all over again for the holiday season shouldn’t be harder than re-reading past emails or giving him or her a call to see what they are up to. No doubt, they will talk about what matters to them, and use that opportunity to find out what they need, or what hobbies they are into.
Discovering a friend had just joined a yoga class may inspire you to create a basket with a selection of herbal teas, and a yoga or meditation CD. A friend who enjoys kicking back with some beer and friends might like a sampling of some foreign beer you think he might like to try, and some exotic snacks.
Presentation is Everything in a Gift Basket
Just because you bought the basket filling on the cheap doesn’t mean it has to look cheap. Usually, baskets are wicker, rattan or wood: If you can find one in terrific shape in a thrift shop, pick it up and start choosing the assortment of goodies for it.
Some may not like the femininity of a basket, in which case, you have to “think inside the box” instead. Pick up a clean cardboard box and wrap it in your favourite wrapping paper before filling it.
Ribbon is optional, but it does make for a better presentation. You can also use strings of candy, or just leave your present as-is for a manlier look. Who says you need clear plastic to cover your present to make it alluring? It will not only end up in a landfill, but it adds nothing to the gift itself.
How to Fill the Basket Without Breaking your Gifts
Another innovation is buying an inexpensive but interesting looking litterbin or cookie jar, and filling it with goodies. In some cases, the container may be much larger than the goods you are filling it with. Getting something to minimize breakage if they clank against each other is key.
Organically safe – and inexpensive – fillers can include:
- Pinecones
- Potpourri
- Popcorn (dry-air popped, preferably not salted or buttered)
Making a gift basket can be a fun experience for the gift giver and the recipient. You can go to any store and take a look at their selections, and use them as inspiration. Most of all, have fun while looking, and don’t be shy to make it as funny, sexy, or romantic as you dare!
If you are still stumped for ideas, check out my next article, Gift Basket Ideas.
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