Post by sunshine on Nov 17, 2005 6:08:29 GMT 10
GIFT BASKETS ANYONE CAN MAKE:
You can turn any basket into a great special occasion gift -
baskets with a personalized theme will always be a big hit.
There are so many different ways to decorate a basket,
there's really no limit to what you can do with a simple basket,
some ribbon, and a few decorations.
Materials:
Wicker basket with handle
Hot glue gun
Ribbon
Dried or silk flowers, leaves, etc.
Thin wire
Wire cutters
Needlenose pliers
Simple bathroom soap basket:
Use silk flowers for baskets to be used in a
bathroom - they'll be less susceptible to water/moisture damage.
Decide on your color scheme. Measure a length of ribbon to go
around the lip of the basket. Twist it into a narrow rope and glue
it around the rim. You can also wind matching ribbon around the handle,
securing the ends with dabs of hot glue. Take a long-stemmed
silk flower with some leaves/greenery and bend it along the curve
of the handle. Tuck the bottom of the stem inside the basket
and use wire to attach the stem to the handle at the top,
middle and bottom. Take another flower and secure to handle
about 1/3 of the way down. (I like to buy silk flowers that have
multiple stems and then separate them, snipping off the lengths
I want with wire cutters.) Secure a shorter length
flower 2/3 of the way down. You now have a nice cascading
effect along the basket handle.
Make a bow to match your ribbon (or buy ready-made).
Attach the bow to the base of the handle or the rim of
the basket with wire and/or hot glue.
Line the inside of the basket with plastic wrap, tissue,
straw or colored confetti. Then fill the basket with
interesting soaps, bath oil beads, scented hand creams, etc.
MORE Gift Basket Ideas:
Pamper Me+ Basket -
Fill a basket with some homemade bath salts, lotions,
etc., along with loofa, scented candle, and a cardboard
note to hang on the door that says +Pampering, Do Not Disturb.
Tea Time Basket -
Include some interesting teas, and a small jar of honey.
Add homemade jams or jellies with crackers or a small loaf
of homemade bread and a copy of If Teacups Could Talk.
Decorate with ribbon and an interestingkitchen utensil
attached to the handle (a teaspoon or honey dipper perhaps...).
Gardener's Basket -
For the gardener, fill the basket with packets of seeds,
garden hand tools, gloves, plant markers. Decorate with flowers.
Teacher's Basket - Fill a basket with fun pencils,
reward toys, erasers, Post-It notepads, Award pads, etc.
Decorate the basket with a +school+ theme -
instead of ribbon around the rim, glue on a row of pink erasers,
alternating with some cute large plastic clips.
Coffee Lover's Basket -
Get a bunch of the small packets of flavored coffees
for the coffee lover to sample. Add some chocolate
dipped cinnamon sticks, butter cookies, a special coffee cup,
a jar of homemade Hot Chocolate Mix.
Dip a spoon in melted chocolate - allow it to harden,
wrap in cellophane and tied w/ a pretty ribbon.
Attach the spoon to the handle.
The Ultimate Chocolate Basket:
A pkg of Hershey's bars, triple fudge
brownies, better than sex chocolate cake,
red velvet torte, chocolate
truffles, German chocolate brownies,
3 different types of fudge, chocolate
syrup, yoo-hoo in the can, a few boxes
of chocolate pudding, and chocolate
covered pretzels, chocolate/fudge butter
cookies, homemade hot cocoa powder
and a box of cocoa krispies.
The Baby Basket:
A boo boo bunny. A baby's first Christmas ornament, a small
canister of powder, baby lotion, diaper rash ointment, baby wipes,
washcloths, receiving blankets, a teething ring, a bib and a night light.
The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Role players basket:
3 different types of chocolate
candy. A 6-pack of the gamers favorite beverage.
A gift certificate for their favorite photo copy store.
a couple of sets of dice. some miniatures
or the new supplement they want. I also include
a couple of pencils and a note book.
The Wearable Art Basket:
An Ironing board cover, some iron ons. Fusible web,
some pretty fabrics for applique-, an assortment
of fabric paints and pens.
Rhinestone studs, and the metal studs,
a box of Band-Aids and a candy bar.
The New Mom's Basket:
A large bottle of aspirin, a picture frame or photo
album. A cassette of favorite music, a package of
burp cloths, hand cream, chocolate and coffee.
The New Car Basket:
A fire extinguisher. A steering wheel cover.
Some annoying fuzzy dice. an air freshener.
A bottle of car wash, tire cleaner,
spot remover and car wax.
The Bakers Basket:
A recipe for something that you made that someone liked,
along with all the pre-measured ingredients (within reason)
and a pack of recipe cards.perhaps a bottle of extract
or some food colouring.