Some gift baskets offer a delightful miscellany of items. But successful gift baskets often attract attention because they're built around a unifying theme. Those themes can run the full range of creativity.
They may be as simple and obvious, but still as lovely, as the items desired for an upcoming wedding. Perfumes, dried flowers, or small jewelry will be appreciated by bridesmaids. Or the theme may run in an entirely different direction connected to no single event at all. A gift basket of potpourri or forest-related items can bring joy to any recipient.
Combination themes always make for a great gift basket. Chocolates can well stand alone in a delightful container of straw or wood. But how much better to add a small bottle of champagne or wine to mix in with the sweets? Sometimes a combination makes for a unifying theme itself, as when sewing accessories are combined with beautiful buttons or cloth samples, for example.
The traditional fruit basket is sometimes mocked. But there's always the possibility of giving a new twist to an old idea. Pick exotic fruits from a certain country, or combine them with unusual nuts. Lay some flowers from the fruit trees themselves among the produce and create an explosion of color. The result will be not only something delicious, but a work of art as well.
Gift baskets that are associated with a particular state or country are very popular. Everyone loves to see the familiar items from home joined together in creative ways.
The pine cones of Idaho or the native flowers of Colorado are only two possibilities of natural items that will be welcomed. But miniature toys like oil wells from Texas or skyscrapers from New York can equally fill the bill. Go international and include some stuffed lions from Africa or turtles from the Galapagos islands. Announce the time in a gift basket with a reproduction of London's Big Ben.
Handicrafts make for a great gift basket theme and the choices are endless. Small, hand-made jewelry of jade quickly become collector's items. Silver shaped into tiny tools or trinkets will be kept for a lifetime. Tiny bears or badgers carved out of ivory or sandstone can fill a basket with reminders of happy vacations.
Holiday gift baskets are a natural theme. There are many to choose from. Christmas is an obvious, but still perfect option. Tiny toys or traditional foods can be surrounded by a perfect wreath. Miniature reindeer happily pull a sleigh filled with Santa and his package of gifts. But the 4th of July, Halloween, and many more make it just as easy to devise a great set of gifts for friends and loved ones.
Let your imagination soar. The possibilities for a gift basket theme are bounded only by the creativity you possess.
Brian Walker is a freelance Internet writer. You can find more articles on flowers and gifts on http://www.florist4us.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lee
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Gift Basket Theme Ideas
How To Make A Food Lover's Gift Basket
Gift baskets are always popular and a great idea to give as a gift. People love to receive gift baskets. Making your own food lover's gift basket is cheap and easy.
You can fill with a variety of inexpensive items and you have lots of choices. You can easily customize each basket to your recipient.
I've put together a few great ideas for making food lover's gift baskets, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget.
You can find many inexpensive items for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets at 'dollar' stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc.
For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, toy dump truck or other large toy truck, purse, tin, Christmas tin, seasonal container, large tea pot, large upside-down hat, or plastic storage container-put lid underneath.
Other items might be: extra-large coffee mug, boot, potted plant holder, wire basket, large pasta bowl, large popcorn bowl, cooking pot, clay pot, tackle box, colander, small wagon, skillet, antique trunk, champagne bucket, hamper, Asian-style trunk or picnic basket.
For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, diapers, baby blankets or fabric pieces.
For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.
For items in the container it'll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket. In this case, for a food lover. Here is a small random sampling to give you just a few ideas:
Flavored teas, green tea, specialty tea, herbal tea, biscotti, tea infuser, small tools, kitchen gadgets, healthy snacks, fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, hot chocolate mix, specialty coffee mix, or a handwritten food related poem.
Homemade cookies, homemade brownies, homemade jams, popcorn, caramel corn, giant-size boxed candy, candy canes, suckers, lollipops, apple, pear, orange, persimmon, mango, papaya, chips, pretzels, nuts, coffee mug, gourmet pasta, or gourmet olive oil.
Cooking tools, cooking gadgets, measuring spoons, pre-packaged food items, pancake mixes, brownie mixes, cookie mixes, wooden spoons, your best chocolate chip cookie recipe, Italian recipes, Mexican food recipes or other ethnic recipes, birthday poems, or cinnamon sticks.
For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or I like to use cellophane wrap. You can buy it in large rolls. Look for specialty packaging outlets where you can buy it wholesale. Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it.
For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bows is easy and the best if you can do it. Use a large or huge bow.
Assemble all your gift basket items, tools, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Now stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give added height to your items. Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.
Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc.)
Also you can use 'picks' of artificial flowers to fill in space. Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors.
Tuck a card in the ribbon and that's it!
You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco-- especially in the fall prior to Christmas but often throughout the year in some stores. You can shred paper in a paper shredder. If you're going to need a lot of cellophane you can purchase it wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.
General tips: Try to use non-perishable items except for fruit for fruit baskets. Use freshly packaged food items, because even packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months.
You can find filler flower 'picks' at garage sales for pennies. If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar each. Try not to mix chocolate or other food fragrant items with non-food fragrant items in the same basket.
Also there's nothing like learning how to make gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share with your children, other family members and friends.
You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business if you so desire. In any event, making a food lover's gift basket is cheap and easy.
For more information on how to make gift baskets and how to start a gift basket business, go to http://www.HowToMakeBeautifulGiftBaskets.com a website specializing in making gift baskets and gift basket business tips, help, advice and resources including information on drop shipping gift baskets
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Hecker
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Express Your Gratitude With A Thoughtful Handmade Gift Basket
In certain situations, a few simple words do not cover the extent of gratitude one feels. If someone has gone above and beyond the call of duty, presenting them with a gift basket is a classy and thoughtful way to say thanks.
With so many options in today's world, it is easy to find the perfect gift.
Homemade gift baskets or gift boxes are simple to arrange. Many dollar stores or discount stores sell fancy baskets or boxes that you can then line with tissue paper and stuff with a wide array of goodies from flowers, to candy, to room sprays. It is important to have a grasp for the other person's likes and dislikes.
If the recipient is a chocoholic, consider creating a basket that has one large chocolate item in the center, such as a chocolate orange, and then circle it with smaller truffles, chocolate kisses, mini chocolate bars, and similar treats.
Baskets of fancy soaps, room sprays, or candles will appeal to women who enjoy filling their home with an array of fragrances. Place a larger decorative soap in the center and then surround it with other smaller items.
If you know the person enjoys bubble baths, create a box or basket with a variety of bath products. Bath oil beads, fizzing bath tablets, bottles of bubble bath, loofah sponges, and even body scrubs will delight any bath lover.
Try creating a theme basket. Children needing thanks will love baskets full of their favorite toys or television characters. Sports lovers will enjoy baskets or boxes with t-shirts, team merchandise, key rings, pens or pencils shaped like baseball bats, pennants and more.
Animal lovers will enjoy a basket with a stuffed replica of their favorite animal. Add a similarly themed notepad, calendar, and t-shirt. If the recipient enjoys gardening, purchase a variety of seeds, gardening gloves, tools, and small pots. Aspiring chefs will enjoy a variety of spices, cooking utensils, a bottle of wine, and similarly themed items.
If your friend is a baker, purchase boxed bread mixes, dessert mixes, and other neat treats. Pack them into a decorated box with a new set of pot mitts.
If putting together a gift basket is not to your liking, visit area shops. Many candy stores, florists, and gourmet stores will create a gift basket from items you pick out. The cost includes the cost of the items you select and then a minimal surcharge for the basket and any wrapping.
Also look into home businesses that create gift baskets or gift boxes for you. Many moms and dads are leaving their 9 to 5 job behind and tapping into the gift basket craze. Their prices are generally lower than a store and the quality is top-notch.
No matter the gift, there are ways to stick with your budget and give a gift of thanks that will never be forgotten. Use your imagination and you are guaranteed that the recipient knows how much you appreciated their help.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as handmade gift baskets at http://www.gourmetgiftbasketsplus.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall
