My craft tip is to stock up on any seasonal items that look versatile especially if it's 90% off or more. A little modpodge and floral paper flower accents changes the feel of the basket into spring/summer.
Easter basket - .39 cents, originally $3.99
Transparent giftwrap - .19 cents, originally $1.99
All the items inside the basket are items that I coupon. Estimate, I spent no more than $20 for everything when all the items inside would normally retail $85+.
Supplies:
Steps:
This page contains the following solutions.
If you run out of excelsior (or whatever that shredded stuff is called) for a gift basket you're putting together and don't want to make a trip to the store to buy more, try this.
Use a basket for this one. Put in a muffin pan, a whisk, muffin mix, mixing bowl, and pot holder. Put it in a pretty jar or seal-a-meal pouch and attach directions.
If there are still any end of summer sales going on snag beach buckets for kids, they make great cheer me up buckets for little ones in the hospital anytime of the year.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I want to make some gift baskets (not gift in a jars, I have lots of recipes for them) Any ideas? What have others used?
Sheri from Modesto, CA
I love making gift baskets! They make wonderful, frugal gifts. One year I made a gift basket for virtually everyone on our Christmas gift list.
The baskets are easy to find at thrift stores or yard sales, or I have used a shoebox covered with any type of gift wrap or wallpaper. To cover the basket, I usually use the large clear plastic bags you can buy at the dollar stores. Usually they come two in a package for a dollar. Also, I use shredded wastepaper to partially fill each basket, which brings the items up high enough to look pretty.
What I like best is coming up with the theme for each basket and deciding what to put in it. Here are some I have done:
Apples. For a friend who has all kinds of apple decor in her kitchen, I made an apple shaped potholder, designed an apple saying and printed it out and framed it, made a jar of apple cake mix, and even made a notepad with an apple theme.
Winter Picnic. For my nephew and his toddler son, I made a basket with all the fixings for an indoor picnic. A couple of red checked napkins, some cheese crackers, pudding cups, plastic utensils, some giant ants cut out of black construction paper, a small photo album to record photos of the picnic, and some drink boxes.
Heart basket. For my niece, a heart themed basket with a heart shaped handmade sachet (using fabric scraps and some potpourri), little wooden birdhouse painted with hearts, a heart shaped Sculpey pin, and some small candies in a heart shaped candy dish I found at a thrift store. I even found a pretty used heart shaped basket for this one.
Movie night. A couple of inexpensive videocassettes (or DVD's), some microwave popcorn, drink mix or drink boxes, and a bag of candy.
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You can make a gift basket with any theme at all. Just think of the recipient and what they enjoy, and create the theme with that in mind.
You can have so much fun with this! In fact, I think you have inspired me to make gift baskets this year for Christmas. Good luck with your gift baskets.
zballoongirl
I love giving and getting homemade gift baskets! If you are really tight for money use a smaller basket and it fills much quicker. I buy baskets after Christmas when they are discounted and save them for the next year. To make my baskets look more professional I use glue dots to hold items in place and I use shrink wrap that you use a hair dryer on and it shrinks the plastic around the gift. I have made spa baskets with bath soaps, oils, and candles; I have made baskets with wine, crackers, cheese spreads (there are some types that don't require refrigeration) along with some pretty wine glasses, if I know a person's musical preference I will add a CD of their favorite artist. I made a sewing basket for a friend that likes to sew, and filled it with all sorts of notions, spools of thread, and a pair of pinking shears that I knew that she had wanted.
Home Organization Basket - notepads, calendar, organizer, folders, clock, phone
* Honeymoon/Romance Basket - negligee, perfume, lotion, Throw Blanket, hot chocolate or sparkling cider with 2 mugs or glasses, picnic basket
* Gourmet/Kitchen Basket - pasta, fancy dressings, crystal pitcher, apron, hot pads, ice cream maker
* Gardening Basket - seeds, flower pot, water can, gardening gloves, garden tools, lawnchairs
* Mrs. Fix-It Basket - small tool case, scissors, sewing basket, hammer
* Homemaking Basket - laundry basket, pillows, blankets, dustbuster, air freshener
* Memory Maker Basket - photo albums, picture frames, guest book, journals
I want an idea on some things to place in a gift basket for someone to have in there hotel room, snacks, etc.
Betty from KY
Microwave popcorn, bottled water, tea bags, hot chocolate mix, coupons for hotel services, homemade cookies, refrigerator magnets with hotel logo and phone #, candles, champagne
Coffee singles and coffee creamer. How about a full size bar of soap? Those tiny things they give you in hotels are hard to handle. Magazines and paperback books.
Mints, gum, favorite candy bar or salty snack, small bottle of wine, bubble bath, coupon to local restaurant, piece of LOCAL collectable (as a souviner)
Playing cards, travel journal, puzzle book, book they have been meaning to read, a letter from you
Depending onthe occasion--you can personalize it along that theme
Be sure to give personal items like shampoo, conditioner, lotion etc in small sample sizes. Also good are small packages of nuts, chocolate candy bars, chips or crackers. Shower caps and slippers are good too. Bottles of water go over well. Mostly these are things that are often forgotten when people pack. For the men don't forget shaving lotion and disposable shavers. And for out of towners include a copy of the daily newspaper.
My Aunt travels a lot.Often, following a whirl-wind of meetings, meals while having meetings, late night meetings, and hurry-up to make it to the meetings on time, trying to grab a taxi, that she often gets a headache, or indigestion, upset tummy, or allergies start up in a strange place.
Most usually there isnt anywhere to pick up some over-the-counter remedies. Perhaps some sample sized items for headache ,allergy, diarrhea, pepto, or tums would be appreciated. Especially those that dissolve in your mouth, and don't need water to swallow them down. You could include these with your other "goodies" Just never know.
I think a basket full of crossword puzzles, sudoko & circle-it game books are nice, along with some playing cards. A journal & nice pen for her to document her days. And a Nice lotion & bubble bath.
It's flu season - protect yourself from germs with disposable mini-covers. The covers are made of surgical mask material and act as a germ barrier. Mini-disposable covers great for home, travel and office. Use them on telephone receivers (they feel great on your ears), doorknobs, toilet flushers, beverage covers. Check out twinzings.com for additional uses. Great for holiday stocking stuffer gifts.
I usually use GiftTree.com.
I found the best company out there. The Grateful Basket specializes in baskets for events and hotel gift baskets. They arrange delivery and customize the basket for your event and theme. My guests were very happy with what they found in their room.
This page contains spring cleaning gift basket ideas. A spring cleaning gift basket can be a fun gift for a friend or neighbor.
A fun gift to give a friend or family member is a personalized Family Night basket. Include a movie, games, snacks, and more. If they have young children, consider a book. This page is about family night gift basket ideas.
Upcycle sturdy cardboard boxes to make this pretty display gift basket. This would be perfect as a thoughtful present or as a donation to an auction.
Showing him your love on Valentine's Day can be a personalized gift basket. Using recycled boxes and decorating it yourself, you can fill it with things you know he likes or needs.
Rather than purchase an expensive commercially packaged gift basket for a newborn make one yourself. You can choose the basket and add more personalized and thoughtfully chosen items. Follow the instructions on this page to create your own version of this DIY newborn baby gift basket.
Preparing a thoughtful gift basket for someone with serious health issues can bring smiles and inspiration. This page contains basket of encouragement ideas for a cancer patient.
The humble paper plate once again finds itself the star of this cute cookie basket craft. This is a page about how to make a paper plate cookie gift basket.
A specialized gift basket is a thoughtful and useful gift to put together and give to a friend or family member. This is a page about sewing theme gift basket ideas.
Make this gift basket for a couple in need of a date night. This page is about making a dinner and a movie gift basket.
This page contains first apartment gift basket ideas. There are many useful things you can give someone for a house warming gift.
This is a page about gift basket ideas for college students. College students need all sorts of household and goody items when they go away to school. Gift baskets are a fun way to give them some of the necessities and the fun stuff.
Sharing your holiday spirit can be accomplished with a festive gift. This page contains St. Patrick's day gift basket ideas.
