Gift Basket Ideas

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2011-12-29T16:40:00.000-08:00

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Gift Ideas for Teens

2009-12-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

Teens on your list may be a challenge when it comes to gift ideas.

Here are ideas I have and will be using for the teen on my list:

- Movie pass
- Movie rental gift certificate
- Gift card for pizza or other food outlets
- Cell phone card
- Gift card for favorite clothing store
- Gift card for pharmacy for personal items
- Subscription to magazine relating to interest or hobby
- Gas card
- Gift card for a bookstore
- Gift certificate for their favorite barber or beauty salon
- Wallet including some of the above gift cards
- A gift basket filled with favorite food items

The gift of time with a teen is always appreciated. Purchase gift cards for yourself and teen to use together. Suggestions:

- Gift cards for a gym workout
- Swimming passes
- Bowling passes
- Golf driving range certificates
- Movie and dinner passes for an evening together
- Movie rental certificate with a date to watch together
- Certificate for a day at a spa

A wallet, purse, backpack, large mug, or duffel bag could be used to hold the cards.

Gift Ideas for Boaters

2008-11-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

Gift Ideas for Boaters. Here are a few suggestions magazines, electronics, and DVDs.

Deciding who the gifts are for is a first step. For instance, the Captain, First Mate, Boating Moms, Boating Families, Galley Cook, and Boating Children are all separate categories. To include everyone, a gift basket for a Boating Family could include items for each person on the above list.

More ideas are on my lens Gift Ideas for Boaters

Gift Ideas for Pet Owners

2008-11-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

A gift idea for pet owners is information on caring for their pets.

A FREE e-book "Healing Your Pets at Home", is available at Veterinary Secrets Revealed

There are several suggestions for a gift basket for pet owners on a previous blog post
Gift Basket Ideas for Pet Owners

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2008-11-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

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Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

2008-11-05T07:27:00.000-08:00

Homemade Christmas Gifts for family and friends on your list require a bit of thought which makes them so great.

For a reader, a bookmark made from felt, cardboard, or even a ribbon with a charm added is a great place marker for books. Bookmarks made from cardboard or paper can be personalized with pictures, drawings, stickers, and a personal message. We used plain white paper one year, decorated the bookmark and covered both sides with clear contact paper. A book with a homemade bookmark is a gift idea for readers.

If you knit or crochet, presents could be scarves, hats, sweaters, or blankets. Knitted cotton dishcloths can be added to your gifts for a cook.

Some of the homemade gifts we have made over the years are personalized place mats, candles, soap, and fleece scarves. Homemade gifts are a way to involve children in the spirit of giving. We have found family and friends appreciated the thought and time put into making their gifts.

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Father's Day Gift Basket Ideas

2008-05-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is approaching and one idea is a gift basket customized for the recipient.

Hobbies are a place to start when planning a gift basket. For instance boaters may enjoy receiving nautical gifts such as a VHF radio, inflatable life jacket and many others. Visit Gift Basket Ideas for Boaters for a larger list.

Personalized items such as T-shirts, cards, magnets, pens, etc are available from VistaPrint

Gift Basket Idea for Pets

2008-01-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

A gift basket for pets is fun to create and can be an appreciated gift for pet owners.

Our family has a dog and two cats pampered by a senior friend who brings treats and spends time with the animals. Offering to walk a dog is a gift . A handmade coupon could be included in a gift basket for this service.

Creative containers for gifts are a carrier for transporting a pet, basket for a bed, or tote bag.

Suggestions for gifts:

grooming brush or tool
bedding pad
food and water dishes
sweater
collar
light for night walking
leash
gift certificate from pet store
supply of pet food
pet toys
pictures of recipient's pet in frame or on a card

Knowing the animal you are creating the gift basket for can help in selecting items to include.

For pet owners looking for information on caring for pets, there is a free download "Healing Your Pets at Home" from Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

Edible Gift Ideas - Create a basket

2007-12-27T09:44:00.000-08:00

If there’s one thing that most people love, it’s eating. The holidays are no different. For the people on your list that you want to give a gift to but don’t exactly know what they would like, give the gift of food. A basket, cake plate, decorative tin, or plastic container with lid could hold your edible gifts.

Loaf desserts and breads are easy to make and fun to eat. Choose a few festive breads: pumpkin, zucchini, banana nut, or sweet potato. Pound cakes of all sorts are also yummy. Use a spring form pan or bundt cake pan and you can split the cake in half, giving you two gifts instead of one. To avoid confusion, use different color cellophane wrapping to distinguish the different loaves that you have. Make homemade gift tags to tape to each one. These are perfect for gift giving at church or around the office.

Edible gifts should be packaged securely. Be sure to bake or cook them as close to the delivery date as possible to avoid spoiling. If there are special instructions for storage, be sure to include a card with the storage directions printed on it.

New neighbors or new moms would especially appreciate edible gifts. For these folks you can purchase meals from a company that makes dinners. Preparation kitchens that allow you to purchase meals that they have made or make your own and take them home, are popping up everywhere. They take the guesswork and time out of meal preparation and their ingredients are usually all natural and healthy for the family. Choose the meals yourself or purchase a set number of entrees and let the gift receiver go into the kitchen and choose the ones that they would prefer.

You may want to send someone an edible gift that they can assemble themselves. If they are pasta lovers, send them a gift of pasta, homemade sauce, a loaf of French bread, utensils, and seasonings inside a large pot or a bread basket. Be sure to include a recipe and cooking instructions for a favorite recipe.

Edible gifts are great ideas for college students, apartment dwellers, seniors, new parents, grandparents and just about anyone you can think of. Besides, who can resist a meal or dessert that they didn’t have to prepare?

Gift Basket Ideas - Filling a Stocking

2007-12-22T05:39:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Stocking may be put to use as a way to present your gifts.

Stockings now are so ornate that they are hung for decoration and not for use. Instead of buying lots of wrapping paper, the stocking can act as the wrapping. Along with the gift, the recipient will also get a stocking to hang for the holidays next year.

For the magazine reader in your life, give them a one or two year subscription to their favorite magazine. By opting for a two-year subscription, you’ll usually save money. The magazines will be sent directly to the recipient, but you will receive a confirmation card that you can put in an envelope and present to them on Christmas morning. If using for a last minute gift idea, include a current issue of the magazine in their stocking with a personal note of the subscription.

Gift cards can be purchased for restaurants as well as retail stores. If you know someone who wants to try the new place for dinner in town, reduce their bill a little by giving them a gift card.

Everyone wants to be pampered – men included. A facial for her and a massage for him that they can use any time fits into even the busiest of schedules. You don’t have to pay for an entire package, but instead purchase a gift certificate for an individual or buy one package for a couple to share.

The best thing about these gift cards or certificates is that you don’t have to buy wrapping paper for them. They fit into envelopes, many of which are already decorated or come with their favorite character or scenery on them.

Gift Basket Idea - Audio Books

2007-12-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

While thinking of an extra gift for completing baskets, I decided to include an audio book.

Suitable for all ages from children to seniors
Individual listening - load book onto personal listening device
Audio book on a CD can be enjoyed by everyone

I use the following site for a large selection of audio books Kids - Young and Old

Books can be downloaded after purchase.

Listening to an audio book is an excellent way to spend family time or time with a senior.

For a last minute gift to add to a basket or a stocking choose an audio book tailored to the age and interests of the recipient.

Gift Basket Ideas - Filling a Cup - Part 2

2007-12-06T07:41:00.000-08:00

For a teen or college student, a gift basket in a cup could include pens, highlighters, chocolate as well as some of the following gifts.

Any number of gift cards for a variety of items could be included such as:

phone
favorite restaurant
gas
supermarket
pharmacy
video rental
stationery store
clothing store
electronics store

Adding individual packets of tea, hot chocolate, or other favorite drinks with any of the above gifts makes a useful gift basket in a cup.

Gift Basket Ideas-Filling a Cup - Part 1

2007-12-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

While shopping I found sets of 16 oz. cups decorated with a Christmas motif. I started to brainstorm about turning the cups into gift baskets.

The first idea came to mind for my son who gives gifts to several people at Christmas. One is an elderly neighbor who likes a certain kind of peppermint candy. She also likes to drink her tea from a large mug. The cup filled with peppermints, wrapped with paper and ribbons makes a welcome useful gift.

A cup can be used for a teacher's gift. Speciality individual coffee or tea packets, post it notes, a pen, individually wrapped chocolates, candy canes, Christmas cookies are a few suggestions for a teacher's gift basket in a cup.

Gift Basket Ideas for Boaters

2007-12-04T07:13:00.000-08:00

For the boaters on your list, gift baskets can be created for the captain, galley cook, boating mom or boating family.

A basket is one way to present your gifts, however, using a cooler, duffel bag, toolbox, or folding crate are containers useful to boaters.

Gifts for boaters may be a floating keychain, GPS, sailing gloves, magazines, or a hat.

Card games, board games, audio tapes, personalized t-shirts, CD, DVD, are gifts to consider for the boating family.

The galley cook can utilize oven mitts, pots, galley utensils, or placemats and napkins with a nautical theme, thermos to name a few.

For more ideas for boaters visit my lens Gift Ideas for Boaters

Gift Basket for Seniors

2007-12-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a few ideas our family has used for gifts for seniors. A beautiful gift basket can be made by including some of these items and others your senior enjoys.

We have a senior who is unable to shop on her own. Sending birthday cards to family members throughout the year is important to her so we choose cards for her list and include stamps.

Special cookies, candies, lotions, are welcome gifts.

Gift cards to a pharmacy and grocery store along with a note to do the shopping can involve all family members in giving.

Perhaps your senior is a game player - a new deck of cards, a book of crossword puzzles, or a game to play with friends can be included.

More suggestions:

A shawl for over the shoulders or a lap throw

A planter for a balcony filled with bulbs is a gift to enjoy as spring approaches

A video of a favorite movie or TV series

CD's or music tapes

Subscription to a favorite magazine along with a current issue

Family pictures

Special coffee or tea

Favorite food items

Gift card from a restaurant that delivers

Slippers

There is always the gift of time spent with a senior. Offering to write letters, shop for groceries, help clean, yard work are all gifts a family can give to a senior. Children can make coupons for helping and include them in the gift basket.

Creative Gift Basket Ideas - Part 4

2007-11-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

For the women on your list, think about the one thing most women want, but don’t always get a chance to do.

Women love to take time out for themselves and though sending them to a spa for a day is a great gift, not everyone will be able to schedule that much time away. So, instead of sending them to the spa, a gift basket filled with pampering items they can use at home is sometimes more practical.

One way you can present her gifts is inside of relaxation apparel. Start with a huge box and place a plush robe and slippers inside. But don’t stop there. Turn the robe and slippers into a creative gift basket by filling each pocket with lotions, a manicure kit, a towel, eye mask, and more. Then, use the slippers to hide aromatherapy candles and bath salts. Just a tip, using slipper socks will give you more room for even more gifts. Imagine her surprise when she pulls out the robe and finds all the other goodies in the pockets.

Creative Gift Basket Ideas - Part 3

2007-11-23T11:20:00.000-08:00

When the kids want to give a gift to their teacher, you can give them the ever famous apple, candles, and other assorted gifts.

Once you’ve decided on the gifts, instead of a basket or a gift bag, present the gifts in something they can use - a tote bag. The tote bag needs to be big enough to hold not only their gifts, but also notebooks and papers.

Add the Christmas card to an outer pocket or tie a string to the handle and attach the card to it wishing the teacher happy holiday season!

Creative Gift Basket Ideas - Part 2

2007-11-22T06:43:00.000-08:00

Is dad or another man in the family an avid fisherman?

Use an old-fashioned wicker tackle box to hold a bunch of fishing items. Stuff your creative gift basket full of lures, handkerchiefs, line, a coffee thermos, and anything else you think he could use on his next fishing trip.

When he’s ready to head out, he’ll only need to grab the tackle box and his pole and he’s ready to go!

Creative Gift Basket Ideas

2007-11-21T16:00:00.000-08:00

Gift baskets have grown in popularity and are the favorite choice of many when it comes to giving. Gift baskets not only allow those doing the giving to personalize their gift more, but also to get more creative in the gifts themselves. Baskets are functional and many people love them and will use them well after the gift inside has been removed. However, not every recipient can or will make use of a basket. Instead of giving a gift basket with an actual basket as the basis, why not try something a bit more creative and useful to the beneficiary?

All it takes is a bit of thought and fore planning to find the perfect creative gift basket without a basket. Remember, just because you are sending a Christmas gift doesn’t mean the gift itself has to be decorated for the holidays. Are the creative juices flowing yet? If not, that’s ok. Here are a few ideas to help you get started on the perfect creative gift basket.

Do you know someone on your list who loves to cook? Think about some items that they’d like to receive. Instead of wrapping up a basket filled with kitchen items in cellophane paper, use a crock pot or a stock pot instead. A stock pot is big enough to hold even tall items, so don’t leave out those long handled spoons or box of foil. To add to the surprise, replace the lid and return the pot to its original box. Slap a pretty bow on the box and you’re done. They’ll think you neglected to wrap the gift (play along if you want) until they lift the lid off of the stock pot and find all their goodies inside.

Gift Basket

2007-10-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

A Gift Basket is wonderful to give or receive for any occasion.

Several years ago I received a gourmet food basket at Christmas from co-workers. I was overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness and the beauty of the basket. As I used the items the givers were utmost in my mind.

Since then I, too, have given gift baskets for different occasions. One basket I made was a "Movie Night" basket. It contained four decorative mugs, hot chocolate mix, popcorn, and a coupon to a local video rental store. The basket was for a family and a way to include everyone.

For the upcoming Christmas season, gift baskets will be created by myself or purchased for my list.

I look forward to your comments and sharing ideas on gift baskets.