This holiday season, shower your loved ones with a plethora of presents-in-one by making them a personalized gift basket. No matter what your budget may be, it's easy to build a DIY chest of treasures that's practical, luxurious ... or both. Even better, taking the time to hand-select items that specifically speak to the recipient's personality and passions automatically makes the gift more memorable.
"DIY gift baskets show an extra layer of thought and that, as we all know, is what counts," says Anne-Marie O'Neill, deputy editor for Real Simple magazine.
And not only will all the people on your gift-giving list feel extra-special, you won't waste money on items that will just be thrown away. Even though the likes of Harry & David may be lovely, it's rare to find a pre-assembled gift basket in which every item is ideal.
Picking the Perfect Presentee
DIY gift baskets are fine for everyone, including coworkers and casual acquaintances, says Shirley George Frazier, a gift basket industry über-expert and author of "The Gift Basket Design Book" (Globe Pequot, 2004). But they are especially great for friends and family of all ages because the carefully chosen products express close ties between the giver and receiver.
That said, according to O'Neill, it is OK to do carbon copy baskets for different people. Not only will you save time by making multiples, you can also save cash by buying items in bulk.
Themes that most people love include: soothing toiletries like home-facial supplies for women or luxury shaving lotions, potions and razors for men; coffee, tea or cocktail kits; and homey edibles, such as all the dry ingredients and tools for making chocolate chip cookies, or a barbeque-themed basket with gourmet sauces, rubs, a bag of charcoal and some recipes.
Just be sure the contents are truly appropriate for each recipient.
Tapping a Motif
When selecting a theme for a gift basket, remember to customize it for the person who's receiving it rather than yourself, Frazier saya. This means considering what the recipient might need in terms of their lifestyle as well as their hobbies and tastes. Of course, the Italian food-lover or cook would be thrilled to get an assortment of dry pastas, olive oil, balsamic, herbs and a cookbook packaged in a large stainless steel colander or pasta bowl. And the avid sports fan will likely cheer for a cooler or tote that contains game tickets, paraphernalia like caps and umbrellas bearing their favorite team's logo, a collapsible stadium chair and an assortment of snacks.
New students might also appreciate a basket that simply makes their life a little easier. Here are a few practical possibilities: A plastic laundry basket or wicker hamper filled with detergent, dryer sheets, stain remover, a mesh bag for delicates, and, if needed, a couple rolls of quarters; a large plastic mop bucket filled with cleaning products, sponges, dust cloths and room freshening sprays; and a winter health basket that includes vitamins, cough drops, a heating pad, a thermometer, tissues, warm socks, cans of chicken soup and chamomile tea.
Fill 'Er Up
If you're still having trouble deciding on a theme, use some of the following ideas from Sara Toliver, author of "Bountiful Baskets: Creating Perfect Gifts for Any Occasion" (Sterling, 2005), as a starting point:
For families: the "Movie" basket. Fill a popcorn bowl with bags of popped or microwave popcorn, popular movie candy like Junior Mints and Red Vines, classic sodas and a gift certificate to a local movie theater or video rental store. For women: the "Spa" basket. Stock a container with bath salts, bath pillow, loofah, eye mask, a lavender-scented candle and, if you want to make it extra indulgent, a soft robe and slippers. Another female-friendly idea is the manicure/pedicure basket with files, polishes and individual hand and foot creams.
For Men: the "Hobby" basket. For the wine lover, use a champagne bucket to hold a bottle of unusual wine, a bottle opener, a couple of wine glasses and a subscription to "Wine Spectator." Or, for the golf fan, fill a container with golf balls, a good golf shirt and coupons for lessons or a tee-time at his favorite course. As for children, try to find out their interests and tailor the gift to their age, Toliver says. A selection of board games, jigsaw puzzles and word game books might work well for most, as well as an assortment of art supplies, a variety of packaged science projects and a bucket of beach or pool toys.
Magnify the wow factor by taking some time
to think outside the basket.
"I very rarely use traditional woven baskets because they usually end up in a back closet or just get tossed," Toliver says. Instead, she recommends selecting a container that is both uniquely appropriate to the theme of the gift and also something the recipient can use long after the contents are unwrapped.
For example, Radio Flyer wagons filled with durable toys for toddlers or pastel-colored bath tubs stuffed with terrycloth washmitts and organic baby shampoo are perfect for new and expectant moms, Frazier says. Or if you're going the food route, why not package it up in a picnic basket, complete with bug spray, blanket and reusable dishes and utensils?
Other useful vessels include dish drainers, woks, serving trays, tea pots, flower pots, hats, baseball mitts, backpacks, small rolling suitcases and upturned umbrellas.
"Anything with an open center is fair game," Frazier says.
For added flair, use useful materials such as dish or beach towels, laundry bags, aprons, sweatshirts, jump ropes or bungee cords to wrap everything up. But use caution, warns Toliver, as some of these methods aren't very secure. If your gift basket will be transported a long way, you should consider first using shrink wrap, which can be purchased at craft stores and only requires a hair dryer. You can then use colorful cellophane, netting or other creative coverings on top.