This year as part of my thrifty, homemade Christmas I’m doing gift baskets. Each family on my list is getting a basket, most of which are themed. Because, of course, I have family members that read my blog I can’t go into exact detail about what I’m doing. I can however, throw some ideas your way that will get you thinking and maybe spark some ideas of your own.
Pick a Theme. I have different types of people on my list. I have a young, single brother, a married couple, a young family, my parents, teenagers, etc. They do not all want the same thing. So I pick a theme for each family and then have at least one personalized thing for each person. Here are some theme ideas.
Arts & Crafts. I’m doing this for my two young nieces and my daughter. I sewed little handbags and matching crayon roll-ups. I’ll throw in a small coloring book and a few art supplies too. You could do a more grown-up version for older kids. Sew a handbag and fill it with supplies to make your own jewelry or with a sketch pad and pencils. Here’s how mine came out. Check out the links for fantastic step-by-step tutorials.
Movies. This isn’t very homemade, but still cute. Fill a large bowl with microwave popcorn, some boxed theater candy and a couple old movies (you can find them so cheap).
Meals or Food. You could do a breakfast theme: homemade pancake mix, a bottle of syrup, homemade hot cocoa mix, a bag of their favorite coffee and a short subscription to the Sunday paper. You could do an ethnic theme like Italian or Oriental. Or simply throw in a bunch of homemade mixes with a wooden spoon, a mixing bowl and some measuring cups. Do you have a special treat you make at the holidays? Throw that in there. People love to receive food that they would never make (fudge or a specialty bread or pastry). Don’t give them something they already make themselves.
Warm Up. If you are a knitter or crocheter you could do a warm basket. Make scarves, hats and mittens for each family member and throw a (deflated) snow tube into the basket. To be funny you could also throw in a carrot and some stones for a snowman! (Be sure you know the color of their winter coats or matchy-matchy people like me won’t be likely to wear them).
Date Night. This will cost slightly more than the others, but is especially nice for a young couple with kids. Get a gift certificate to a restaurant, a bag of tea-light candles, some dried rose petals, some chocolates … you see where I’m going here. Put all that stuff in a basket along with one coupon for a free overnight of babysitting and you will have one happy couple.
Family Night. Buy a family game, a bottle of soda and a gift certificate to the local pizza place.
Year in Review. If you’ve been a snapshot taker all year (or if you’re sneaky enough to scavenge some photos) consider making a “Best of 2008? album. Purchase a small album, fill with pictures from the beginning of the year in order. Write little notes describing the pictures on index cards to place in some of the pockets. Be sure to leave room at the end of the album for Christmas photos. Then buy a couple frames and burn all the pictures to a CD and include those in the basket.
Think Outside the Basket. If a basket really compliments your theme, then go ahead and use one, but it’s ok to be creative and fill something else. Meal themes go great in a kitchen item like a colander or mixing bowl, or even a new pot of you’re spending more. You could use something funny (match the humor to the recipient) like a bedpan, something practical (if they need it) like a dishpan or lasagna pan. A small laundry basket works well. You could use a backpack or even a new purse. A small cooler (maybe for a camping theme) could work well too. It will only improve the overall gift and appeal if you match the container to the theme.
The goal is to give something thoughtful that suits the person/family. If you put thought and time into what you are doing you can’t go wrong.
Why I do what I do ~ Lately, whenever I ask my daughter to do something that she doesn’t want to do she replies by matter-of-factly saying “Mommy, that’s not a good idea.” It’s so funny when she says it that I have the hardest time keeping a straight face.
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