I love to gift baskets because I can never decide what to get people. By giving someone a basket of things, they will be surprised that you put the thought into choosing each item specifically for them. (Don’t show them this post haha). It’s easy to personalize baskets but it’s also easy to give somewhat generic gift baskets that feel personal if you don’t know someone well. Gift baskets are great for people who like surprises, don’t want to give you gift ideas, or that one person who is impossible to shop for. Another great thing about giving gift baskets is that you don’t waste paper bags or wrapping. Baskets and boxes can be used again and again. Follow my tips below for thoughtful gift basket giving!
How to Make a Thoughtful Gift Basket
1. Choose Your Gift Basket
Choose a basket or box that is sturdy enough to be useful in someone’s home. Consider the person you are choosing a box or basket for and try choosing one that the person would enjoy. It could be a color they like, a basket that might match their living room decor, or maybe use something useful like a mixing bowl if you plan to give a baking gift basket.
2. Fill the Bottom of the Gift Basket
Fill the bottom with stuffing or a fabric item. Gift a scarf, dish cloth, or table cloth if you want to be Eco-friendly! This will add padding for the items you add in the basket (to protect during transport). It will also fill the bottom of the basket and make the overall presentation more pleasing by raising the items higher and rounding out the look of the basket.
3. Choose Items to Place in the Gift Basket
Now consider what to fill the basket with. Fill the basket with five to six items. You want the basket to look full when you fill it with items so be sure to keep this in mind when choosing the size of the basket. I’ve listed some suggestions based on how you want the person to feel when they receive the basket. Don’t be afraid to mix and match in the categories!
Something to Comfort:
- Candle
- Calming Tea: Chamomile or Peppermint are safe bets if you don’t know what kind to give.
- Specialty Coffee
- Slippers or Fuzzy Socks
Something to Relax or Pamper:
- Face Masks
- Bath Bomb or Salts
- Face or Pillow mist
- Lotion or Hand Cream
- Nail Polish
- Specialty Bar of Soap
Something Joyful (hobby related items):
- Gardening Gloves
- Kitchen Whisk or Rubber Spatula
- Knitting Needles and Yarn
- Fishing Lures
Something Nostalgic:
- Homemade Mixed Tape
- A Scrapbook or Photo Album
- A Framed Photo
- Favorite Childhood Candy
- A Letter You’ve Kept
Something to Inspire:
- A Novel
- Book of Poems
- Cookbook
- Art Supplies
Something to Feel Welcome (Homemade or Local items):
- Fresh Baked Loaf of Bread
- Tin of Homemade Cookies or Treats
- A Handmade Craft (that you’re good at) ex. knitted dish clothes, hand sewn mittens, painted ceramics, set of earrings
- Specialty Jar of Jam
- Jar of Honey
- Hand Crafted Product from a Local Craftsman
- Chocolate Bar with the State or City on it
Something Extra and Easy to Personalize:
- Coffee Mug-with their name or relevant to them. Could be something based on their occupation, their hobbies, or their positive personality traits
- Favorite Snack-could be something like sea salt caramels or peanut butter cups. Maybe its Cheetos or a jar of pickles. Ask around and see what they eat the most of! (I have a friend that loves eating black olives out of the jar).
- Nice Pen- maybe their favorite color, or matches the rest of the gift basket. Bonus points if it’s gifted with a new journal!
- Calendar-think of a place they want to travel to, or their favorite animal, maybe their favorite hobby. Have you seen the Yoga Dogs calendar?!
- Cute Notebook or Journal-choose one that is of good quality and unique. Maybe one with an inspiring quote on the front. Or you could choose one that matches the rest of the basket in terms of design or color. I love aesthetically pleasing gifts! They up the wow factor!
Tips for Budget Gifting
- Do More Homemade Things
- Buy a Smaller Basket so Less Things Makes it More Full
- Choose Bigger Items-that you can buy relatively cheap ex. Cookbook, bottle of wine, favorite snack
- Shop on Sale or Clearance
- Use Coupons and Discount Codes
Still Struggling? Fail-Proof Themed Gift Baskets to Try:
Spa Basket: Add lotion, candle, nail polish, bath bomb, hair wrap, & fuzzy slippers.
Italian Flavors Basket: Add pasta, jar of sauce, pesto, bread sticks, and a bottle of wine. Then add a serving utensil, cloth napkins, or a table cloth.
Movie Night Basket: Add popcorn, seasonings, candy or chocolate, and a movie to watch. Gift inside of a new popcorn bowl!
Baking Basket: Choose a recipe and write it out on a new recipe card. (Personalize with a family recipe).Add recipe ingredients that don’t need to be refrigerated. For Chocolate Chip Cookies–chocolate chips, baking soda, brown sugar, bottle of vanilla, etc. Then add a spatula or stirring utensil.
New Hobby basket: For Gardening- seeds, gloves, spray bottle (for misting seedlings), some labels to stick in the ground, a new succulent, a book about gardening. For Knitting- different types of yarn, needles, a pattern or two, and a how-to guide.
Wine & Cheese Basket: Add a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, crackers or extras, an assortment of cheeses, a table cloth, and maybe a cheese board.
A Thoughtful Note:
The key to thoughtful gift giving is to think solely of the person you are giving the gift basket or present to. If you don’t know someone very well, gift giving can be a way of getting to know more about them. Don’t be afraid to ask other people close to them questions like favorite colors, hobbies, or favorite snack! Ultimately as long as you go into the gift giving process thinking of the person you are giving the present to and how you want them to feel when they get your present you are already in the right direction to giving an incredibly thoughtful gift. If you’ve made it all the way to the bottom of this article, I’m sure it’s safe to say you are thoughtful and capable of giving an incredible gift. Happy Gifting ❤
Thank you for reading! Please post any questions or comments below!
Looking for More?
If you liked this article, you may enjoy: Beginner’s Guide to Apartment Gardening.
For more from Creative and Ambitious, check out our Pinterest page!
