Planning Gift Basket Pictures

Whether you’re gifting to someone on their birthday, for a holiday, or as a sympathy token, a well-planned basket of items can be an excellent choice. While it’s common to think of a traditional wicker basket when you envision gift basket ideas, you can also use fun bowls, collanders, pots and skillets for kitchen or cooking themes, laundry baskets for college students or new homeowners, wagons for children’s gifts, large glass jars for food or baking, and even vintage crates for home decor.

Regardless of the container you choose, it’s best to have some sort of filler on hand before you begin adding your gift basket items. This provides an even and decorative base for the gift and helps keep the items upright when arranged. Crumpled paper is a simple option, but sizzle (shredded or recycled paper), tissue paper or even newspaper also work well. If you’re using fabric items, try folding and stuffing them with filler before putting them into the basket.

When planning a gift basket, decide on a theme first. Often, this will be based on the occasion for which you’re creating the basket: a holiday-themed basket for Christmas, a spa-themed basket for relaxing or a “get well soon” basket for an illness, or a wedding or house-warming basket for a couple. Other times, the gift basket idea will be based on a personality or interest. A “snack” basket would be perfect for a party, for example, and Zingerman’s offers a number of collections that are appropriate for occasions from holidays to condolences.

Once you’ve settled on a theme, start shopping for the perfect basket and gift items. It’s important to remember that while you might be tempted to overfill your gift basket with “practical” items such as clothes, books or household products, this can quickly make the item seem like a box full of unwanted merchandise rather than something unique and enjoyable to open. Stick to one or two items of a more practical nature per basket and make them eye-catching by wrapping them in a pretty bow.

Finally, be sure to pick up some cellophane shrink wrap, a coordinating ribbon in a size and color that will look attractive wrapped around the basket, as well as tissue paper or sizzle for filler. It’s also a good idea to have some popsicle sticks or other similar tools handy so that you can secure smaller items in place as you add them to the basket.

When arranging the items in your gift basket, start with the tallest or largest pieces and arrange the rest of the items from smallest to biggest in a circular pattern around them. This way, all of the pieces have a chance to be seen when the basket is viewed from any angle. You can also hot-glue smaller things to skewers or straws so that they’re held up and won’t fall over while in the basket. This is especially helpful with delicate items such as silk flowers or a handmade bird.