How to Make a Christmas Gift Basket

Receiving a gift basket is great fun. But making your own Christmas basket, whether for the special person in your life or for business, is deeply satisfying. All your creativity is engaged. All your craftmaking skills are brought to bear. But many potential artists are stopped at the outset, unsure how to proceed. Rest assured, it's easy!

FIRST STEP: Choose a Christmas Gift Basket Theme

Your gift basket can be about anything. Have a family member who's an avid reader? Consider a gift basket full of books and top it off with a little book light. Add a piece of chocolate to hold them through their period of relaxation. Does someone you know like playing chess? Think of stuffing a gift basket with a miniature magnetized set and arranging the pieces in an interesting pattern.

SECOND STEP: Choose a Christmas Gift Basket Design

Then get down to the gift basket design. Sketch out, on paper or just in your mind, what you'll need to execute your gift basket idea. Make a list of materials, sizes and tools. Then, go shopping for gift basket ideas. See, this is fun already.

Gift Basket Container Ideas: You'll need a basket, of course. That can be anything that will hold the items:

• traditional wicker container,
• an antique coffee can,
• an ancient toy bucket or
• a contemporary planter.

You get the idea. Try to find something that compliments your theme. And don't be afraid to think outside the "basket."

Gift Basket Wrap:  Once you have the container and the items, you'll usually want to be able to wrap everything up.

• Cellophane is one possible choice.
• Wax paper works well, too, because it's flexible and teases the recipient.

Your special holiday gift recipient can see enough to be intrigued, but can't clearly make out what the Christmas presents are.

How to Hold the Christmas Presents in Place:  Lay everything out and arrange your basket items inside the container. Remember that in many cases, they'll tend to shift around. Select some suitable stuffing material to keep them in place. It could be:

• a delightful small kitchen towel,
• newspapers from years ago, or
• even marbles glued together.

Try to keep it creative. Avoid ordinary bubble wrap or Styrofoam shipping peanuts.

LAST STEP:  The Crowning Touch - Presentation for Christmas Gift Baskets

Once they're arranged and secured, consider a 'topping'. You might sprinkle the gifts with star-shaped glitter, or heart-shaped confetti. Make sure they won't spill out of the basket the second the wrapping is taken off. No one wants a gift that forces them to clean up afterward! Include a candy cane on top of the basket with a bow.

Wrap everything and store the basket appropriately. If it contains chocolate, room temperature is fine. If the basket holds white wine, you might want to tuck it in the refrigerator.

Then, don't forget about presentation. Prepare a glass of wine, or announce the opening with an appropriate song. Make it special. Gifts are all about celebrating. So, celebrate!

Christmas Gift Idea Articles:

• Christmas Gifts Ideas for Her
• Christmas Gift Ideas for Him 
• Themed Christmas Gift Basket Ideas