Gift Basket Ideas

Graduation Gift For Him

2009-03-30T20:33:00.001-07:00

Buying a graduation gift for a male can be a very rewarding experience for you and for the graduate. Depending on the age of the male and your relationship to him, there are hundreds of gifts that are perfect for his special day.

A high school graduate heading to college or a college graduate heading out into the world will, without a doubt, welcome any gift from family and friends. The most appropriate gifts are practical ones. At this point in a young mans life a gift of money would probably be the most practical, but other gifts like gift certificates, lap top computers, electronic organizers, portable DVD or MP3 players, brief cases and portfolios are also acceptable. For a high school guy heading to college a round trip ticket home would put his mind at ease knowing he has a way to escape on school vacation. A college grad would surely be thrilled with a ticket to the Bahamas or any exotic island.

If the graduate is a family friend, a pen set, watch, special graduate plaque, graduation album, engraved stationary or food basket are all lovely ways to say congratulations. Gift certificates to food, clothing, music and bookstores are also quite nice. If your not sure of the young mans tastes, find a mall that offers a gift certificate to any of their stores, or order a certificate on the Internet that can be used in hundreds of online websites. This guarantees you that there has to be something out there that the grad will want and that he will appreciate the fact that you care.

Gifts For Men provides detailed information about gifts for men, birthday gift for him, anniversary gift for him, gift basket for him and more. Gifts For Men is the sister site of Wholesale Embroidered Hats.

By Eddie Tobey

Holiday Gift Guide Gift Basket Ideas for Under $200

2008-12-02T20:34:00.001-08:00

Its holiday time again any you have a gift list as long as your arm and just not enough time to go out and do all the shopping. There are only 24 hours in a day and you are already using up 48 of them. And to add to your dilemma, there are a bunch of people who are just plain hard to buy for or live far away. A gift basket may just be the answer. They have a great variety of items from fruit to nuts and just about everything else for every type of eater. And the baskets they come in will be appreciated as well. They will be used again and again in many different ways. I have hunted the web to try and find the best gift basket available. There are many gift baskets available for under $200 and there are samples of all different types of gift baskets under $200 listed here. So take some time and look around and see what gift basket you can find for the special person on your list. And then take some time to relax and enjoy the rest of the season It will be over all too soon and we will be back to the everyday routine of life.

Dom Perignon Greetings Champagne Gift Basket
http://www.akagourmet.com
Can there be a better way to show that special person just how much you care than a bottle of Dom Perignon, the champagne of all champagne, the champagne that all others are judged by? I cant think of any and this basket, which is beautiful all be itself comes not only with the champagne, but also with a gift box of 28 delicious chocolates. Cant beat that for a nice, relaxing evening with a friend.

Double Wine & Fruit
http://www.simplyclassicgiftbaskets.com
Wine, cheese and fruit. The ultimate French picnic. The subject of many a still life work or art. And this work of art will be appreciated not only for its look, but more importantly for its taste. Wine, cheese and fruit compliment each other, with the tastes blending together and not with one trying to overpower the other. With this gift basket containing California Pinot Noir, California Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey Jack Cheese, Brie cheese, Camembert Cheese, Imperial Comice pears, Red Bartlett pears and Beurre Bosc pears the recipient will have enough to have more than one French Picnic.

The V.I.P Gift Basket
http://www.winecountrygiftbaskets.com/
This magnificent basket which measures 23 x 20 x 10 is packed to over flowing with some of the best gourmet treats ever put together in one place at one time. This gift basket is big enough to please the whole family. Some of the treats included are Godiva dark chocolate covered almonds and pretzels, white chocolate, milk chocolate cashews, caviar, merlot cheddar cheese spread, caramel walnut cookies, a complete collection of Lindt truffles, Ghirardelli Twilight Delight and Citrus Sunset dark chocolate, an assortment of crackers and teas and even green asparagus and this is only some of the items included in this monster gift basket.

Signature Chocolate Gift Basket
http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/
All Lake Champlain Chocolates are Preservative-free and Kosher-certified
Everyone knows a chocoholic. As a matter of fact, most of us are chocoholics. And there is nothing better than a gourmet chocolate treat after a hard days work. It makes you feel so special and appreciated. The sturdy keepsake basket is handwoven from New England ash and comes jam packed with this- 24-piece Small World Dark Chocolates, 20-piece Chocolates of Vermont, 15-piece Lake Champlain Selection,
6.5 oz. Milk Chocolate Medallions Bag, 4-piece Small World Chocolate Truffles, Two Five Star Chocolate Bars and
Two Signature Chocolate Bar. That is enough to satisfy the most ardent chocoholic among us, even me.

Orchard Selection
http://www.simplyclassicgiftbaskets.com/orchardselection.htm
This is the perfect gift basket for someone who is on a special diet, is a vegetarian or just plain loves fruits, And they will not find this type of fruit in the local supermarket. It is the literally the pick of the vine, the best of the best. The basket itself is beautifully crafted and it contains 20 pieces of fruit and the assortment will change depending on the season. Here are some examples of what might be included. Royal Comice Pears, Ruby Red apples, Sweet Seckel Pears, Juicy Navel Oranges, South African Baby Pineapple, Italian Golden Bosc Pear, Granny Smith Apples, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Jonagold Apples and sweet & sour Japanese Kumquats.

By Regina Sass

Valentine's Day Gift Basket Ideas

2008-11-30T23:16:00.001-08:00

Looking for a great gift for your Valentine? Gift baskets make great gifts for co-workers, friends, parents, and significant others. This guide contains great Valentine's Day gift baskets. I have included gift baskets of various prices. Additionally, I have included baskets that are appropriate for different individuals in one's life, so that you are sure to find a great gift basket for everyone on your Valentine's Day gift list.

Romantic Gift Basket: The Romantic Gift Basket is perfect for a romantic Valentine's Day evening with your significant other. This gift basket includes candy tattoos, a chocolate brownie cake, cinnamon imperials triangle, chocolate cherry body paint and brush, chocolate covered pretzels, 2 chocolate long-stem roses, chocolate body powder, chocolate watermelon body paint and brush, raspberry almond shortbread, a CD with romantic music, a string of pearls, chocolate covered marshmallows, Ghirardelli dark chocolate squares, and sparkling white grape juice. All of these items are placed into a gold painted basket that measures 14 inches by 16 inches. A beautiful red satin ribbon decorates the side of this basket.

The Romantic Gift Basket costs $139, and it may be ordered from The Gift Basket Pros at: http://www.pro-gift-baskets.com/gift.aspx?id=638. Deliveries can be made as soon as the next business day or as late as 10 business days after your order, depending on the shipping method you choose when buying this Valentine's Day gift basket.

The Heartfelt Valentine's Gift Bag: This pink felt bag, decorated with colorful hearts is a good gift for co-workers, friends, parents, and significant others. The Valentine's Day gift bag contains chocolate covered almonds, gourmet jellybeans, flavored jelly, 2 packages of peeps, and chocolate covered sugar cookies.

The Heartfelt Valentine's Day bag costs $39.95, and may be purchased at the Soo Many Baskets website, located at: http://www.soomanybaskets.com/proddetail.php?prod=VALENTINES-GIFT-BASKET-0107-19. Soo Many Baskets offers free ground shipping; however, other shipping options are also available.
Heart of Gold Valentine Gift Basket: This gift basket, also from Soo Many Baskets is a great gift for co-workers, friends, parents, children, and significant others. Heart-shaped chocolate covered cookies, Ghirardelli chocolates with raspberry filling inside, 3 packages of Lindt chocolates, pink hot chocolate, and chocolate covered almonds by Dove are contained within a gold wire heart-shaped basket. The basket will be topped with a bow and decorated with flowers.

This basket may be ordered from Soo Many Baskets for $39.95. To order this basket, please visit: http://www.soomanybaskets.com/proddetail.php?prod=VALENTINES-GIFT-BASKET-0107-1. Soo Many Baskets offers free ground shipping; however, other shipping options are also available.

Cherished Valentine Gift Basket: This red basket filled with chocolate and a teddy bear is a great Valentine's Day gift for your significant other, co-worker, friend, parent, or child. This basket includes Valentine's taffy candy, XOXO lip-shaped chocolate with caramel in the middle, chocolate fudge popcorn, XOXO chocolate krisp kiss, 4 Valentine's brownies, and an 8 inch tall stuffed white teddy bear.

This basket is available through Pine Valley Gift Baskets and costs $42.99. Pine Valley can get your gift basket to your Valentine as soon as the business day after you order your basket or as late as 6 days after you place your order, depending on the type of shipping you choose. You may place an order for the Cherished Valentine Gift Basket by visiting: http://www.pinevalleygiftbaskets.com/cherished-valentine-gift-basket-p-321.html. Alternatively, you can place your order by calling: 1-888-512-6759.

Rose Petal Spa Basket: This rose-themed spa basket makes a great gift for significant others, friends, and mothers. A 10.7 ounce rose scented bath salt, ahmad raspberry tea bag, 5.4 ounce bottle of rose scented hand lotion, an 8 ounce bottle of bubble bath, a Ghirardelli dark chocolate square, and a pink bath mitt accompany a light pink basket. The inside of the basket also contains decorative rose petals.

Cherry Moon Farms is the creator of this Valentine's Day gift basket, which may be ordered by visiting: http://products.proflowers.com/CherryMoonFarms-CMF/giftbaskets/RosePetalSpaBasket-10653?viewpos=4&trackingpgroup=CVA&ref=CMFSRCHOverIncvday+page&catid=CVA. The Rose Petal Spa Basket sells for $39.99.
Adore You: The Adore You gift basket makes a great gift for significant others, parents, children, co-workers, and friends. A white stuffed teddy bear measuring 8.5 inches by 6.75 inches by 12 inches, 2 ounces of Ghirardelli chocolate coffee, 3.8 ounces of blackberry raspberry drops, 2 ounces of raspberry tea cookies, and a stationary set containing 10 sheets of stationary and 5 envelopes, accompany a decorated basket.

This basket sells for $74.99, and is available at Gift Baskets City, located at: http://www.giftbasketscity.com/valentines-gift-baskets/29704.html.

Kookie Kitty: This gift basket includes a stuffed kitty as well as several types of cookies, which makes it a perfect gift for any cookie and/or cat lover in your life - parents, children, significant others, co-workers, and/or friends. Cookies included in this basket are: Highlander butter shortbread cookies, raspberry chocolate or white chocolate gourmet cookies, butter wafers with chocolate filling, pretzel rods, caramel cookies, and caramel and chocolate clusters of nuts.

This basket may be ordered from Gifts of Excellence for $50 by visiting: http://www.gifts-of-excellence.com/Valentine.htm. Alternatively, you can call: 1-877-981-7910 to place your order.

Valentine Tote for Him: This bag full of goodies is perfect for fathers, male friends, and significant others. Cinnamon spiced almonds, chocolate covered caramel pecan clusters, caramel popcorn, chocolate cookies, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, and snack mix are all stuffed into this bag, topped with a teddy bear. The teddy bear looks as if it is wearing a stripped shirt with a bow at the top and buttons down the front.

This tote can be purchased for $30 from Gifts of Excellence at: http://www.gifts-of-excellence.com/Valentine.htm.

Valentine Chocolate Heart Bucket: Chocolate lollipops accompany a plastic plant holder. This gift is perfect for all of your office colleagues or friends. Chocolate lollipops are available in milk chocolate, red chocolate, and dark chocolate, and you may decide whether the bucket you order contains one or a combination of these flavors. The basket comes in three sizes. A small bucket contains 9 chocolate lollipops for $32.99. A medium bucket contains 12 chocolate lollipops for $38.99. A large lollipop basket contains 15 chocolate lollipops and costs $41.99.

The Valentine Chocolate Heart Bucket may be ordered from The Candy Gift Basket on-line at: http://www.thecandygiftbasket.com/product/s-vchocbucket.This guide of Valentine's Day gift baskets has something for everyone. I hope this guide helped you find a great gift for all the special people in your life.

Sources:

The Gift Basket Pros: The Romantic Gift Basket by the Gift Basket Pros:
http://www.pro-gift-baskets.com/customerservice.aspx#Shipping

Soo Many Baskets: Heartfelt Valentine's Day Bag:
http://www.soomanybaskets.com/proddetail.php?prod=VALENTINES-GIFT-BASKET-0107-19

Soo Many Baskets: Heart of Gold Valentine's Gift Basket:
http://www.soomanybaskets.com/proddetail.php?prod=VALENTINES-GIFT-BASKET-0107-1

Pine Valley Gift Baskets: Cherished Valentine Gift Basket:
http://www.pinevalleygiftbaskets.com/cherished-valentine-gift-basket-p-321.html

Cherry Moon Farms: Rose Petal Spa Basket:
http://products.proflowers.com/CherryMoonFarms-CMF/giftbaskets/RosePetalSpaBasket-10653?viewpos=4&trackingpgroup=CVA&ref=CMFSRCHOverIncvday+page&catid=CVA

Gift Basket City: Adore You:
http://www.giftbasketscity.com/valentines-gift-baskets/29704.html

Gifts of Excellence: Gifts for Valentine's Day:
http://www.gifts-of-excellence.com/Valentine.htm

The Candy Gift Basket: Valentine Chocolate Heart Bucket:
http://www.thecandygiftbasket.com/product/s-vchocbucket

By Sierra Koester

Great Gift Basket Ideas

2008-11-30T22:28:00.001-08:00

Gift baskets are a good idea to showcase your creativity. Many people think that gift baskets are only appropriate for Christmas time, but who ever thought that was all wrong. Gift baskets are great for any occasion and the proper gift basket will make people say wow at both the gift basket and your creativity. The first thing that you must know is that a basket isnt the only thing that you have to use to make a gift basket, thats just the name of it. You can be more creative and use a bucket, wash tub, large pottery bowl, large watering can etc One of the best things to use is a large clay pot. Unlike a lot of my other suggestions, a clay pot can be painted and it can be decorated. But the most important thing is to keep your eye out for a good container for the gift basket, choose whatever works best for you.

When making the gift basket remember to use lots of tissue at the bottom of the container that you will be using so all of the goods in the basket dont sink. It is a good idea to use ribbon or raffia to tie around the goods inside of the gift basket, you can also wrap each item in the basket individually and tie with a ribbon and then place it into the gift basket, whatever way works well. The most important part of the basket is the things that you put inside of it. Music is the key to everyones soul, so placing the persons favorite CDs and tapes in the basket is a good idea. Everyone needs a little pampering, so placing rolled up towels, brushes, bath oils and sponges is definitely a good idea.

If the person needs to stay organized with all of his/her upcoming events you should place a small organizer in the gift basket, with a nice wood grain pen for the extra touch. Picking some nice scented candles up from your local candle shop is great for anybody, since they can be used at any time of the year. If youre somebody who loves to cook dont be ashamed to show off your cooking skills by baking some bread, cookies or pound cakes to place into the gift basket, remember that these items must be wrapped and they must be wrapped individually, cookies in one wrap and pound cake in the another. A very unique item that most people dont ever think about including in their gift baskets is the popcorn and movie combination, a lot of people include popcorn but nothing else, adding the persons favorite movie on DVD into the basket is very much out of the ordinary gift basket. Everybody has a sweet tooth so dont forget to add some delicious candy into the gift basket, it can be homemade candy, Hersheys kisses, gummy bears, jelly beans and other candies. If youre someone with a sense of humor add some joke books into the basket, some comedy movies and add a funny message to the card that you give the person with the basket.

Gift baskets are one of the few opportunities that a person has a chance to show off their creativity and their personality. So when youre giving somebody a gift remember that gift baskets are a fun idea, especially when youre making it yourself.

By Eric Abrego

Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

2008-11-26T02:24:00.001-08:00

With the Christmas season fast approaching us we find ourselves thinking about the ones we love and what kind of gift they would like. In this article we will explore gift baskets and how they can make a great and budget friendly gift this Christmas season. In this article we will discuss the different theme gift baskets you can create for just about anyone on your list.

Hobby Theme Gift Baskets

Hobby theme gift baskets are fun because you can fill them with anything that the person on your list can use for their hobby. Here are just a few ideas of what you can put in your hobby theme gift basket.

Golfer Gift Basket

How about filling it with golf tees, golf balls, gloves, gift card to their favorite sporting goods store, their favorite snacks, a golf theme picture frame, a bottled water, and a golf towel.

Fisherman's Gift Basket

Have new lures, fishing line, fishing license, hooks and bobbles, a fisherman's theme picture frame, disposable camera for all of those fish they will catch! Also, sun screen and first aid kit would work well here too.

Sports Enthusiast Gift Basket

If you have a sports buff in your home then here are some great gift basket ideas for them! A subscription to their favorite sporting magazine, tickets to their favorite sporting event, jersey, any type of souvenir from their favorite team. Just use your imagination here. The ideas are endless when it comes to sports!

Campers Gift Basket

An interesting idea that you could also incorporate is not using a basket at all. For instance, for the campers gift basket you could actually use a cooler and put everything in that. Here are some ideas for your campers gift basket.

Bug repellent, citronella candles, matches, first aid kit and sun screen, flashlight and extra batteries. These are just a few items but I am sure you can come up with some of your own.

Puzzle Gift Basket

My Mom loves puzzles so a nice gift basket could have a new pen, several different puzzles, favorite snacks, gum, and their favorite drink. You could also put some pencils and a eraser in there too.
We have touched on a few of the hobby gift basket ideas but I am sure you can think of more on your own. Think of the hobbies of the ones on your Christmas list and go from there. Next, we will take a look at food theme gift baskets.

Food Theme Gift Baskets

Food theme gift baskets will make a great gift for bosses, co workers, teachers, family and friends. We will discuss some ideas for a few food theme gift baskets.

Mexican Theme Gift Basket

Some great ideas for your mexican theme gift basket could be: kitchen towels, rags and pot holders in bold bright colors. A bottle of salsa and package of chips. Envelopes of different seasonings such as taco and fajita. How about a mexican cookbook or just a few of your family's favorite recipes printed on nice notecards. You could also put a few cans of corn and pinto beans in the basket or even a package of dried beans would work. What about flour and corn tortillas? Ideas are endless here too. Just use your imagination and go to work!

Italian Theme Gift Basket

You could put spaghetti noodles and a couple bottles of different sauces like marinara and alfredo. Kitchen towels, rags and potholders in an italian theme. You could also put a bottle of olive oil, seasonings, a wooden spoon set. An italian cookbook or your family's favorite italian recipes.

Chinese Theme Gift Basket

Of course every chinese gift basket will need some chop sticks and cookies. Another idea that could be used here is instead of using a basket try using a

wok! What about a bottle of soy sauce? Chinese cookbook, green tea, etc.

A few miscellaneous gift basket ideas could be a pet gift basket. For a dog you could put dog treats, dog shampoo, dog brush, dog sweater, dog bowl and a chew toy. For cats you could put cat food, a new cat food dish, brush, cat picture frame, mouse toy, and a scratching post. For other pets just think about what that pet needs and enjoys and go from there.

Gift baskets are really endless when it comes to ideas. Just start at the person you want to make this basket for and think about their likes and hobby and go from there. Usually ideas will start coming to you once you put your thinking cap on.

I hope you enjoyed these gift basket ideas and hopefully it will make your Christmas shopping go a little bit easier.

By Juliegirl

Get Well Gift Basket Ideas

2008-11-24T01:08:00.001-08:00

Being on bedrest or recovering from surgery is difficult for anyone, but particularly the man or woman who is active and very used to being up and about participating in daily activities. Spending time on bedrest or in recovery for more than a few days can lead to feelings of hopelessness, self-pity, and even depression. A oredom-free recovery gift basket is a great idea for pregnant women on bedrest, or anyone recovery from a major surgery. Purchasing these items, along with a few special personal touches, will allow you to create the perfect get well gift basket.

DVDs. Anyone can confirm that no matter how many TV channels there are, there are times when there just isn't anything on TV. Add some special DVDs of favorite movies, TV shows, or even music concerts, so your friend always has something to watch.

Magazines. Visit the local mega-bookstore and purchase unique magazines tailored to the individual's tastes. There are magazines published on every subject imaginable so you are sure to find something unique and enjoyable for any personality.

A new activity. Something that can really keep someone who cannot get up and move around busy is introducing a new activity. Activities like knitting and other sewing projects, scrapbooking, various art media, etc can all be done while resting in a sitting or even laying position. Purchase supplies and instructions for a new activity that your friend has either always wanted to try, or perhaps never even considered before.

Pampering supplies. If the person you need to cheer up is a woman, give her some supplies for pampering herself. You can purchase a manicure kit, complete with cuticle cream, hand cream, a fingernail file, and fingernail polish and she can enjoy giving herself a full-fledged manicure while she recovers.

Foods. Comfort foods, again tailored to the individual, are great to include in a gift basket. Just be sure to keep the foods to a minimum. Food is a popular choice for get well wishes and too much of it around can lead to overeating. Just include three or four very special food items like fancy chocolates, or a favorite hot tea blend.
A laptop. No, it isn't practical to purchase a laptop for your friend, but you can do some research to try and borrow one. See if you know someone who has a seldom used laptop, or check at work to see if you can borrow one. Having access to the internet, or at least computer games and other software, is quite helpful to someone stuck in bed.

Handheld games. Handheld electronic games such as Yahtzee and Tetris are addictive. Get your friend addicted to something fun, that can also help keep his brain sharp, by including a few handheld electronic games in the gift basket.

Being stuck on bedrest or recovering from major surgery is never fun. It can, however, be bearable. Create the perfect get well gift basket for your friend, and he or she will be forever grateful.

By E Harmon

Gift Basket Ideas for Parents Who Adopt

2008-11-22T01:40:00.001-08:00

Gift Baskets for parents who adopt is a great way to share in the excitement of a new bundle of love joining a family. Some parents have a special welcoming party that family members and select friends are invited to. Gift baskets make wonderful presents for the new parents for these occasions.

Gift Basket for the Parents and Small Present for the New Child

Not everyone who adopts a child, adopts an infant or newborn. A gift basket is great for the parents and a small wrapped gift for the new child to welcome them to the family. When possible, you can try to have a matching theme for both gifts.

Movie Night Gift Basket for New Parents

Adults and children love to be entertained. Entertainment gift baskets are fun to put together and the new parents will enjoy them. One of my favorite entertainment gift baskets for any occasion is a movie gift basket.

You can put movie snacks, movie drinks and a new movie or a gift card for movie rentals in the movie gift basket. While the new bundle of joy is resting, the parents can take a break and enjoy their movie gift basket. As a matching theme gift for the new child, you can give them a fun and learning DVD that is age appropriate that the parents can watch with them. There are even many great educational DVD's for babies.

At Home Spa Gift Basket for New Parents

At-home spa gift baskets are a terrific way for new parents to feel pampered without leaving home. This is a great couple gift because you can include items for both the new mom and the new dad in the at-home spa gift basket. As a matching theme gift for the new child, you can give them a bottle of age appropriate body wash, bubble bath and fun wash clothes specifically designed for kids.

In an at-home spa gift basket you can include body wash, a loofa sponge, pumice stone, facial scrubs and masks, scented candles, matching scented potpourri or oils, massage oils and lotions. You can even include male and female grooming items such as nail files, finger nail clippers, razors and so forth.

Gourmet Food Gift Baskets for New Parents
There are numerous stores on the Internet and perhaps locally that you can purchase gourmet food gift baskets. If you are unsure what to give to new parents, gourmet food gift baskets are the safest route to go. Everyone loves food! As a matching theme gift for the new bundle of joy, you can give a food accessory item such as a bottle, sippy cup, or even a kid's theme plastic place setting. If the new bundle of joy is older, you can give them age appropriate small basket of candies and goodies to enjoy that is just theirs to eat.

By Katlyn

Spa Gift Basket Ideas

2008-11-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

There are thousands of different gift basket ideas out there these days and it is even common to see these gift baskets pre-filled at area department stores around the holiday seasons. With so many different gift basket choices it can be difficult to choose the one that you like most or that suits your loved one the best. Sometimes the best gift ideas come from the heart and although a gift basket is not the most original ideas you could think of, a spa themed gift basket is sure to be a delight for just about any woman who receives it. Making your own spa gift basket is fun and will be appreciated much more by the receiver. Although it will take some more time to plan and shop for the items that you will put into a spa gift basket than it would to simply buy the basket already pre-filled, the final product will be far more elegant. The best part about creating your own spa gift basket is that you have the ability to personalize the basket to the needs or tastes of the person whom you are making the basket for. The Basket: First you will need to find a basket that is beautiful and large enough to hold the desired contents. If you are not looking to spend a lot of money then you will want to choose a smaller basket. A wicker basket with a liner is a nice choice for a spa gift basket as it can be used to store other bathroom toiletries once the gifts have been used.

The Contents: There are numerous thing that you could place into the spa gift basket. Depending on its size you may include all or just a few of the following items in the spa gift basket that you are creating: Towel - Could be embroidered with initials Bath robe-- Could be embroidered with initials Lotions- there are numerous types of lotions, some good lotions to add include those made specifically for feet, a special hand lotion, scented lotions in your recipients favorite scent or a scent that coordinates with the season, facial lotions and wrinkle reducers Spa Pillow-A spa pillow is a must have for any spa treatment and it makes a great gift for a spa basket. A spa pillow can actually get wet and is perfect for a relaxing day in the tub By mlmphr

Simple, Last Minute Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

2008-11-07T00:29:00.000-08:00

Making Christmas gift baskets for neighbors, teachers, hard to buy for family members and others on your Christmas gift giving list turns an overwhelming shopping chore into a fun, appreciated holiday experience full of the spirit of the season. Boutique Christmas gift baskets can be expensive; it is much more economical to make your own gift baskets. However, the Christmas season is a busy time of year, and often you are looking for a quick, economical Christmas gift choice for a few special people you may have overlooked. Couple that with the fact that you may not have a clue as to what a certain person might want or need, and finding a gift that meets your budget and quality criteria may be nearly impossible.The following Christmas gift basket combinations can easily solve last minute Christmas gift giving dilemmas. Basket contents can all be found with just one or two local stops. The cost of Christmas gift basket contents can vary depending on your budget. For an inexpensive gift, shop local grocery stores and buy common items. For a more high-end Christmas gift basket, purchase Christmas gift basket fillers at a local gourmet or specialty shop. Of course, you could always find a middle ground by mixing the two.Bread BasketAny local grocery store and bakery will have all you need to make an attractive and delicious Christmas gift basket filled with soft, crusty breads and accompaniments.

Start with a loaf or two of fresh bread. Something simple and popular, like an Italian or French loaf, maybe a few baguettes, is a good bet. Bread sticks or fresh dinner rolls also make good Christmas gift basket fillers for bread based gift baskets. When time is tight, omit accompaniments and fill the gift basket with a few varieties of bread. If you have a little extra time to contribute to the effort, purchase frozen bread doughs and bake the loaves for Christmas gift baskets fresh at home before distributing your gifts. Add one or more toppings or spreads to the Christmas gift basket to go along with the breads. Whipped butter, garlic butter, herbed or flavored cream cheese, and fruit spreads are all quick and easy options. Cheeses or flavored dipping oils pair well with breads in a Christmas gift basket as well.Another topping option to pair with delicious breads is to add the ingredients for a favorite recipe, along with preparation instructions. Your Christmas gift basket's recipient can prepare the topping when the time is right for them. A recipe for roasted red peppers in a garlic and olive oil marinade is an excellent choice. Add a jar of roasted red peppers, head of garlic, small jar of olive oil, and a block of cheddar cheese (sharp is better) to the Christmas gift basket. Preparation consists simply of draining peppers and placing them in a bowl with enough olive oil to cover and three or four cloves of crushed garlic. Marinate in the refrigerator for five hours or overnight. Serve at room temperature on toasted French bread slices with cheddar cheese.Cocoa BasketAnother Christmas gift basket that is easy to prepare and enjoyed in nearly every household during the winter months is a basket full of hot chocolate and accessories.Into the Christmas gift basket, place a can of good quality hot chocolate mix. An extra decorative touch can be achieved by pouring the cocoa into a mason jar and tying a piece of raffia or holiday ribbon around the lid. A pair of fun or decorative mugs are a good basket filler to pair with the cocoa.Add some flair and round out a cocoa themed Christmas gift basket by adding the little extras like peppermint sticks or candy canes, a bag of miniature marshmallows, and maybe a nice bag of cookies to snack along with the hot chocolate. An active family that enjoys outdoor winter activities might enjoy a Christmas cocoa basket given in a picnic basket ready for fun in the snow or on the ice. A thermos, disposable spoons or stirring sticks, and Styrofoam cups with covers with the cocoa and snacks gives all a family might need for a winter outing (for this option, cocoa packets stacked and tied with ribbon will travel better).Cheese and Cracker BasketIt's not trite, it's traditional, and the reason a cheese and cracker Christmas gift basket is so is because cheese and crackers are well loved by most, and are handy hors d'oeuvres to serve to unexpected guests.Start the cheese and cracker Christmas gift basket with a box or two of good quality snack crackers. Wheat, sesame, and veggie crackers, even purchased inexpensively in grocery stores, are all good choices. When making multiple cheese and cracker Christmas gift baskets, boxes containing pre-wrapped sleeves of crackers can be split, to be mixed and matched and offer a variety of cracker flavors.Purchase blocks of cheese, cream cheese or cheese spreads, a cheese ball, or any combination of these items as accompaniments. A nice cheese cutter or cheese knife is a good additional accessory for the cheese and cracker Christmas gift basket. A bottle of good wine will be appreciated by wine lovers to enjoy with the cheese and crackers.Mulled Cider BasketAnyone who enjoys a warm, mulled apple cider will enjoy a Christmas gift basket filled with all the necessary ingredients to prepare.The basket begins, obviously, with apple cider. To that, add the spices necessary to prepare your favorite mulled apple cider and a copy of your recipe. Alternatively, you may prepare a packet of mulling spices yourself and save on the cost of the spices; this is especially useful if you will be giving several apple cider Christmas gift baskets. If you have no reliable recipe to add to the apple cider Christmas gift basket, don't despair. Prepared packages of mulling spices are sold in most grocery stores and certainly will be sold at an orchard store.To round out an apple cider Christmas gift basket, include packages of cinnamon sticks for stirring. Again, a pair of mugs is appropriate here, and perhaps some apple muffins, cinnamon coffee cakes, or fresh apples to go with the cider.These are a few Christmas gift basket ideas that are easy to purchase and prepare. Choose a basket, line it with a holiday kitchen towel, and fill with the ingredients for a great snack, fabulous holiday hors d'oeuvre, or warm winter drink. Family, friends, and neighbors will appreciate the Christmas gift basket you bring, and think fondly of you while enjoying their gift. By Mary Ward

Homemade Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

2008-11-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

It is not easy to select the Christmas gift that will please to everyone: we never know if the gift will be appreciated by its recipient.How many times have you received a gift that is never emerged out of the cupboard in which you putted it?I myself received hundreds of gifts that I do not use, especially at Christmas Time. And I do not mention the decorative objects, that I do not know what to do with because they do not match the decoration of my house or simply because I have no place to put them on.This year, try to give useful and/or consumable Christmas gifts. By giving something useful and consumable such as skin care products or food products, you are sure that your gift will be appreciated.Christmas gift baskets are the solution.Unfortunately, ready-made gift baskets can be expensive and we sometimes have to spend a lot of money to buy them without being sure that all the contained products will please.So, what about a homemade Christmas gift basket? It is an excellent way to save money on the cost of the basket and products included. You even do not have to buy the basket.Gift baskets can be easily made out of wooden boxes, briefcases made of leather or vinyl, or shoe boxes nicely decorated...If the products you plan to include in the basket are too expensive, you will be able to reduce their number and save more money.

Here are some Christmas gift basket ideas."Rustic Gourmet":Varnish a wooden wine case, use a "rustic oak" tinted varnishFill the case with decorative straw or unbleached silk or crepe paperAdd the following products:- Three bottles of wine (red, rose and white),- A pot of fat liver,- 2 legs duck confit,- A pot of deer pate,- A pot of wild boar,- Three jars of wine jelly (red, rose and white),- A pot of onion confit,- A pot of truffles.Economic Option:- A bottle of sweetened white wine,- A pot of deer pat?,- A pot of wild boar,- A jar of wine jelly"I Love Chocolate":Use a metallic box,Fill it with pink silk or crepe paperAdd the following products:- A bottle of chocolate liquor,- 250 g Leonidas chocolates,- Chocolate bars - C?te d'Or Special Edition,- A natural cocoa box,- Boxes of fruit, flower or citrus flavoured sugar"Espana Por Favor":In a metallic basket, place red and yellow silk or crepe paperAdd the following products:- A bottle of Ponche,- A bottle of "Sangre de Toro" wine- A pata negra ham or serrano ham,- A chorizo,- A "Manchego" cheese,- A bottle of Spanish olive oil,- Almond Turron,- An assortment of Christmas cookies (Surtido de Navidad)"Provence" (skin care):Cover a shoebox with Special Christmas gift wrapLine the inside with colorful silk paperSurround the box with a wide colored ribbonPut a towel of the same colorAdd the following products:- A Marseilles scented soap,- A shower gel,- A box of bath salts,- A bottle of body scented oil,- A bottle of floral water,- A horsehair glove"Belgian Beer Discovery" Gift Basket:Use a wooden shelf and put the bottles on it. Belgium produces more than 680 different sorts of high quality beers that satisfy all tastes, the choice is yours...You can create an infinite themed gift baskets set; do not hesitate to create a gift basket for whiskey, cigar, great music, book amateurs... you are only limited by your imagination. By Prosperity66

Wine Lovers Gift Basket Ideas

2008-10-16T01:17:00.000-07:00

Intimacy, hominess and elegance of any party ambiance have a positive impact to those enjoying it. It's no biggie as to how much money is thrown out to put a great party. The quality of event does not merely rely on the expense incurred but the smoothness of program flow, people's enjoyment level and genuineness of conversations. Attendees wouldn't just expect yummy gourmet foods when they're to attend cocktail parties and corporate affairs, there have to be wine lover gift basket ideas to look forward to. Parties are meant to break the monotony of seriousness at work and pamper everyone as much as possible with food, drinks and music. Speaking of indulgence, wines are usually served to complement the tastiness of lean meat, cheese and other finger foods.Wine lovers gift basket ideas can include some good combinations of the finest wines the wine industry has to offer and gourmet foods to go along with them. It's always nice to sit and talk with long lost friends and trusted business partners over a glass of champagne, red wine or sparkling wine.

Time doesn't seem to pass when good conversations are enjoyed by party people and relaxing music is played on the background. Wines and champagnes are always linked to holidays and special occasions. No celebration is deemed complete without a glass of drink or two.Fanatics of sumptuous and fine wines aren't too choosy about whatever wine lovers gift basket ideas you've put forth for them to enjoy. A gift basket that contains famous brands like Cabernet Sauvignon and California Chardonnay along with Cheddar or Gouda cheese can be a great package to give. You can also do an amazing fusion of any sparkling wine with white cheese, and top up the basket with fresh grapes and pears. Wine connoisseurs say that when you are planning on giving wines, you must bear in mind of perfect timing in terms of the weather. If it's summertime, the ideal drink to give is white wine that's not too strong.Merlot wine can also be amazing to give to the love of your life on Valentine's Day. If you want your friend to beam wide on his birthday, you can also give him a basket containing two bottles of Chardonnay with some almond nuts, chocolates and cheese. You can also put together a champagne bottle along with chips and a pair of wine glass for your parents on their anniversary. For newlyweds, you can perhaps package white wine with sweet chocolates that symbolize the sweetness of their love. You can complete your wine lovers gift basket ideas if you put a wedding card that wishes for prosperity success in their new life together. There couldn't be any sweeter with a gift basket that goes with a bottle of wine. By Gary Pearson

Make Your Own Gift Basket Ideas

2008-10-13T01:16:00.000-07:00

Gift baskets have been around for years, and gift basket making has been around even longer. The unique thing about gift baskets is that they are more personal than most gifts (let's say a gift card) and each gift basket could have a personal meaning. People give gift baskets for many different reasons and for different occasions. The Internet has provided a way for people to give and send gift baskets to love ones across the nation. Regardless of the reason, gift baskets can warm someone's heart just to know that someone is thinking of them.To make gift baskets more personable and more heartwarming, people like to make their own gift baskets. Now for some people, designing and putting things together from scratch comes easily. And for others, gift basket making can be a daunting task. If you are making a gift basket to send in the mail or to give to someone in person, here are a few tips to help make gift basket making a little easier. It is so easy, here's what you do.First, after deciding on whom you are making the gift basket for, select a theme for the gift basket. The occasion usually helps to determine the theme for your gift basket. Some occasions are easier than others; say for example a newborn baby. You can pick out all the things you know a new born baby will need.

Now birthdays and anniversaries might be a little more difficult, and a thinking of you gift basket, even more so. Themed gift baskets can help to make gift basket making easier. If you know your gift basket recipient's hobbies and/or what their likes are, you can easily put together a sports gift basket for a sports fan or a gardening gift basket for someone who loves working in their garden.Next, once you have a theme, get a basket. Michael's and other crafts stores sell a wide variety of wonderful gift baskets that often times are on sale. Some department stores with a craft section may also provide a variety of baskets. Now for my nifty shoppers, Thrift Stores are full of all kinds of baskets. Usually most are in good shape. They may need just a little cleaning or color change. You can purchase an air spray can that's used to clean keyboards for computers or buy a can of spray paint to change the color. Both ways are quick and easy.Lastly, once you have decided on your theme and have your basket, grab a few items that you know your recipient uses and/or likes, for example candy or fruit. The size of your basket will determine the amount of items you need to add. You could also add items of the recipient's favorite color, favorite sports team or favorite non-perishable food items. Once you've developed a theme, it is best to stick to it. But one of the many great things about creative gift giving is introducing the recipient to something new.Candles are a great gift item and are used by people for an array of reasons. Some people use them for decor while others really like the aroma that candles can add to a room. Adding candles to gift baskets are easy and fun. No matter the theme of your gift basket adding candles can make your gift basket a real treat. Adding candles to any gift basket can also give the gift basket a personal touch that adds to the warmth of gift basket giving. At Fruit Nut and Candle Gift Baskets.com, we offer over 35 aromas to choose from in a variety of creative styles. By Kim M. Wilson

Gift Basket Ideas For a Man

2008-10-10T01:14:00.001-07:00

Personally crafted and packaged gifts are an impressive means of extending generosity to loved ones. Men, unlike women, are not too meticulous about gifts but they can truly be wowed with gift basket ideas for men that unfold before their eyes on all occasions. There are unlimited possibilities to create gift baskets that go exclusively for men. You can solicit unique and creative ideas from the experts who've put forth efforts in producing great products for decades. The worldwide web is the best avenue you can obtain these pointers. Artistic outputs such as gift baskets are easy to make if you have the heart for making someone happy regardless of what occasion it is. If you are looking for an amazing gift for your dad on Father's Day, brother on his birthday, boyfriend on Valentine's Day, husband on anniversary, male friend on Thanksgiving Day or perhaps your nephews on Halloween, you can explore on hundreds of gift basket ideas for men. Several online shops display interesting and low-priced deals to make your favorite man happy without having to break the bank. It's always comforting to know that you don't need to spend so much to buy the perfect present for the man in your life. Products such as colognes, perfumes, shaving creams, wine, beer, munchies, gift certificates, bracelet, neckpiece, game tickets, sports gears, photo frame containing a photo of you and him, chocolates and candles are your choices to place in the gift basket. To make the package look perfect, you can tie a blue ribbon that signifies masculinity, courage and calmness.

Who says only women can savor a pampering day at spa clubs? Men can too, and in fact, they can make use of a full-body massage, foot spa and toning facial packages. So, if you're puzzled as to what gift to give to your man, you can consider gift basket ideas for men that provide body care indulgence and rejuvenation like spa gift certificates, soap and shampoo set or overnight stay for two plus a massage gift certificate. If you want it to be exclusively romantic and intimate, you can also take your man to a candlelit dinner for two in a class restaurant you've never been to. Gone are the days when only men do the first move of taking women out to romantic dinners. You have the discretion and authority to make your man the happiest on earth, whether or not it's a norm in the eyes of the beholders. Regardless of what occasion it is, you can transform gift basket ideas for men into pleasing presents that leave momentous marks to the recipient. Of course, he wouldn't mind what the content of the basket is. The most important thing for him is to share the special event with you-joyfully and unconditionally By Gary Pearson