How to create a homemade gift basket
Homemade gift baskets are a great way to save money during the Christmas season. At some point, most penny savers discover that designating a theme for their gift giving is the best way to give a lot of Christmas gifts without spending a lot of money. After you read this article, announce to you friends and family that this year’s theme will be homemade Christmas gift baskets and they will spend the rest of the season looking forward to the goodies that you have in store for them.
Step 1: Getting Baskets
Gift basket is the most literal translation, and there are certainly a lot of inexpensive options out there. www.americabasket.com has a great selection of baskets that will cost you about $1.50 a piece for 24 baskets (not iclude shipping costs). And, if you’re feeling a little apprehensive about making a homemade gift basket from scratch, they also provide gift basket kits which provide a bow, shredded paper filler and plastic wrap for each basket. However, they run about $30 for a pack of 12. If you are looking to fill these baskets on the cheap (as I do), check out your local craft supply store which undoubtedly sells ribbons by the spool, and plastic by the package at a much cheaper rate than most online stores.
But, don’t feel limited by the word “basket”. Being creative about your conatiner can often mean saving money. Do you have several old Christmas popcorn tins lying around? Or some other unused container that just needs a bow or a few festive Christmas stickers to turn into the perfect “basket”? Feel free to use it. What about duraceramic flower pots? Or a nice duraceramic bowl you found on super sale? The ideas are endless. Spend a few hours one Saturday checking out your local discount stores for great, cheap and creative options.
Step 2: Fill ‘er Up!
For me, this part is the most fun because there are so many options. The great part about homemade baskets is the level of personalization that can go into them. If you have a craft that you’re particularly good at, fill all of your baskets with those. Last year, my children and I spent most of Christmas Eve decorating Christmas Cookie Ornaments (which was a great way to keep the excitement level manageable). We decorated the tree, and then filled a half dozen tins with them topped with a bow and a digital picture of all of us making them. They were a big hit.
A great way to save money is to buy a few items in bulk at your local Sam’s or Costco and split them up into several
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