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I hate most gift baskets. Hate them with a passion. Which makes me one of the perfect people to help you create personal gift baskets that the recipient will love.
Where does this gift-basket hate come from?
I'm initially charmed first looking at the thoughtful collections of items all nestled beautifully together inside a basket, wrapped in a crinkly cellophane, topped with a perfectly tied bow. Then I examine it more closely. The basket? I'll probably never use it and in 3 months it will headed to GoodWill. The collection of items just perfect for me? I'll use about half. The other items will be immediately gifted. Or they will sit unopened in a drawer until the next time I feel to purge the household of useless items. Then they will end up in the trash or in the donation pile. The cellophane and bow? Instantly tossed.
So on closer examination most gift baskets end up being a visually appealing exercise in waste. However, by looking closely at these less-than-ideal problems with a gift basket, it's really easy to see how to address this.
First, do not rely on a commercially designed basket. They will be built to appeal to a broad general audience. Yes, they are quicker and at first glance may seem so much better than anything you can make yourself; but these baskets do not know the person for whom your buying. You do. Use the commercial baskets for some inspiration but rely upon your knowledge of the person to make a better basket.
Second, don't think your gifts have to be in a basket. Is there an object -part of the gift- that can be used as the container? If you're assembling a kitchen gift basket, perhaps a pot or pan? A collapsible storage box? A CD storage box for the music lover? A project tote or organizer for the hobbyist? I'd love something like this birch storage box from IKEA better than a basket. And with the lid removed, you have 2 containers in which to organize your goodies.
Third, choose a specific theme for the recipient. Yes, a generic gift basket may be a "chocolate lovers" basket. You know who the recipient LOVES "Sharffen Berger's Dark Chocolate" in all it iterations. By tightening your focus to exactly what your giftee loves, some of that unappreciated waste is automatically eliminated. No milk chocolate in that gift basket.
Fourth, explain yourself. Yes, the gift is for the recipient, but a note or two or something explaining why you chose the items you did truly makes the gift from you to them. Give a cooking gift and some of your favorite recipes to go along with it. A lazy reading afternoon basket? Include the idea of joining them.
Lastly, cellophane? Really? If your gift items fit fairly secure within the container, do you really need to wrap the whole thing in cellophane? I know, without the gift has none of the "unwrapping" surprise. If that's important to you, then perhaps gift wrap some of the items inside the container but leave the cellophane in the store. Or suggest a way I could reuse it/recycle it after it's removed from the package.
Hints for actually assembling the gift basket:
Marriette Mifflin, About.com guide thinks Making a Unique Gift Basket is easy!
Gary Johnson wrote tips for a Themed Gift Basket.
Emily Barbados believes that making a personalized Gift Basket will make someone feel special.
Debra Roby blogs her creative life at A Stitch in Time and her journey to fitness at Weight for Deb.
