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Archive for December, 2007
Tips – Baby Gift Baskets
December 21st, 2007 | 
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Personalized Baby Gift Baskets |
| Personalized baby gift baskets are a memorable way to cherish the newborn. Your gift basket can include one or more items with the baby’s name and date of birth to make a lasting keepsake. Popular items to personalize include blankets, teddy bears, bathrobes, bibs and hats. You may be able to find a local seamstress to embroider your gift for you, or order one online. Add some other baby gifts to your personalized basket to welcome baby and celebrate the birth. |
Baby Bathtub Gift Basket |
| When newborns are small, it’s easiest to wash them in a special baby bath tub. So why not use one of these tubs as the container to make a unique and practical baby gift basket? Inside the tub you can put lots baby necessities, like shampoo, baby powder, diapers and brush and comb set. Another nice gift to include is a hooded terry bath towel to keep the newborn dry and warm. Add a few more baby items to fill the tub and your basket is complete. |
Baby Book Gift Baskets |
| Book-themed baby gift baskets are a great way to encourage a lifetime of reading for the newborn. Books are a great way to interact with babies, and they’ll love seeing all the bright shapes and listening to the sound of your voice as you read them stories. You can make a memorable baby book gift basket yourself with a little shopping and some creative flair. Start with a blue or pink wicker basket, and then visit a local baby store to find some fun baby books. You could also include a helpful instructional or reference book if your recipients are first time parents. Add a stuffed animal and some baby toys to fill out your basket, and your gift is ready to give. |
Bath Playtime Gift Basket |
| Some babies don’t like being washed, but you can try and make this regular chore more fun by giving the new parents a bath time gift basket. The key for one of these gifts is to make sure everything inside can get wet, since most babies love to splash! A plastic bath tote would make a neat start to your gift basket, then line the bottom with baby washcloths, and fill it up with toys for the tub. Bath crayons let baby draw and allow for easy cleanup. You could also include vinyl bath books and some floating plastic toys. Of course, no bath time gift would be complete without a yellow rubber ducky! |
Diaper Bag Gift Basket |
| A new baby is a time to celebrate and also a time of much work and stress. That’s why baby gift baskets that are fun and practical are often the most appreciated by the new mom. For a unique idea, try buying a nice diaper bag and stuffing it full of gifts for the proud parents and their new bundle of joy. For the fun side, try using pacifiers, rattles, chocolate cigars, and plush toys. For the practical side, you can include diapers, a lullaby music CD, bottles, and a soft fleece blanket. Be sure to check with a relative on the baby’s sleeping patterns and try and drop by with your diaper bag gift basket while baby is awake. |
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Tips – Women Gift Baskets
Spa Gift Baskets |
| Spas now offer all kinds of different treatments to help one relax and look beautiful. Facials, pedicures, waxing and massages are just a few of the ways to indulge the sense. You can make spa gift baskets yourself to give to your friends or wife for a special treat. Find a nice ceramic container and place a few spa products inside so she can get some pampering at home. Consider adding a gel eye mask, manicure set, a loofah and some bath salts to your gift. For a real surprise, arrange for a local masseuse to come to her house to give her a massage right in her home. Spa Finder is a great resource for finding a local establishment if you are not familiar with the area where she lives. Alternatively, a gift certificate for a message at a local spa in her area is certain to be a relaxing hit! |
Scented Gift Baskets |
| Did you know that smell is the most important sense for triggering memories? The pleasing smells of flowers are often associated with fond memories, and the scented lotions and gels of bath gift baskets can trigger your brain to relax and help you escape to a calmer and more peaceful place. Lavender, gardenia and rose are popular fragrances that have pleasing aromas. The variety of bath products has expanded recently, so in addition to traditional products like lotion and shampoo, you can also buy body spray, bath beads, and scented soap. |
Scrap Book Gift Baskets |
| Scrap booking has become a very popular hobby for women, with the advent of companies like Creative Memories. If you know someone who likes scrap booking, they are sure to appreciate the artistic style of a scrap book gift basket using some new supplies for their craft. A re-usable tote would make a great container, and inside you could put specialty scissors like a scallop-cut design, photo mounting squares, paper, and archive safe paper and pens. If you have a memorable photo of the two of you together, you could use the new supplies to create a fancy matte and include the framed photo in your gift basket. |
Pamper Gift Baskets |
| Bath gift baskets make great gifts for any woman who needs to unwind and relax. You can make one yourself for your spouse, girlfriend, mother, or other important woman in your life. Visit a local bath store to find lotion, gel, bubble bath, and body spray that she might like. Try to pick out a group of products that all feature the same or coordinating scents. Some popular scents include coconut and green apple, as well as more traditional scents like sweet pea and vanilla. Finish your gift with matching bow and personalized card. |
Lingerie Gift Baskets |
| Lingerie gift baskets can be a perfect idea for a bachelorette party or a wedding shower amongst close friends. She’ll love trying on all the different pieces and look forward to wearing them on her honeymoon. Use a floral patterned lidded box, and arrange the pieces inside. You can include camisoles, teddys, garters and some more adventurous pieces, too. Wrap each piece in colored tissue paper and consider personalizing the box with her name on the outside. For a unique twist, keep the box shut with a small padlock. |
Gardening Gift Baskets |
| If you can hand deliver your gift, try this for a truly unique and memorable gardening gift basket. Start with a ceramic flower pot, or buy a new terra cotta pot and paint it yourself. Fill your flower pot with potting soil and “plant” her gifts right in the dirt on top. Pack the soil tight so your gifts will stand up, and insert seed packets, some small tools, and a few snacks. Finish off your flower pot with some garden decorations, like a little “Welcome to My Garden” sign. She can re-use the pot to plant the seeds, and leave the garden decoration right in the pot as a reminder of your thoughtfulness. |
Gift Basket for Women |
| Creating gift baskets for women is easy. The most popular themes are bath/spa, gardening and gourmet food gifts, but you can use whatever theme works best for her likes and dislikes. Other themes could be created around her favorite animals (dogs, cats, horses, etc.), or her hobbies (knitting, tennis, family tree research, scrapbooking etc.). You can mix in themed items with food she enjoys, and make sure you wrap it nicely and put a big bow on top. You’ll get extra credit if you make it yourself, so think about what she loves and get creative! |
Gardening Gift Baskets |
| Gardening gift baskets make a unique gift for anyone who enjoys spending time growing plants. A popular way to hold the items in your basket is with a canvas gardening tote. These totes typically have several different sized pockets and are perfect for holding various tools needed while working in the yard. If you can’t find a tote or don’t want to use one, you could also use a wooden planter box or a wicker basket. Fill your basket with garden-themed items like nice gardening gloves, garden decorations, plant reference books, and a nail brush to clean up. Top your gift basket with a floral ribbon bow and your gardening gift basket is ready for giving and growing! |
Book Gift Baskets |
| If she loves to read, why not encourage her to take a break with a book gift basket? You can fill your basket up with anything and everything that fit her interests. You can use a helpful reference book on plants for the gardener, or an autobiography of one of her heroes, or a spy thriller by her favorite author. You can also try your local bookstore or Amazon.com to get great recommendations on other books in her favorite genre. And don’t be afraid to throw in a romance book for a guilty pleasure! Book gift baskets can be completed with a few snacks and some coffee or tea to keep them awake finishing those last few chapters. |
Crafting Gift Baskets |
| Here’s a neat idea for creating a unique present for those that enjoy crafts: crafting gift baskets. Start with a clear plastic tub with a top, so she can store her crafts and easily see what inside. Fill the tub with supplies from her favorite crafts store, or buy her something new to try. Some ideas for items include paints, stamps, construction paper, custom cut scissors and a hot glue gun. Or, include a crafting book and supplies for making one of the projects in the book. Close the tub and tie it off with raffia ribbon for a truly crafty gift basket presentation. |
Bath Gift Baskets |
| Few things are quite as relaxing as trip to the spa. Treat the special woman in your life to a special spa delight by making her a bath gift basket. Start with a wire or plastic caddy that can handle getting wet, and line the bottom with a soft washcloth or towel. Then fill it up with bath and spa products in her favorite scents, or try an exotic new scent from your favorite bath store! You can find all sorts of fragrances at your local bath store, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your container and budget. And don’t forget to add a few treats for her to eat while relaxing. Chocolate is always popular, but you could also use bottled water and some fresh fruit for a healthier alternative. Either way your bath gift basket is certain to be an over-indulgent delight! |
Yoga or Pilates Gift Basket |
| Exercise is a perfect way to relax and stay fit, and yoga and Pilates are two activities that many women enjoy. A great way to introduce a friend or older relative to these sports is by giving them an exercise gift basket. Start with a nice gym bag, and inside place a yoga mat, reusable water bottle, exercise bands, and some yoga and Pilates DVDs. If you know their size, you can include some yoga pants or an exercise outfit too. Bring your gift to their house, and offer to exercise with them the first couple of times so they become comfortable with the techniques and you can also offer some words of encouragement. What better way to get in shape than with someone you care about! |
Tips – Wedding Gift Baskets
Wedding Night Gift Basket |
| If you’re a little mischievous, consider giving your friends an adult-themed wedding night gift basket. Choose a red or white wicker basket, and fill it with couple.s only treats for them to enjoy while on their wedding night or honeymoon. You can include some lingerie, chocolate body paint, and adult board or card games. Wrap your gift in plain brown paper and put a “Do not open until Married” sign on the outside pique their curiosity. It’s guaranteed to be the most talked about gift on the reception present table! |
Wedding Shower Gift Basket |
| Wedding showers are a great time for the women in the bride’s life to celebrate together and pass on some collective words of wisdom. It’s also a great time to give a wedding shower gift basket. Shower baskets are often filled with practical items like a hand mixer, towels, and kitchen utensils. Shower gift baskets are also a popular way to give her a book for the new chapter in her life. Make sure to include a book that has tips for living as a married couple. |
Engagement Gift Baskets |
| Sometimes people like to give gifts when a close relative or friend gets engaged, particularly if there has been an extended dating period. Engagement gift baskets are a nice way to show your support for their decision and help them celebrate this step in their relationship. Since it is a celebration, your gift basket should include lots of festive items, like congratulations balloons, colorful streamers, champagne, and sweet treats. Tie a big bow around your gift and include a personal card for the happy couple. |
Wedding Memories Photo Gift Basket |
| A wedding day is normally the most photographed day in ones life. From the professional photographer to all the eager friends and relatives happily snapping pictures, the happy couple will probably have more pictures than they know what to do with. You can make a special photo wedding gift basket to help them remember some of the more candid moments. Your gift basket could include some different themed wedding frames to hold pictures from different stages of the event, from the rehearsal dinner to the time before the ceremony, to their first kiss as husband and wife, to the reception. You can also add a nice photo album and archive safe pens so they can write their thoughts about each picture while it is still fresh in their minds. |
Champagne Gift Baskets |
| Salute the newlyweds with a special celebratory champagne gift basket. To make your gif basket, start with a nice ice bucket, and fill in the bottom with shiny silver shred. Inside the bucket, add a nice bottle of champagne or sparkling wine and two toasting glasses and wine charms. You should also include some snacks to complement the bubbly, like chocolate covered strawberries, cheese, crackers, nuts, and truffles. Place your wedding card inside, and wrap the whole basket in clear cellophane and top with a white organza ribbon to make an impressive presentation. |
Tips – Thank You Gift Baskets
Vacation Home Thank You Gift Basket |
| If you’re fortunate enough to know someone who lets you use their vacation home, a big thank you is in order. You can make a thank you gift basket to show your appreciation for their tremendous generosity. Buy a nice cooler, and fill it with some of their favorite drinks and also some supplies for their vacation home that they can enjoy the next time they are there. You can include beer or soda, a nice bocce ball set, Frisbee, kit, water toys, or whatever is appropriate based on the location of their vacation home. If you know they will be using the home soon, you can leave it there with a big bow on top so they’ll be sure to open your grand surprise right away! |
Thank You Doctors or Nurses Gift Baskets |
| Being seriously ill can be a very scary time one may feel quite vulnerable. Some medical professionals were born with great bedside manners that help keeps us calm and offers us hope during a very traumatic time. If you feel particularly indebted to your doctor or nurse during a recent operation or illness, sending them a small thank you gift basket is a nice way to let them know how much their compassion meant to you. A fruit basket would make a nice, healthy way to say thanks, or a if you’re more ambitious you could use an old style doctor’s bag and fill it with gourmet snacks for them enjoy. Make sure you sign the card with your first and last name so they will know who the thank you gift basket is from. |
Thank You Cookie Gift Baskets |
| Good food makes a memorable way to say thank you, and fresh-baked cookies are one option to do just that. You can make thank you cookie gift baskets to express gratitude to a neighbor, your mail carrier, or friend who helped you. If you are a good baker, make a fresh batch of their favorite variety. If you’re not sure what their favorite variety of cookies is, go with a popular flavor like chocolate chip, peanut butter or oatmeal raisin. Individually seal each cookie in colored plastic wrap after they’ve cooled and then arrange them in an appropriate sized wicker basket. You want your cookies to almost overflow the basket for the best effect. Deliver your thank you cookie basket in person and they’ll really appreciate your efforts! |
Teacher Appreciation Gift Basket |
| Some teachers go above and beyond the call of duty and form a special bond with our children. If your child is lucky enough to have a teacher that has really made a difference in their life, a teacher appreciation gift basket is a nice way to say “thank you.” Ask you child if he/she knows about their teacher’s hobbies, or think back to any parent/teacher conferences for clues. If a particular theme does not come to mind, try this idea. Buy a teacher themed coffee mug, and fill it with gourmet coffee, a chocolate bar, some snacks, and a red pen (the teacher’s favorite color for making all those corrections!). Add a small thank you balloon and hand write a note thanking them for helping your child in school. Have your child deliver your gift themselves after class. |
Tips – Snack Gift Baskets
Pizza Gift Baskets |
| Do you need a fun and unique way to introduce children to the joys of cooking? Why not start them off by having them make one of their favorite foods? Making pizza will get the kids involved in the process, and they’ll get to eat the results too! To make a pizza gift basket, start with a fabric grocery bag. Inside the bag you can put dough mix, sauce, lots of mozzarella cheese, a pizza cutter, and some of their favorite toppings like pepperoni or sausage. You could also include small aprons for each of the kids to wear while working in your pizzeria. Pizza gift baskets are also a fun activity for kids visiting with grandparents or other relatives. Just remember to keep your bag in the refrigerator until it is time to get started! |
Potato Chip Lovers Gift Basket |
| Potato chips have been the most popular snack food in the U.S. for a long time. Sliced thin and fried or baked, the humble spud has gotten a makeover of late with many new flavors and processing techniques. For a decidedly indulgent treat, you can make a potato chip snack gift basket. A gourmet grocery store is a good place to find some exotic flavors, like jalapeno cheddar, cr�me fraiche & chive, or salt & vinegar. You can mix in some baked or fat free varieties to make your gift a little healthier. Buy some snack sized potato chip bags, and arrange them in a wicker basket with the larger bags in the back. You can optionally add in some canned or dried chip dip to round out your gift. Potato chip gift baskets are great gifts for college kids or someone who loves this crunchy snack food. |
Low Carb Snack Basket |
| If you know someone who is on the Atkins diet, you can still make them a food gift basket that they can eat. With the increase in popularity of low carbohydrate lifestyles, a much wider variety of products is readily available to meet these special needs. For your low carb snack basket, find a nice wicker container and fill it up with snacks they are allowed to have. Beef sausage and sharp cheddar cheese are always safe things to use, and you can also include sugar free jelly beans, water, peanuts and even pork rinds. Finish your basket off with some Atkins brand energy bars and you’ve created a low carb gift they will love! |
Junk Food Gift Baskets |
| Sometimes we need to indulge our cravings for both sweet and salty snacks. You can make a junk food gift basket for a friend that might need some cheering up, or just a little fortification for a big ongoing task. A unique container for this gift would be an empty cardboard box from a popular candy, like Snickers. Check with your local grocer to get one of these boxes. Cut the flaps off the box top and stuff the bottom with colored shred. Then fill the box with lots of snacks like potato chips, cracker jacks, jelly beans, candy bars, peanuts, Skittles, pretzels, cookies, and cheese & cracker packages. Junk food gift baskets are a neat treat to let them know you are thinking about their situation and their tummies! |
Tips – Regional Gift Baskets
Virginia Gift Baskets |
| A recent tourism slogan for this diverse state was “Virginia is for Lovers” and your recipient will certainly find plenty of reasons to love a Virginia gift basket. If you know someone from the Old Dominion, or just want someone to sample the wide variety of gourmet foods made there, you can make them a gift basket filled with unique treats for their enjoyment. From the mountains, you can use famous Route 11 potato chips and delicious apple butter made right at the orchards. From the Piedmont region, you can include Nancy’s fudge, Williamsburg coffee, and of course, jumbo, super crunchy peanuts. Finish your .tour. off at the shore with some Chesapeake Bay inspired crab salsa. |
Spicy Southwestern Gift Baskets |
| Some like it hot, and fans of spicy food will love a spicy southwestern gift basket. Start with a terra cotta container and dress it up with Aztec patterned napkins lining the bottom. Inside, include a nice variety of gourmet food like dried peppers, hot sauce, tortilla chips, salsa, spicy cheese dip, and chili mix. All that spicy food is sure to make them thirsty, so consider including margarita mix or a few bottles of Corona. Southwestern gift baskets make great birthday presents for someone who enjoys their food with some kick! |
Taste of San Francisco Gift Basket |
| San Francisco is a unique city that remains a perennial favorite for tourists. If you know someone who loves the city, you can make them a unique San Francisco gift basket out of some of the region’s famous foods. Use a rustic wine country basket as the container. The first item to include should be sourdough bread. Next, add some sweets from two famous bay area companies – jelly beans from Jelly Belly®, and chocolate from Ghirardelli. You can also add some Ghirardelli coffee to drink, and/or a bottle of wine from nearby Napa valley. To round out the basket, mix in some crackers, giant California pistachios, and Monterey jack cheese. Use a postcard from San Francisco to write your gift message. |
North Carolina Gift Baskets |
| North Carolina goes from the wild blue waters of the Outer Banks to the gentle hills of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The food from the Tar Heel state is quite varied as well. If you live in the Carolinas, you can send your friends and relatives a little taste of all the great things this state has to offer. North Carolina gift baskets can feature tangy salt water taffy from the shore, and savory country ham and crunchy pecans from the farm. You can also throw in some classic breakfast treats like grits or buttermilk biscuit mix. Finish your North Carolina gift basket with a book or magazine about the state, and you might just get some visitors soon! |
Napa Valley Wine Gift Basket |
| The Napa valley region of California is renowned for its fine wine and beautiful countryside. If you visit the area, you can pick up a few extra items and make a Napa Valley wine gift basket when you get home. Wine gift baskets make great thank you gifts for someone that watched your house while you were gone, or even took care of your kids or pets. Use a sturdy, rustic wicker gift basket for the container. The centerpiece of your gift will be the wine itself, so pick one or two bottles that you enjoyed while touring or varieties that your recipient enjoys. To complement the wine, include some cheese, crackers, pistachios, almonds, fruit and chocolate. Finish your basket with some artificial grape wreath wrapped around the handle. |
New England Gift Baskets |
| New England is a special region with traditions and foods seen nowhere else. You can celebrate this unique area of the country by giving someone a New England gift basket. Choose your favorite foods from your time there, or use some of our suggestions to fill out your basket. Maine is famous for their blueberries, so blueberry jam or wild blueberry muffin mix would be a good selection. Don’t forget unbelievably sweet Vermont maple syrup, tapped right from the tree. From the shore, add some clam chowder and oyster crackers. Don’t forget dried cranberries or cranberry juice from the bogs of Massachusetts. |