AA Gifts & Baskets Idea Blog

Archive for the ‘Holiday’ Category

Making a Christmas candy wreath is a fun way to create a holiday décor item or a holiday gift. You only need a few supplies and your imagination. Let’s get started making a Christmas candy wreath that you’ll be proud to display.

First, you’ll need a wire wreath form. You can select from several different sizes. They are available at craft stores. You may want to start out with a smaller, rather than larger form as your first wreath may take a bit longer to make.

You’ll need a supply of candies. Hard candies are the best to work with for this project as they don’t melt or smash. Keep all the candies wrapped. That’s very important as the wrappers are what’s are going to secure the candy to the wreath. Using peppermint pinwheel type candies is ideal. They are round, the right size, and easy to handle. Plus, they are not too expensive.  You’re going to need several bags of candy, so buy a bit more than you think you need so you don’t run out. For a small wreath, two bags of pinwheels might cover it, but get three to be sure.

When you have your wreath form and your candy laid out, you’re ready to start. You’ll need a hot glue gun to do this quickly. The wreath form will usually have a center wire that is meant for wrapping things over and under. While you can’t exactly thread hard candy like ribbon, you can layer it. So lay down the first candy on the center bar of the wreath form and glue it down. Now, the next candy that’s going to go down on the wreath should be layered on top and to the side of the first candy. Glue it down. As you begin to add candies, move the design outward towards the edges of the wreath. You’re starting to build layers. If you stack candies on top of each other, you’ll have a flat finished piece. You want it to look dimensional, so stagger and layer.

Continue going all around the wreath until you have added all the candy. You should make sure that there are no bald spots. If you find that you have awkward gaps, just add another candy.

Now comes the embellishment. You can add a big red bow made of flocked velvet or sprigs of mistletoe or any other little items you have around. A small bird ornament or even a Christmas ornament will work well. The fun is trying to make it a little bit more appealing.

You can wrap one of these edible candy arrangements up as a gift, give it as is, or keep it for yourself. You can enjoy it for a season and then actually eat the candy. The reason for keeping each piece of candy in its wrapper is so that when it comes time to eat the candy, it’s still intact. If you’ve used a hot glue gun, you can easily remove the wrapper and eat the candy. Don’t try it with glue that may run into the candy and cause it to be inedible.

Have fun with your Christmas candy wreath making activity. Kids can help, but be sure that if there are small candies involved that could pose choking hazards that an adult supervises.

Related Articles:

• Edible Candy Craft Ideas
• Candy Cane Cupcakes
• Candy Inventions

Aromatherapy has been around for a long time. It’s simply the use of scents to target benefits like relaxation, sleep, well-being, headache relief, etc. If you want to give an aromatherapy gift basket, it’s really easy to make one yourself.

The first thing you should do is choose a scent. If you’re not sure what scent your friend would like, do some thinking. Have you smelled candles burning in her home? What scent and color were they? Does she wear a certain perfume? What does it smell like? These are some clues into some of the scents she may like. If you still don’t have a clue, go with something like vanilla or buttercream which just about everyone likes.

Once you have chosen your scent, choose a vessel to put it all in. Often times inexpensive baskets work well, but you can also place everything in a decorative hat box or other display box that she can use again. If you want to make her a travel basket, put it all in a large cosmetics pouch that zips so she can take it with her on the road.

Aromatherapy baskets can include just about anything. Most include relaxing elements designed to help the recipient de-stress and unwind. Candles with strong but pleasant scents are nice as is incense. You do have to be careful to choose a scent that is meant to relax, like lavender, if you intend it for stress relief. If you give a basket full of peppermint or spearmint scents, the opposite effect will occur. Your friend will be much more alert instead of relaxed. Peppermint makes a great gift to give as an aromatherapy pick-me-up basket for someone at work who always hits that 3:00pm slump.

Arrange all your items on some sort of packing material. This can be shredded paper, recycled Easter basket grass, or even just tissue paper. The idea is to make each product stand alone in its own little spot so the basket doesn’t look thrown together. Include a simmering pot for spices or a candle warmer, which allows wax to be heated without a flame. Great for the office or around kids.

You might want to include soap and a soap dish, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, a neck pillow, or an herbal pillow filled with buckwheat that can be used hot or cold for neck pain relief. There are hundreds of scents and thousands of products to choose from. So your options are limitless when putting together an aromatherapy gift basket. Include natural bamboo towels and face cloths, slippers, or a robe.

Tie it all up with a big ribbon and present it. Your friend will absolutely love getting a basket filled with products she can use right away to change her mood and her day. Whether it’s relaxation or alertness you are going for, research the different scents and what each one is thought to enhance. There are so many out there that you will definitely find one for the lady in your life. Don’t settle for the first one you find. Do some sensory research. You’ll have fun doing it and just may relax yourself, too.

It’s the holiday season, and you’re not sure what to do about corporate gifts. Maybe you’re new to the company or the industry. Or maybe you’re just not sure what’s appropriate. It’s good to get advice before you send any gifts, so here are some things you should think about.

Before a single gift goes out your doors, make sure to check with each recipient’s company policy. Are they allowed to accept gifts? If gifts are under a certain dollar value (such as $25) is it okay? Each company is different, so assign an employee the task of calling each company to find out. It may take someone all day to call every company on the list, but it will save you embarrassment in the end. Even if you’ve got the greatest gift in mind and can’t wait to send it, you’ll find it’s returned to you if the recipient is prohibited from receiving it.

Do you have to give gifts? No. No one is expecting, or has a right to expect, a gift from your company. The reason you’d want to give a gift is purely because you value the relationship with the recipient. Have they been a good client all year? Have they helped you with rush orders? Have they been an indispensable part of your supply chain? Then by all means, recognize their good work with a gift.

This is the only good reason to send business holiday gifts. Any gift sent with the intention of “buying” a client’s allegiance is wasted. You’d be better off taking that account to lunch instead to talk business. People will see through your less than honest intentions if you send an expensive gift as a way of wooing them.

So, you’re sure you want to give gifts, now what should you give? This all depends on your unique situation. Are you a new company with little cash flow? Then you’re not going to be able to do the same sort of gifts a large corporation could. Nor should you have to. A simple, thoughtful gift is fine. Send a fruit basket the entire office at the recipient’s end can enjoy. Make sure the card includes  all those who are owed a thank you. A sentiment such as, “For everyone at XYZ Company, Thank you for making this our best year ever. Enjoy!” is perfect. In fact, even if your company has tons of reserve cash, you may still want to send food. Office workers love an unexpected treat like long stem cookies, gourmet brownies or exotic coffees. Splurge a little and recognize each department that’s helped you out.

Include a hand written note. Never print out a note. It may come off as impersonal. Take a few minutes to hand write on nice card stock a heartfelt note. It may make all the difference in whether you’re still in business with the recipient when the next budget cuts come around.

While giving a business gift won’t ensure that you retain clients or accounts, it will help others to see you as generous and grateful for their relationship with your company. If you can’t send something nice, don’t send anything at all. It’s better to just send a thoughtful card than a shoddy gift.

If you have special working relationships with certain business colleagues, you’ll want to do something at holiday time to let them know you value their business. Loyalty in business means a lot in today’s rapidly changing “here today, gone tomorrow” climate. Foster goodwill and show your generous spirit by offering your clients something meaningful this holiday. Tailor it to them and you’ll really impress them with your thoughtfulness.

A Cruise

Organize a company cruise with clients this year. Just about everyone lives near some waterway even if it’s a lake. It doesn’t have to be the Atlantic Ocean, although that would make for a spectacular site. You can hire a charter boat to accommodate as many people as you like. Offer the invitation to all your employees as well as all of your recipients if the numbers aren’t overwhelming. Offer a dinner cruise with live band. You’ll be remembered for it long after the holiday decorations come down. Another way to do the cruise is to invite just the head executives at your client’s company and the tops of yours. You can have a more intimate cruise that way. Limit it to three or four hours, however, so you can enjoy yourselves but not tire of each other’s company. Make a toast or speech thanking your clients for joining you and for their business.

A Simple Treat

Sometimes it’s the simple things that mean the most. Sending over a frozen turkey for each employee at your client’s business is a nice idea. It shows you have holiday spirit and the delivery time will be fun as everyone will be invited to come and pick up their gift. You can also do a frozen ham. These foods will keep until the employees can get home and refrigerate them.

Send Lunch

Pick a day near the holidays to send over a catered lunch for your client’s employees. Make sure to schedule it well in advance with the secretary so that someone knows to expect it. They’ll want to get the word out on their end that you’re providing lunch for them on a certain day. If you want to keep it a surprise, have the client’s secretary announce it that morning before everyone makes their lunch plans. This can be a real treat for people especially if they are in an industry that gets busier around the holidays. They may not even have time to go out to get lunch during very busy days, so your treat will be extra inviting.

Play Santa

Visit your client in person with a gift for everyone on his staff. Even if it’s just a gourmet cookie or a custom chocolate bar, the fact that you showed up in person and took the time to distribute it will make all the difference. Whether you decide to go in full Santa costume is up to you!

Think about the individuals you want to thank. Instead of sending something generic that could be for anyone, consider the client’s work environment, product line, tastes and location. By personalizing your thank you gifts to the individuals, you’re giving the positive impression that you value working with them. And in today’s business climate, every relationship counts.

So what is it that moms really want for Mother's Day?  Is it Candy?  Perfume? Flowers?  The real answer is 2 simple words - A BREAK!

The answer is simple, but your mom's definition of this word might vary.

A break could mean:

• A spa day
• A round of golf and lunch
• Kids and Mommy time - movies, games, snacks
• Clean the house for Mom
• Make Mom breakfast in bed
• Run Mom a hot bath and top it off with a spa gift basket.
• Take the kids to the park and let Mom have the day to herself. If she loves to read a book gift basket may be the perfect gift.

You know your mom best, so choose something she will really enjoy. What mom's love most is just to know they are appreciated for all their hard work, and giving her a day off from all that work is the best gift of all.

Easter is fast approaching, but there's still time to send a gift to your loved ones.

Young and old alike enjoy receiving unexpected treats.

Our Easter Festival Deluxe Gift Basket shown here includes Cadbury Creme Filled Chocolate Eggs, Easter Candy Corn, Butter Toffee Pretzels, Sweet Butter Cookies, Cashew Roca, Easter Peeps, 2 Boxes of Fruit Flavored Jelly Beans, Peppermint Kettle Corn and a Milk Chocolate Foil Wrapped Easter Bunny.

A plush bunny and festive spring time bow make this a gift worth giving!

If you're looking to let someone know you're thinking about them this Easter, you're sure to find the perfect gift at All About Gifts and Baskets.