How to Make a Gift Basket for a Doglover

Finding the right gift for a friend or family member can sometimes be difficult. If she is a dog lover, you already have a big clue as to the type of gift she would enjoy. Instead of searching the stores for an expensive gift the recipient might not like or need, focus on his love of dogs and give a gift sure to please the dog owner and his pet. Don't worry about the cost of creating a dog lover's gift basket. It doesn't require spending a lot of money. With some thought and creativity, a personalized gift basket can be created for around $20 to $30. Of course, as with any purchased gift, the gift basket may be tailored to include more or less expensive items to fit your budget.

Things You'll Need

• Large dog dish
• Tissue paper
• Dog bones
• Dog grooming items
• Dog movie
• Framed photo of recipient's dog
• Dog book
• Small stuffed animal or dog figurine
• Dog toys
• Dog breath mints or snacks
• Cellophane
• Scissors
• Tape
• Ribbon
• Stapler
• Card

Instructions

1. 

   Select items for the gift basket that reflect the recipient and her dog. Find out the specific breed the dog lover owns and special activities she likes to do with her pet. This will give insight as to the best item choices to personalize the dog lover's gift basket.

2. 

   Line a new dog bowl with two or three pieces of tissue paper. The dog bowl will now serve as the "basket" to hold all the gift items, so choose one that is sturdy and looks nice. A stainless steel or ceramic dish will work well for this project.

3. 

   Wrap dog bones and any other loose dog treats in a small square of cellophane. Place the items in the center of the cellophane square and bunch the ends around the treats. Make sure to cover the top of the bones. Use a small piece of ribbon and tie the wrapping tight. It should look like a small bouquet of dog bones.

4. 

   Place the gift items in the dog dish. Position larger and taller items, such as books, movies and shampoo bottles, at the back and sides of the arrangement. Fill in the middle and front of the gift basket with the smaller items, making sure to place any breakable items carefully.

5. 

   Lay cellophane over the top of the dog lover's gift basket to determine the required length. Cut a piece of cellophane that is long enough to wrap around the entire dish and end at the bottom. Pull the cellophane tightly around the package and fold the excess under the dog dish. Tape the loose ends on the underside of the gift basket. The entire package should be covered by the cellophane.

6. 

   Add decorative ribbon and a card to the gift basket as the finishing touches. Cut four long pieces of ribbon and fold them in the middle. Staple them together. Center the ribbons on the top of the gift basket and fasten them with tape. Attach the card on top of the ribbon to cover the staple.

Tips & Warnings

• To personalize the gift, make substitutions or additions to the suggested list of items.

• Gently tip the gift basket to the rear when taping the cellophane to the bottom. The majority of the larger items should be in the back and will help prevent the smaller gifts from rolling around or falling out.

• Be aware of any allergies the recipient's dog may have, and don't include dog treats or grooming products that contain those items.

Resources

• PetPro for finding dog-themed gifts