How to Create a Christmas Basket

Your loved one will be thrilled and delighted when given a Christmas gift basket. It's something few people think about at this holiday. It takes only some creativity, planning and getting to know the one you love a little more. Christmas is a time when most give a single gift to each loved one. However, if you really want to spoil that someone special, give a collage of gifts in a spectacular basket.

Instructions

1. Start with the basket. You want to choose one for the season. It doesn't have to be "Easter basket" style. You could even use a brightly colored picnic basket. Paint a basket you may have around the house. Go for red, green or gold when it comes to a Christmas basket.

2. Choose a large gift. This should be the most expensive--and most wanted--gift that your loved one desires. This will be the centerpiece of your basket.

3. Go shopping. You can go to department stores, dollar stores and at websites like eBay. See the link in our Resources section. It's best to do a combination of these things. You'll find nice, quality items at a department store. You'll find cute things that are themed to his interest at a dollar store, but those are things you wouldn't want to spend a lot of money on. They'll be perfect, even as decor to your basket. On eBay and other auction websites, you can look up his specific hobby and find all sorts of items and accessories that deal with it.

4. Spread everything out on the table. Evaluate what you truly want to give. You may find that you have changed your mind about some things, or some things might not be a fit for the basket. Keep your receipts until you finish your basket so that you can take back anything that's unneeded or unused.

5. Fill the bottom of the basket with solid, heavy gift items. Dishes, candles or paperweights would work here. Otherwise, you can fill the bottom of the basket with tissue paper. However, be careful to avoid misleading your loved one into thinking that he is getting more presents that he actually is. A stuffed basket can do that, and it can be disappointing.

6. Center that main gift in the basket. Use tape to secure the item if it doesn't fit easily. Colored holiday tape works wonders here.

7. Put the most beautifully wrapped items to the front. You want to have some items left open and some wrapped within the basket for a decorative, exciting mix. Give the recipient a taste of the great gifts inside by showing some of them.

8. Wrap your basket in red or green cellophane. It's best to choose red if your basket is green. Go for green if the basket is red. For a gold basket, either red or green will work. Top it off with a matching bow.

9. Add a personal note or Christmas card with the recipient's name written in beautiful script of red or green.

Tips & Warnings

• Try several possible arrangements for the items before taping them securely into the basket.

• Don't try to recreate Easter baskets or traditional gift baskets. Get creative and let your imagination soar with this project. It will be most delightful to the one receiving it if it's unusual and fun.