How to make themed silent auction baskets

A silent auction is a great way to raise money for nonprofit organizations. Not only can a silent auction gathering be a fun social event, it can be a successful profit-making venture. The key to getting event-goers interested and willing to make bids on silent auction items is to put together a wide array of attractive and appealing themed baskets. With a little creativity and some generous donations, themed silent auction baskets are a cinch to put together.

Things You'll Need

• Basket or base to hold items
• Cellophane gift basket bags
• Ribbon
• Basket filler

Instructions

1. Create a family fun basket. Buy five to ten board games and stack them from largest to smallest. Place the games in an extra-large cellophane gift basket bag. Add some boxes shaped like movie theater popcorn containers and fill with sweets and a box of microwave popcorn to fill in empty space. Gather the top of the cellophane bag and tie it closed with a bright ribbon.

2. Create a gardener's basket. Fill a wheelbarrow with a two or three small bags of potting soil. Add gardening gloves, gardening shoes, a tote of gardening tools, knee mat, and a gift card to the local gardening center.

3. Create a tailgating basket. Start with a large tailgate cooler or tin drink bucket for the base. Add two stadium seat cushions, a football, napkins, paper plates, paper cups, two six-packs of soda, snacks, and a gift card to a local sub shop. Place everything in an extra-large cellophane gift basket bag and secure the top with ribbon that matches the local sports team's colors.

4. Create a restaurant lover's basket. Purchase a wrought-iron photo tree. Place gift cards to area restaurants in each photo holder. Place the photo tree into a small cellophane gift bag and tie the top with decorative ribbon, pulling the cellophane as tight as possible so that the gift cards can be viewed easily.

5. Create a pamper basket. Fill a square wicker basket with bath oils, lotions, candles, a light music CD, a box of assorted teas, and gift card to a local spa for massage and manicure. Complete the basket with a cellophane gift bag tied with a pink and green ribbon.

6. Create a crab feast basket. Fill a wicker basket with a large plastic tablecloth or butcher's paper, paper towels, wet wipes, crab mallets, two six-packs of beer, and a gift card for one or two bushels of crabs. Tie it all up into a cellophane basket bag and secure with a ribbon with a nautical theme.

Tips & Warnings

• Fill the basket with the largest items at the bottom, working up to the smallest items on top.

• Use basket filler (crumpled paper) in bright colors to add visual interest to the basket and fill in empty space.

• Use clear cellophane bags so basket items can be viewed clearly.

• Type a list of each basket's contents and the basket's total value to be attached to the outside of the basket.

• Send a list of the basket themes to the organization's members, asking for monetary or item donations.

• For school fundraisers, consider having each grade or class contribute a basket to the silent auction event.

• Target area businesses for gift cards (for services or goods to be used in the baskets) or for entire baskets.

• Display the baskets prior to the event, if possible, to generate interest.

References

• Make Your Own Gift Basket