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You've certainly seen them. Whether for Christmas, Easter, a baby shower, or a wedding gift, those beautiful gift baskets in specialty shops make wonderful presents. They're also incredibly expensive. Don't let that stop you from arriving at the party or event bearing the gifts you choose to give. Arm yourself with a shopping basket and head off to your local Dollar Storeor discount department store! Big Lots is a great place to find contents for your baskets, as they feature close-out items from a variety of stores. The savings are uncanny.
The first thing you'll need is, of course, a basket or similar container! However, be creative in selecting one. There's nothing worse for the gift recipient than emptying the items from one of these great gifts only to find you're now saddled with a completely useless basket. The solution? Make certain the basket is viable for use in a variety of ways. There are many options other than conventional baskets. A large mixing bowl makes a great holder for a gift array of kitchen utensils, dish towels, a potholder, and a variety of spices. Places like Wal-Mart often have jars of common kitchen spices for a dollar or less each.
Wire baskets from Michael's Craft stores were on sale last month. I bought two shaped as traditional hand baskets and two that served as bottle carriers. In addition to bottles of wine, the bottle carrier looks classy when filled with two tall bottles of homemade spiced oil and herb vinegar. Tie a wooden spoon to the handle with a brightly colored ribbon, and your gift is ready to go.
Small crates, baking pans, and casserole dishes are also good options when selecting a theme for a gift basket. A ceramic loaf pan (I've found them at Big Lots for $3.99), a bag of quick bread mix,and an oven mit make a gift a cook will love, and at a cost of about $8!
Set a maxiumum of $5 for your basket, and then head on over to the wrapping paper aisle.
All gift baskets are padded. In addition to making them look full, it raises the contents for a more eye pleasing appearance. Stuff the bottom of your basket with crumpled newspaper. Then cover the newspaper with one or two sheets of colored tissue paper. Deflated Mylar balloons work well for this purpose, too.
Decide on a theme for your basket, and start collecting items. A teenager or college student might love a pizza pan. Fill it with a crust mix, a pizza cutter, a large stick of pepperoni, an ample jar of pizza sauce, and some decorative napkins. The average price of this array at a Dollar Store, including the pan, is $12.
For a baby shower fill a small diaper bag with lotion, bibs, baby shampoo, and baby face cloths. Throw in a rattle and plastic toy, and the cost will be around $15.
Holiday times are the most fun when it comes to gift baskets. Drape a wire basket with a holiday themed dish towel. Add potholders, cookie cutters, red and green baking sprinkles and an assortment of teas or coffee samples. This can be done for around $10.
The possibilities are endless. Save your money for better things! Spend a little creativity and a half hour at a Dollar or discount department store, and the recipients of your gift baskets will be bragging about your gift to them throughout the coming year.
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