| askets are always popular and a great idea to give | | | | making your own bows is easy and the best if you |
| as a gift. People love to receive gift baskets. Making | | | | can do it. Use a large or huge bow. |
| your own baby gift basket is cheap and easy. You | | | | Assemble all your gift basket items, tools, etc. Now |
| can fill them with a variety of inexpensive items and | | | | line your selected gift container. Now stuff the |
| you have lots of choices. | | | | selected filler into the gift basket to give added |
| You can easily customize each basket to your | | | | height to your items. |
| recipient. In this case the gift basket will be going to | | | | Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the |
| the new mom but will contain baby items. | | | | filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the |
| I've put together a few great ideas for making | | | | back, the smaller items in front. |
| newborn baby, baby or older baby gift baskets, | | | | Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded |
| complete with instructions on how to make them. | | | | paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, |
| You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive | | | | napkins or holiday napkins etc.) |
| gift baskets depending on your budget. | | | | Also you can use 'picks' of artificial flowers to fill in |
| You can find many inexpensive items for use in | | | | space. Place your cellophane or other wrap under the |
| making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, | | | | gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring |
| at 'dollar' stores, craft stores, party stores, discount | | | | the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift |
| outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc. | | | | basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow! |
| For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, | | | | Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors. |
| wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, | | | | Tuck a card in the ribbon and that's it! |
| plastic container, toy dump truck or other large toy | | | | You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at |
| truck, tin, seasonal container, large upside-down hat, | | | | Costco-- especially in the fall prior to Christmas but |
| or plastic storage container-put lid underneath. | | | | often throughout the year in some stores. You can |
| For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, | | | | shred paper in a paper shredder. |
| shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, | | | | If you're going to need a lot of cellophane you can |
| dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored | | | | purchase it wholesale through the packaging specialty |
| towels, colored napkins, placemats, diapers, baby | | | | stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found |
| blankets or fabric pieces. | | | | in craft stores. |
| For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored | | | | General tips: Try to use non-perishable items except |
| paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled | | | | for fruit for fruit baskets. Use freshly packaged food |
| newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or | | | | items, because even packaged crackers and cookies |
| other wrapped candy. | | | | can go stale in a couple of months. You can find filler |
| For items in the container it'll depend on the specialty | | | | flower 'picks' at garage sales for pennies. |
| or theme of the gift basket-- here is a small random | | | | If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar |
| sampling to give you a few good ideas:a small book, | | | | each. Try not to mix chocolate or other food |
| inspirational book, baby bath and body products, | | | | fragrant items with non-food fragrant items in the |
| stuffed animals, toys, receiving blanket, baby rattles, | | | | same basket. |
| baby powder, baby shampoo, baby bath wash, | | | | Also there's nothing like learning how to make gift |
| hooded towels, baby-shower type items, | | | | baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and |
| age-appropriate clothes, or a baby birthday poem | | | | easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over |
| that you write or find. | | | | again and share with your children, other family |
| For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or | | | | members and friends. |
| I like to use cellophane wrap. You can buy it in large | | | | You can even charge for classes with your |
| rolls. Look for specialty packaging outlets where you | | | | new-found knowledge and/or start a home based |
| can buy it wholesale. Tie off the wrapped basket | | | | business if you so desire. In any event, making a gift |
| with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it. | | | | basket for a newborn baby or baby is cheap and |
| For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but | | | | easy. |