Craft a Gift Basket

Gift Baskets can be fun and easy once a theme is picked out. They can be a great idea if a group of people want to contribute for a shower or birthday gift. Once the theme and container are chosen the rest seem to fall into place. Let these ideas get you started:

• Sewing Basket - Fill a sewing box or basket with needles, thread, thimble, buttons, finish by tying with a tape measure.
• Baking Basket - Fill a Bundt pan or a candy clay basket with mixing spoons, collected recipe cards from each participant, spatula, measuring cups, and a cookie cutter. To make it even more special paint a set of pot holders or apron.
• Pasta Basket - Fill a large collander, lined with a kitchen towel, with dried pasta, spices, sauces, a bottle of wine, and some bread sticks.
• Childrens Craft Can - Fill a white paint bucket with paints, paper, stickers, brushes, pencils, and markers. Finish by painting the child's name on the bucket and top with curling ribbon on the handles.
• Bath Basket - Line a basket with an elegant towel, add soaps, a candle, sponges, bubble baths, bath beads, oils, and pampering spa products all in the same color family. Finish it with a large piece of tulle tied in a bow with a silk flower.
• The Grill Master Basket - Line a basket with an apron add a cookbook, marinades, rubss, grilling tools, and potholders.
• A Pancake Breakfast Set could include Syrups, Pancake Mix, syrup pitcher, cloth napkin as a liner, jams, and so forth.
• Picnic Basket - In a wicket basket lined with a blanket add a bottle of wine, 2 glases, cheeses, corkscrew, crackers, a cheese board and knife. Include a disposable camera to capture the fun times.
• Movie Basket - To an empty popcorn tub add microwave popcorn, candy, canned sodas, videos, CD's, or tickets to the movies.
• New Car Bucket - To a bucket add car soaps, wax, chamois cloths, sponges, key chain and special auto scent products.
• Bon Voyage Basket - Line a basket with a crinkled map and add a travel journal, pen, small photo album, stamps, prepaid phone card, travel pillow, and simple stationery.
• Fishermans Basket - Inside a creel add lures, line, bobbers, bait, hooks, sinkers, and tie it all up with a tape measure.
• Beer Basket - Fill a cooler with an assortment of beers, pretzels, favorite snacks and an opener for a big hit.
• Get Well Basket - Fill a cherry basket with chicken noodle soup, Aspirin or Tylenol, a thermometer, current magazines, a crossword puzzle book, pencil, paper back books, fresh fruit, and a Get Well Bear.
• Tool Basket - Inside a Tool Bag add a hammer, screw driver, tape measure, pencil, level, assorted nails, screws and a 'how-to' book.
• Computer Basket - Fill a basket with discs, CD's, a mouse pad, post it notes, paper, and paper CD sleeves.
• Over the Hill Basket - In a black basket add Geritol, Preparation H, Magnifying Glass, and Ben Gay.
• Gardener's Basket - Inside a large pot add seeds, gloves, hand rakes, trowels, seeds, bulbs, and a decorative item for the garden. To add a crafty touch paint the garden gloves and pot.

Painted Baskets

• Joyful Jingles wood basket
• Use this Mallard Pattern to paint a simple duck basket.