Homemade Cheap Gift Baskets!

Cheap Gift Baskets

Creative Ideas For The Budget Conscious

Dedicate some time and you will be making cheap gift baskets for holidays or special occasions for family, friends, coworkers, and anyone on your gift list. It's all in the planning and I'm going to give you lots of ideas to get you started.

This website has dozens of gift basket themes and many of them can be made even if your budget is limited. When you read through my assembly web page, you will find decorating tips and other low cost suggestions for cheap homemade gift baskets.

Empty Baskets On A Budget:
My favorite place to buy new inexpensive baskets is the Dollar Store near me. I have bought several different shapes and sizes made of wicker and some made with both wire and wicker. These baskets sell out quickly so whenever I see them in stock I pick up several.

There are many "nearly new" wicker baskets for sale at thrift stores, Good Will, garage sales, yard sales, flea markets, Salvation Army Stores, and other shops that resell merchandise.

To freshen a "nearly new" wicker basket, rinse it in hot soapy water, rinse, and air dry. If you spray paint a basket, allow it to dry in an open area for several days to eliminate the paint odor.

Small Wooden Crates:
Keep your eyes open for small wooden crates, too. Grapes and other delicate fruits and veggies are shipped in small crates that are good containers for homemade cheap gift baskets. Ask the produce person where if he or she ever gets any small crates or cartons. Some craft stores sell small wooden crates at reasonable prices.

Mug Gifts:
Lots of great ideas and information about making your own mug gifts using soup, beer, or coffee mugs.

Homemade Gift Boxes:
Select a sturdy cardboard box that is the correct size. Remove the flaps that close the box so you have an open box. Reinforce the bottom by using clear packing tape. Then wrap the outside of the box with heavy gift wrap or fabric.

Filler Products On A Budget:
As you will read on my assembly page, that you will need two different types of filler products if your basket is deep.

The first filler product is used to fill extra space in the bottom of the basket so your gifts will shop above the basket. Crumpled paper or a piece of foam work fine for this.

The other filler product is used to make your cheap gift basket look decorative and also fill in any spaces. In addition to purchased shred, here are some other options:

tissue paper cut in thin strips, shredded, or crumpled into small "flower-like" balls
shredded brown paper for gift baskets for men
shredded comics
shredded newspaper or magazine pages
shredded sheet music
leftover grass from Easter baskets
curly ribbon curled
tinsel for Christmas baskets

If you have a paper shredder, it will be helpful in shredding some kinds of paper.

TIPS:
A finished basket that looks overflowing is much more attractive than one that appears to be sparsely filled.

Include snacks or other food items in your cheap gift baskets. These items are inexpensive and can fill up space.

If you are making several cheap gift baskets, purchase large bags of pretzels, cookies, candy, etc. and re-package them in small cello or other decorative bags.

Last, but not least, my homemade gifts web page has lots of ideas for gifts to make and place in your gift baskets or to gift as standalone gifts. You'll find snack recipes, chocolate recipes, vinegar recipes, gifts in a jar, and bath product recipes. I've also included inexpensive ways to decorate your jars, bottles, and cello bags.

Read through any of the themes that interest you. Then incorporate some of these hints to turn them into homemade cheap gift baskets.

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