Gift Basket Assembly

How to Make Gift Baskets

The gift basket assembly process doesn't have to be extremely difficult if you start with planning. All you really need is your own ideas and creativity plus a few items that are readily available at craft stores as well as dollar stores. Here is a list of what you might want to consider during the planning stage:

Containers, such as wicker baskets, trays, planters, etc., that will hold your gifts
Filler material to fill in the bottom of deep containers, such as brown paper or floral foam
Purchased colorful shred, brown paper for coffee gift baskets, shredded sheet music for a music lover, shredded comics for children, or Easter "grass"
Small well-wrapped packages of snacks or other small gift items
Double stick tape to hold gifts in place (optional)
Ribbon, bow, and gift card
Decorative items such as toys, cutter cutters, or homemade chocolate spoons for coffee, champagne, or wine baskets
Cello bags or wrap to hold your finished gift baskets (optional)

Begin by laying out all of the necessary elements you have chosen for your gift basket assembly. If your container is too deep, place enough brown paper, newspaper, or foam in the bottom so all the gift and food items will by filling the bottom of your container with enough filler (foam or crumbled paper) so that your gifts are visible.

Excelsior, which is shredded natural wood material, can be

also used for this step (see photo on the right). You can purchase excelsior at craft stores, some card shops, and anywhere that sells boxes and other packing materials. The benefit of using excelsior is that it is inexpensive, you don't need to use shred in step #3, and it helps cushion breakable items.

When you are satisfied with the first step of the gift basket assembly, it's time to arrange the gifts in your container. I always play around with the placement of the gifts and food items until I get them placed just right. If the container has a handle (either above the basket or at each end) it works well if you attach items to the handles with ribbon or raffia. If needed, tape gifts to each other with double stick tape to keep them from moving around. This is particularly helpful with light weight packages of edible items, which move around easily.

Now you are getting to the fun part of the gift basket assembly

and your gift basket should begin to take shape. Add small bunches of the decorative filler around the edge of the container, between the food and gift items, and also to fill in any empty spaces.

Even when I place a completed gift basket in a cello bag, I also add ribbon or a decorative bow along with the gift card inside the gift basket. (TIP: Mesh or other open-design ribbons are beautiful as a finishing touch for spa gift baskets.) Simply gather the excess cello, netting or tulle at the top and tie it with ribbon. If desired you can add a bow and allow the ribbon to cascade down the front of the gift basket.

Learn How To Tie Bows Here!!!

Last, but not least, here are several tips you may want to consider that should help personalize the gift basket assembly process for the recipient:

Use a paper shredder to make your own filler; use colored paper.
Shred old maps for someone who likes to travel or campers.
Shred music sheets for a music lover.
Wide tulle ribbon is lovely for women's gifts.
Use decorative hair ribbons for a little girl's gift baskets.
Combine several colors of curly ribbon together such as red, green, and gold for Christmas.
Place small silk flowers instead of shred to fill in any empty spaces.
Add a small baby rattle, a silk flower, or other theme item to the center of your bows.
Color coordinate your gifts, filler materials, and container as too many different colors are distracting.
Fill wine glasses with sparkly shred.
Print out these adorable free gift boxes to wrap small items before placing them in your gift baskets.
Wrap wide ribbon around the top of gift baskets for a decorative look.

If you'd like to try something a little different, and easier, you may want to consider using a theme gift bag as the container. The only gift basket assembly information above which you should follow are for the filler. Your finished gift will look much nicer if the gifts show above the bag. If you use a decorative bag it's not necessary to add finishing decorations.

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