Fill your recycled gift basket with practical items.
If you are looking for a creative gift to give someone special but you don't have a large budget, then consider making your own gift basket. Use an old basket that you have around the house. If you don't have one that you can recycle, buy one from your local thrift store for a few dollars. Just make sure the basket that you use does not have any broken weaving.
Instructions
Basket Basics
1. Select a basket. Your basket can be any size -- just remember that you must fill the space.
2. Fill the basket with a layer of confetti, cloth or tissue paper. This provides a base on which to arrange your practical gift items.
3. Arrange practical items in the basket that are related to the gift recipient's tastes.
4. Cut about a 6-inch decorative ribbon, and tie it on top of the basket handle.
Kitchen Gift Basket
5. Place a cloth napkin or two across the bottom and up the sides of the basket. Cloth napkins, which you can buy from a retail store or an antique store, add charm and elegance to a gift basket.
6. Arrange a set of measuring cups, several bottles of spices, a vegetable peeler and a lemon-scented drain cover for the gift recipient's sink.
7. Tuck a set of blank recipe cards into the basket. Fill out the top card with your favorite recipe.
Leisure Gift Basket
8. Fill the bottom of the basket with shredded newspaper strips.
9. Tuck sharpened pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, crossword puzzle books, a best-selling book and several bookmarks into the newspaper confetti.
10. Purchase an electronic book reader instead of a hard-cover book, if your budget allows, and tuck it into the basket.
Beauty Gift Basket
11. Cut open a resealable, plastic, gallon-size bag with a pair of scissors, and spread it out in the bottom of the basket.
12. Pour bath crystals on top of the liner so they fill the basket at least halfway.
13. Stick a miniature candy scoop into the crystals. Place bottles of nail polish, nail files and makeup brushes in the crystals.
