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