Author Archives: Ruth Wright

Grilling Gift Basket

BBQ cooking set

Grilling gifts are fun and always a good choice for the backyard Grill Masters! BBQ gift baskets include tasty grilling marinades, BBQ rubs, zesty cooking sauces, and plenty more! So, whether your special someone is a novice grilling guru or a pro grill master, a grilling gift basket will impress. Grilling gift baskets are hot!

Giving gifts on a special occasion creates a strong bond. This norm includes a vast assortment of products. There can be various gifts for a grill lover. One of them is the grill basket. These baskets can be of plastic or other suitable materials and usually include sauces, marinades, pepperonis and grilling tools. This basket is an easy way of having all the grilling needs in one place.

What to Include

A BBQ gift basket is great for a Father’s Day present. A father will love to put up the grill with all his great accessories. The basket can include sauces, dips and many more things with a convenient place to store them. Don’t forget the beer cheese dips. Include some snacks the grill master can enjoy while cooking like BBQ Kettle chips and flaming hot smoky beef steak jerky.

If you are giving a BBQ gift basket to someone who has invited you to a party, include gourmet goodies, like Jack Daniels sauces and marinades, gourmet coffee, gourmet cheese, and gourmet pretzels. You can also include a reusable cooler bag. This makes it perfect to carry all these goodies along on picnics and trips.

Other good suggestions include grill wipes, cotton hand towel, stick lighter, hamburger patty press, and mini BBQ grill mates. The hand towels can have a BBQ theme. Include anything else you might see when going shopping or you know that your recipient might like. This makes an incredible gift for someone who loves to grill.

Candle Gift Basket

Candle gift baskets are lovely, luxurious gifts for any occasions. There are several types of baskets to pick from and DIY experts can even make their own gift baskets to individualize for someone special.

Occasions for Pampering

A candle gift basket is perfect for special celebrations like:

A beautiful spa basket with lavender candles

  • Mother’s Day
  • Birthdays
  • Anniversaries
  • Baby’s birth
  • Bridal showers
  • Bachelorette party
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Just Because

A candle spa basket can also be an anytime gift to help someone relax at a stressful time of life, like during a divorce, after moving, or upon seeking a new job. They are also popular as holiday gifts.

Types of Candle Gift Baskets

Candle gift baskets come in an assortment of sizes and scents. Some companies provide various customization choices or may be willing to make a totally unique basket. The two biggest ways to customize candle gift baskets, however, is by scent and the items put in the gift.

Popular Scents

Because a pampering gift basket is meant to be an indulgence, the most well-known scents help the recipient relax and rejuvenate themselves. Some candle gift baskets will use many complimentary scents, typically themed around a basic idea or even an attractive color.

Popular scents for candle gift baskets include:

  • Fresh linen
  • Citrus
  • Chamomile
  • Lavender
  • Vanilla
  • Cucumber melon
  • Violet
  • Kiwi lime

If the desired scent is not available, it is simple to make a personalized gift basket using uniquely scented candles and popular scented plug-ins or a basic candle basket could have a favorite air freshener added to it for extra indulgence.

Candle gift baskets are a wonderful way to help someone special pamper in decadent luxury. From the soothing scents of an aromatherapy candle to the delightful scents of holiday or food-scented candles, this sort of gift is sure to be well appreciated. It is a gift that will definitely not go unused.

Sunshine Gift Basket

A sunshine box is a fun gift to not only give, but to create. Go on a search for all things yellow and surprise someone special with a sunshine yellow gift basket!

You can give a sunshine gift basket as a ‘just because,’ ‘thank you,’ or a ‘birthday gift.”  Make tags to say “Hello Sunshine” or “Let me Brighten up your Day.”

Wooden Crate or gift basket: You can get one at any craft store.

Small snack sizes work well

Contents:

  • Yellow/White Dishtowel
  • Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate & Caramel Squares
  • Sunshine Mug
  • Juicy Fruit Gum
  • Yellow Nail Polish
  • Butterfinger Candy Bar
  • Yellow soap
  • Golden Oreos
  • Sparkling Peach or Lemon Soda
  • Kleenex’s
  • Personalized Stationery
  • Keebler Vanilla Cookies
  • Peanut M&M’s
  • Lemon tea
  • Lay’s potato chips

Arranging the Gift Basket:

Line the box/basket with the dishtowel and arrange the items the best way you can. You want to make sure that every product is showing. It might take a little elbow grease and some innovative re-working but do what you got to do.

If you think of anything else, or just happen to be shopping and see something yellow, get it. For example, a yellow rubber duckie or yellow stuffed rabbit or bear is a nice addition for someone young or old. Another suggestion is a yellow gift card.

To add some “umph,” to this gift, get a gift card to somewhere that you know the individual will like.

If you give a gift card, you might want to include the receipt showing the balance in case there is a problem trying to redeem it. If you can’t find a yellow gift card, get one that is bright and sunny with some yellow in it. The idea behind this gift basket is cheery.

Always include a note. Put it on yellow notecards or stationery. Personalized notes always add a special touch to any gift basket.

Hot Chocolate Gift Basket

You can also make hot cocoa mix jars with toppings included.

This is the ideal gift to keep your friends warm on those cold winter nights. Make a gift basket for one with single packets of cocoa mix or put together a basket for a crowd by using a canister of hot cocoa mix.

What better way to warm up in the wintertime than with some hot chocolate? This tasty basket is filled with all the must haves for making hot chocolate and then some.

Here are some ideas of what to include:

A good rule to remember is “smaller basket filled big”. When picking a basket, always get a smaller one instead of a larger one. Big ones are pricey to fill, and a big basket half-filled looks bad. The better choice is to go with a small basket and fill it to the brim.

This hot chocolate gift basket is full with all the things someone may need to make good hot chocolate. There’s the mix, great cups, straws and fun flavorings. Oh, let’s not forget marshmallows! Yesss!

Simple Hot Chocolate Gifts:

If you want something nice to easily take to neighbors and friends, here’s a few of easy hot chocolate gifts that you could pull together. This would be perfect for a gift basket of any size since most of these items are quite affordable. Here are some great fixings:

Hot Chocolate Gift Basket Ideas:

Here are the things to put in the hot chocolate basket:

  • Hot Chocolate Mix
  • Hot Cups
  • Candy Canes
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Drink Flavorings (coconut, peppermint, orange, French vanilla)

    Edible chocolate spoons

  • Marshmallows
  • Andes Mints and Godiva chocolate
  • Mini Flavor Mix Ins
  • Crate or basket
  • Hot chocolate mix
  • Marshmallows
  • Candy canes
  • Chocolate syrup
  • Ceramic mugs
  • To-go hot chocolate sipper cups
  • Stir sticks
  • Popcorn

Hot Chocolate Spoons – Hello Homebody

Add these tasty spoons to any gift basket. Make them yourself or buy them ready made at Target or Amazon.

Ice Cream Gift Basket

Gathering Products for The Gift Box

Assorted ice cream and toppings

First, collect the materials that you needed for DIY ice cream sundae gift box. Craft stores like Michael’s always have sales of baskets and gift boxes.

On your weekly trip to the grocery store, buy the ice cream box necessities such as chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup, cherries, and cones.

Also, buy a couple boxes of candy that could be used as toppings. They usually are less than a dollar. Don’t forget almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and of course, sprinkles! ​

Get a budget-friendly, but sturdy ice cream scoop. If you are looking to get a good scoop, there’s some on Amazon that uses the heat from your body to heat up the ice cream.

At your local dollar store or bargain store, pick up festive spoons and napkins, as well as ice cream cups (different varieties).

To save time, there are some places like Amazon where you can buy an already assembled ice cream sundae kit that has the cups, spoons, straws, and other goodies in bright and cheery colors.

Putting the Ice Cream Sundae Box Together

The next step is the fun part…putting it all together into a pretty ice cream sundae gift basket.

Pour the candy into the condiment cups. It saves room in the gift basket. ​To save even more room, you might want to fill condiment cups with the sprinkles and nuts.    ​​

Unwrapped two different kinds of cones and wrapped a stack of them in cellophane for brightness and freshness.

Take a couple pieces of ribbon and tie a couple of the spoons to the ice cream scoop with a cute sign.

If you think of anything else your gift recipient might like, such as fresh fruit, put that in the basket as well. Just remember, if you put fresh produce in it, make sure to deliver the basket immediately.

Pancake Gift Basket

Want an affordable gift idea that people will use? Then you will love this DIY Pancake Gift Basket! You can get very creative or you can make it sweet and simple.

The Ultimate Frugal Gift Ideas- DIY Pancake Basket

Do you have folks on your list that are hard to buy for? Here the best solution: food. Everyone eats, eh? This is the reason why food baskets make the best gift ideas. You don’t have a lot of money? No worries. A food basket can be created on any budget.

Include in the gift basket:

Pancakes, fresh berries and jams, horizontal

  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Kitchen towel
  • Homemade Maple Syrup
  • Pancake mix in a bag with instructions stapled on back
  • Skillet
  • Pancake Molds

Flavorful additions:

  • Chocolate Chips
  • Canned Fruit Topping
  • Whip Cream Mix
  • Assorted Nuts
  • Assorted Flavored Syrup

Directions

  1. Gather your ingredients, making sure you have enough products
  2. Print or Hand draw labels
  3. Place pancake mix in plastic bag and seal (you can use a zip lock)
  4. Staple pancake mix directions on bag
  5. Put all ingredients in the mixing bowl with tissue paper
  6. Now the piece de resistance to really make your DIY Pancake Gift Basket Stand Out…Homemade Maple Syrup!

Shortcuts for Your DIY Pancake Gift Basket

If you’re a person who likes to make gifts but don’t have the time, below are a few tips for you.

Buy a box of pancake mix and measure it out per the serving suggestions on the box. This is a great tip if your are making gift baskets for more than one person.

For your homemade maple syrup (if you don’t know how to make it, there are TONS of online recipes) buy a couple of decorative bottles from the dollar store, Walmart, or thrift shop. Pour your syrup in the container and print a label for it.

Cocktail Gift Basket

A cocktail gift basket is a great idea for someone who likes to get their drink on. They’re simple to put together and can be personalized to the recipient’s personal taste, regardless if it’s gin or whiskey.

You can give the basket a theme, such as a basket centered around creating all flavors of margaritas.

Baskets filled with liquor, snacks, and bar accessories are perfect for the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, or any special occasion. The options are endless and here are some to get you going.

Building Your Basket

To start, pick two or three signature cocktails that use the same base liquor (brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey). Next, put in the necessary liquors and mixers (e.g., juices, syrups, etc.) for those drinks. The aim is to make fun and easy baskets that all will enjoy.

Things to Put in the Basket

Add any of these to provide the ultimate cocktail experience:

Two Martini glasses with bartender tools

Recipe cards or a cocktail book, because you don’t know if they know what to do with all this stuff. For recipe cards, write them out by hand or print them out in a cute design.

Rimming salts or sugars are festive additions, specifically for margaritas or other sweet drinks.

Garnishes like maraschino cherries, uncut citrus fruits, and olives.

Cocktail picks are fabulous since there’s a need for something to skewer those olives and other garnishes.

Coasters with funky designs and cocktail napkins should be included.

Cocktail shakers are always a hoot.

Other important bar tools they might not have, like a jigger, bar spoon, or Hawthorne strainer. Other non-essential tools will be very useful and fun too.

Glassware finishes the basket and is still useful after the last cocktail is drunk.

Don’t forget to include some snacks! Standard bar goodies such as mixed nuts, crackers, cheese, peanuts or popcorn. Try your hand at making some homemade desserts or cookies.

Sangria Gift Basket

Homemade red wine sangria

When you don’t have a gift idea for a friend or family member, a DIY sangria gift basket is a great idea which we guarantee all will love.

Sangria is one of the best tasting and satisfying drinks that you can make. Everyone loves them and make them for any occasion and reason.

A pitcher of sangria gets the party started. Red wine, white wine, citrus fruits, sweet fruits, fruity liqueurs and anything else you like.

The notion of the sangria gift is to get together all you need to make sangria and make it look gorgeous. For this gift you need to have all the ingredients for sangria. Pick citrus fruits like oranges and lemons as these last way longer than pineapple.

Gift Basket Materials and Ingredients

  • A big drink dispenser
  • Red wine
  • Brandy
  • Lemon, lime and orange
  • Wooden spoon
  • Ribbon

Wrapping the Sangria Gift Basket

To make this gift, you just need to fill the drink dispenser with the sangria ingredients

First, put the bottle of wine in.

Then, put the brandy in the dispenser. Next, put the lemons, limes and oranges in with the wine and brandy.

At this point you can place some lemon or orange leaves/branches inside the dispenser for a fresh feel. Or you can put some berries on the bottom of the dispenser.

Once you have gotten all the ingredients inside the dispenser, close the lid. Now attach the wooden spoon to the dispenser with a ribbon, wrapping it around for a stylish touch.

If you want to go a step further, you can create a label to thread or attach to the ribbon. Write a nice message for the gift recipient or write out a sangria recipe.

This is a very simple present to create and will have your friend, co-worker, or family member asking for more.

Kwanzaa Gift Basket Ideas

Kwanzaa is a special African American celebration which concentrates on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. Kwanzaa is neither political nor religious. Moreover, it is a misconception it is a substitute for Christmas. It is just a time of celebrating African-American people, their ancestors and culture.

An accurate Kwanzaa gift (or Zawadi) should be reasonable, enriching and of an artistic or educational nature, all of which are essentially a definition of Ta-Ka-Radi.

Kwanzaa (“first fruits of harvest”) in the African language Kiswahili, has gained incredible acceptance and is observed by over 20 million people worldwide.

Here are some amazing gift ideas to put in your Kwanzaa gift basket.

Hometown love

Get an original print that will be a reminder of the special city or town in their heart. Pick from an assortment of colors and choose where you want the heart situated.

African map

Gift a handmade print that looks like an old-world map of Africa. Include a vintage frame for an old-fashioned like home decoration.

Elephant tidbit holders

A set of four brightly colored sculptures made of African soapstone come made with love all the way from Kenya. These elephants are the ideal holders for flameless tea lights or small trinkets. You can buy them online at https://www.swahiliwholesale.com/soapstone-animals.

Mini soapstone giraffes

Mini soapstone giraffe

Also, at https://www.swahiliwholesale.com/soapstone-animals, get a set of delightful mini giraffes. Made with the same African soapstone, these giraffes make the ideal gift or accent decoration for any home.

Safari animal ornaments

Try to buy animal ornaments make from African wood. There are several places online. Get a set that have a variety of animals like elephants, cheetahs, zebras, or giraffes.

African wax-print apron

With African-print materials, no two aprons are alike. You can choose from many different colors, patterns, and styles at etsy.com.

Pasta Gift Basket Ideas

Create an Italy-inspired gourmet gift basket that has everything anyone needs to enjoy a real Italian pasta dinner. Pick artisan-crafted ingredients—the aim is to have a basket brimming with gourmet delights and specialty items finds that your recipient doesn’t usually treat themselves to but would like to taste. Regardless if you would like to create a well-edited, small basket or create a big bounty, use these Italian gift basket ideas and shopping sources to help guide you. Don’t forget to check out discount and specialty and shops.

Different types of pasta in wicker basket

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

A good bottle of extra virgin olive oil will last far after the linguine is gone, so treat your special friend to a fine one. Several gourmet shops have olive oil tasting bars, so taste many and choose one that tickles your fancy. And don’t feel limited to Italian oils. There are amazing olive oils from Spain Greece, Israel, California, Australia, and more.​

Grissini

Don’t forget skinny grissini, so there will be something fun to eat while the pasta cooks. A good one: Tenuta Castello makes its Rubata Grissini in little batches from family-grown grains and extra-virgin olive oil. The classic Piedmontese-style breadsticks come in rosemary and plain, and rice flour.

Artisan Pasta

You probably think of dry pasta as a busy night go-to meal. Therefore, a handmade pasta in a unique shape or made from a rare flour can be a real treat. As a bonus, artisan pastas are frequently magnificently packaged and brings visual appeal to your basket.

Gourmet Tomato Sauce

There are numerous jarred pasta sauces on the market, but only very few can boast incredible homemade flavor and texture. Get an all-natural sauce made with simple ingredients—tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, onions, garlic, basil. Avoid the ones made with corn syrup, inferior oils, or lots of sugar. Dell’Amore is a great choice.