Instruction for Making Gift Baskets Like a Pro (2024)

How to Make Your Own Gift Basket in Easy Steps

Who knew that a little instruction for making gift baskets could go so far? I certainly didn't once upon a time.

The truth is, there are just a few things to know that can make your homemade gift basket projects easy and successful.

So, you've gone and picked a great basket, perfect for your someone special. You've checked out these gift basket suggestions and picked out some fantastic personalized goodies... perfect start!

Now, if you find yourself arranging your gift basket and it's not turning out quite the way you hoped... you're not alone!

The good news..? Read my instruction for making gift baskets for thestep by steps and more importantly, top tips to help make our own giftbaskets look professional and coordinated.

In the following instruction for making gift baskets, you'll learn ways to pack your gift basket for optimal show, how to keep contents in good view and sitting straight, as well as how to decorate a gift basket easily and with style.

Instruction for Making Gift Baskets

Materials:

• Vessel: Basket or container of some kind. Baskets are lightand inexpensive but you can also make the vessel part of the gift byusing something creative such as a large mixing bowl, shoulder bag,glass pitcher, tea pot, stiff hat, sleek trash basket - whatever vesselwill fit with your particular theme.
• Filler: Newspaper, packing paper, gift wrap orcellophane can be used to fill the large space that many baskets andcontainers have inside. Just crumple it up filling to the desired heightbefore adding the bedding.
• Bedding: Decorative shredded paper or other stylishbedding to go under contents. This could include shredded paper,shredded plastic, tissue paper, dried moss or a keepsake such as a dishtowel, table cloth, shawl, place mats, baby blanket or a bandana - toname just a few.
• Contents: Whatever gifts you've chosen to go in thebasket, whether homemade, store-bought or my favorite, a combination ofboth. Choose a theme and then coordinating food, keepsakes, plants andmore. Don't forget to check out my gift basket suggestions for a few fun ideas.
• Decorations: Including store-bought or hand made bows.Various types of ribbon, especially wide ribbon, wire ribbon and curlingribbon. Wire stemmed silk flowers and other design foliage.
• Wrapping: Cellophane or equivalent wrapping to keepcontents in place. I've used cellophane on a roll, basket bags and myfavorite, Gift Basket Shrink Wrap (for use with common blow drier - getit at craft stores). These are used when you want to keep the contentssnug (I find them to be very handy in keeping contents in place and thegift looking good). For an extra fancy look, you can try using tullefabric or another sheer fabric to wrap up your basket.

Tools:

• Scissors: For cutting paper, ribbon and/or cellophane.
• Transparent Tape: For securing contents, ribbon and cellophane.

Instruction for Making Gift Baskets:

1. Prepare Materials and Goods. Choose a sturdy basket orvessel with a flat bottom so it won't fall over once filled. Aftersettling on a theme and using the materials list above, make a note ofthe contents and materials you'll need to create your own gift basket -just the way you want it. Prepare and do any other prep to individualgifts that you desire (i.e. make jam, decorate jars, attach tags).
2. Prepare Basket. If using an old basket, clean and ifneeded, spray paint in a well ventilated area (preferably outdoors). Fordeep baskets, crumple filler paper loosely and fill to about 1 inchfrom brim of basket (or as high as desired). Cover filler paper with thedecorative bedding of your choice.

   Note: If you can see filler paper through the sides ofthe basket, you must first line the basket with something decorativesuch as tissue paper, shredded paper or whatever you are using forbedding.

3. Add Contents. Add the goods and goodies you've chosen. Keepitems straight and visible. Try to arrange tall items in back, mediumheight items in middle and short items in front. Arrange items untilthey are pleasing to the eye.

   Tips: Items flopping over? Use tape, glue, glue dots,skewers and anything else you can think of to ensure your items arestraight and well balanced. Use anything and everything to secure items in an attractive way. That'swhat the pros do! Items can be secured to each other, to the basket oreven held up straight with a skewer that is taped to the back of anobject and stuck into the crumpled filler paper (or into floral foam forlarger baskets). Use other contents and decorative materials todisguise such supports if necessary.

4. Decorate. In addition to the basic instruction for makinggift baskets, you'll probably want to decorate. This is really an openended step. You can add bows and ribbon as desired. Fill in empty spotswith silk flowers, dried or fake berries and other embellishments. Curlgift wrap ribbon. Make spirals from wired ribbon by wrapping it around apencil or something similar. Add a decorative gift tagstating the name of the recipient, the theme of the basket or some cutewording. Wrap fancy ribbon around the handle. Add little decorativekeepsakes if you have any. Once again, use whatever means necessary (hotglue gun, glue dots, tape) to secure items just how you dreamt them!
5. Wrap Basket. This step is optional. You can give yourlovely homemade gift basket as is. However, for a gift basket that ismore secure and sturdy, there will be less chance of spilling if youwrap it up. You can use sheer fabric, tulle or cellophane. Gift basketbags are a handy alternative to a roll of cellophane and are now widelyavailable in various sizes as well as gift basket shrink wrap, which is designed to shrink around the basket with the use of a blow drier.

Thanks for visiting, I hope this instruction for making gift baskets helps you make gorgeous homemade gift baskets! Feel free to share your creations here.

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