It’s Almost Christmas

Want a fun gift to gather, make, and give: try a Christmas basket! The ideas for Christmas baskets are countless. They are appropriate for families or individuals. Both men and women enjoy getting Christmas baskets. But with men, you have to be a bit more careful when you select the type of basket and the contents.

Things Not To Do

• Don’t use a basket that’s been sitting on a shelf in a basement. It is worth the extra effort to buy a new one. New baskets are dust-free and nicely polished. Basket are reusable items, so it pays to give one that will look good for quite some time.
• Don’t give a Christmas basket without knowing what the recipient enjoys or can use. While most people like coffee, chocolate, and wine, some people may not be able to enjoy these items because of their health.
• Don’t cop out and buy a basket at the local drugstore. If you must buy one, go to a specialty shop where the baskets aren’t mass-produced.
• Don’t be too cheap. You can save money by making your own cookies, candies, and gourmet salad dressings for the basket, but buy good quality baskets and basket stuffers (little items like stocking stuffers). Most important of all use only very good chocolate! Hint! Hint!

What Should You Do

The best thing to do is to match the basket and its contents to the recipient. For example:

• If a man enjoys fishing, make his hobby the theme of the basket. Buy a large, plastic, salad bowl. Obtain green tissue paper, and a large red bow. Purchase 2 small lures, 2 large lures, of different prices. Buy a small knife for fishing, and fishing line. A small box of crackers, and peppermint candy is a nice addition.Place the green tissue paper covering the bottom of the bowl, and make it bloused along the sides. Make sure the tissue paper is not crinkled. Arrange the lures, from the smallest lure on the far right, and far left of the basket. Then, place the larger size of lures to the sides of the smaller lures. By now, there should be 4 lures, properly arranged.Fill the bowl with the fishing line, on the right side, and the knife on the left. There should be room, in the middle for the box of crackers. Sprinkle the peppermint candy around the bowl. The Christmas basket is finished, and now it is time to wrap. The same green tissue paper, used in assembling the content of the basket, can be used for wrapping. Tie it with a large red bow.
• For females, focus on leisure pursuits. If a woman enjoys reading: buy a new basket or bookbag. Buy a few books about the subjects you see on her bookshelves. Add a small book light, peppermints, a high-lighter, and some sticky notes. If you want to be very generous, add a small bookstore giftcard.Wrap with red tissue paper and a large white bow.Arrange the tissue paper and books, so there’s enough center space for the book light. The highlighter and sticky notes can be placed around the books, and the book light. Sprinkle the peppermints around the bottom of the basket. Cover it with red tissue paper, tie it with the white bow.

Christmas baskets can be economical and as much fun to give as receive. A custom or homemade Christmas basket is sure to be enjoyed long after the holiday is over.