Christmas is a wonderful time of the year where families come together and exchange gifts and spend quality time together. However, due to the recession people are striving to find ways in which they can save money and still add meaning to the holiday season. Christmas gift hampers and gift baskets are unique and special and are always a great hit as everyone loves receiving a gift basket full of goodies which are quick and easy to make up and saves money.

What You’ll Need

Various size baskets
Cellophane wrapping
Various items that you want to include in the gift baskets
Decorative ribbon
Gift cards

Instructions

1. Christmas themed baskets – first line the basket with either Christmas paper or Christmas fabric. Then start filling the basket with various different traditional Christmas foods that can include a bottle or two of sparkling wines, a smoked turkey, gammon, a mixture of nuts and chocolates, Christmas mince pies, a small Christmas cake and traditional Christmas pudding. Add some extras such as brandy sauce, chutneys and jams. Once you have packed the basket full of goodies, sprinkle some Christmas confetti in and around the goodies and you can add a few Christmas crackers.

2. You can make up a smaller gift basket filled with general food products that could include a bottle or two of red wine, gourmet foods, a variety of fine cheeses or luxury regional foods, dried fruit and nuts, cookies and chocolates

3. Another alternative is a drinks Christmas basket whereby you can mix alcoholic drinks and soft drinks such as fine Australian wines, whiskey, campaigns and specialized soft drinks. Add an assortment of salted nuts and crackers and some salted crisps. As opposed to whiskey and wine you could add liquor with a variety of either hand made chocolates or liquor chocolates.

4. Women in particular enjoy gift baskets, and you can add a variety of items or you can make up theme a basket. Female gift basket ideas can include a set of scented candles which are various sizes and shapes, one or two candle holders, a candle snuffer, a few boxes of different incense and some matches or a lighter.

5. All women love to relax in a hot tub during after a long day at the office, and you fill a gift basket with some really wonderful items which can include a large fluffy bath sheet, hand made soaps, bath salts, bubble bath, body lotions, loofah brush and sponge, shower gel, aromatherapy oils, bath beads, a pair of slippers and a bath robe.

6. Another great gift basket idea is one filled with hair care products which can be made up for both men and women. Some great gift ideas for such a type of basket can include a gift certificate for their favourite hair salon, shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, hair brush, and hair accessories for the females.

7. Female teenagers would appreciate a makeup gift basket which could include items such as foundation, eye shadow, lip stick, eye liner, blush, mascara, makeup remover and remover pads, nail polish and nail polish remover pads and a makeup kit.

Once you have filled your baskets you can sprinkle a little Christmas confetti over the item and then wrap the basket up in either green or red cellophane and tie the end up with ribbon, attach your card and the Christmas gifts are ready to put under the Christmas tree.

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Once you have filled your baskets you can sprinkle a little Christmas confetti over the item and then wrap the basket up in either green or red cellophane and tie the end up with ribbon, attach your card and the Christmas gifts are ready to put under the Christmas tree.