10 steps to making an awesome gift basket

4 MINUTE READ

Trying to come up with an awesome gift idea can be challenging. How do you achieve the perfect balance of thoughtful, functional, and stylish to impress that special someone? Of course, a gift basket is an ideal solution. But we’re not talking about a generic pre-made gift basket. We’re talking about making a custom arrangement where you plan, shop for, and assemble every element to create an incredible gift.

Does that sound like a lot to take on? It doesn’t need to be! Follow these ten easy steps to learn how to make an awesome gift basket for any occasion.

This collection is pictured in a 12 in x 9 ¾ in x 5 ¼ in small wooden crate by Carpenter Core.

1. Make a plan

Start your gift basket-making adventure on the right foot with a quick brainstorming session. Jot down some ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Consider the recipient’s interests and the occasion and start to think about a theme and content ideas. This is also the time to decide how much you want to spend. A plan and timeline will help guide you through the process and ensure you stay on track and budget.

2. Pick a theme

Choosing a theme is one of the most important steps when making a gift basket. First, think about the person you are gifting to and tailor the theme to them. Then, consider it at every step, from selecting the contents to the container to the decoration, to make the subject instantly recognizable.

3. Gather inspiration

While brainstorming and deciding on a theme, feel free to seek inspiration from other gift baskets and basket makers. You can get fantastic ideas on making yours even more awesome using resources like Google, Pinterest, and Etsy. And, of course, we’d be remiss not to mention our blog for inspiration on how to make a better gift basket. Use these ideas to inspire your theme and contents so you can create your own unique collection.

4. Personalize it

Use what you know about the person you are gifting to and personalize the contents. Note their favorite foods, drinks, and activities to give ideas of what to include in the gift basket. They will be grateful and touched that you took the time and effort to take such a personal approach with their gift. It doesn’t get any better than that!

5. Quality over quantity

Gift baskets sometimes have a bad reputation for being filled with “junk”. When selecting the contents, the rule is quality over quantity. A small gift basket of thoughtful, high-quality gifts is better than a large container filled with ordinary, generic items. Be intentional with your selections to ensure they are desirable and fit the theme well.

6. Spice it up

Another gift selection tip is to include a variety of items to keep them from being boring. For example, if you assemble a coffee gift basket, gift more than just different types of coffee or beans. Start with those, then add coordinating gifts such as a coffee mug, grinder, biscotti, or chocolates to spice it up.

7. Coordination is key

To take your gift basket to the next level, coordinate all the elements and make it visually appealing. Choose gifts with a similar look and feel so that when arranged together in a container, they look like they were meant to be together. You can even repackage items to ensure they complement each other and harmonize with the theme.

8. Select an awesome container

Continue with the coordination trend when selecting your container as well. We recommend buying everything first to make sure you get the right size. It can be any shape or material as long as it can hold everything and looks attractive. The best gift baskets use containers that can be reused for other purposes, such as a sturdy wooden crate or storage tote, for a gift that keeps on giving.

9. Impress with presentation

Arrange your selected gifts in an appealing way to showcase each individual item while also telling the whole theme story. Next, add a few decorative elements to tie everything together and make it beautiful. Finally, a personal note or gift tag is the cherry on top of an impressive presentation.

10. It’s all in the details

There is no single element that makes a gift basket special. All the little details that come together take a gift basket from ordinary to extraordinary. So, now that you know what it takes, are you up to the challenge? Give it a try! We know it will be awesome.

This article was made possible by support from Carpenter Core. We make small customizable wooden crates and boxes used for gift baskets and product packaging.