How to Make an Empty Gift Basket Look Full
We've all been there. You receive an invitation to a last-minute baby shower/bridal brunch/housewarming party, and you realize you have nothing to bring as a gift. No problem, you think, I'll just run to the store and pick up a nice basket filled with some nice things. But then you get to the store and realize that all the nice baskets are filled with nice things...and they're also really expensive. Not wanting to show up empty-handed (or broke), you settle for an empty basket and a few items from the clearance aisle. Sound familiar?
Don't worry, we're here to help. With a little bit of creativity and some strategic shopping, you can put together a beautiful, thoughtful gift basket that looks like you actually tried without breaking the bank. Here's how:
Pick Your Theme
The first step is to decide on a theme for your basket. This will help you determine what kind of items to include and where to find them. Some popular themes include:
-
A spa day:
This is a great option if you know the recipient likes to be pampered. Fill your basket with items like scented candles, bath bombs, lotions, and face masks. You can usually find these kinds of things on clearance at places like Target or Ulta. -
Movie night:
This one is perfect for friends or family members who love spending time together watching movies. Fill your basket with popcorn, candy, blankets, and DVDs (you can usually find DVDs for under $5 at Wal-Mart or Target). If you want to get really creative, personalize the DVD selection by choosing movies that are significant to your relationship with the recipient. -
Gardening:
This one is great for anyone who loves being outdoors or working with their hands. Fill your basket with gardening gloves, seed packets, small tools, etc. You can usually find these kinds of things at dollar stores or hardware stores (like Lowe's or Home Depot).
How to wrap a gift basket
Once you've gathered all of your items, it's time to start wrapping! If you want to get really creative, try using different materials in place of traditional wrapping paper. For example, if you're giving a movie night basket, use old movie posters or theatre tickets as wrapping paper. If you're giving a gardening basket, use burlap or Muslin fabric. Get creative and have fun with it!
Use tissue paper:
Tissue paper is your friend when it comes to making an empty gift basket look full. Just crumple up a bunch of tissue paper and stuff it into the basket. The more tissue paper you use, the fuller the basket will look.
Add some ribbon:
Curling ribbon or decorative ribbon can also help to make an empty gift basket look full. Just drape the ribbon over the tissue paper in the basket and let it cascade down the sides. You can even add a bow on top for extra effect.
Use real plants or flowers:
If you're giving the gift basket to someone who loves plants or flowers, then fill it with real plants or flowers. This will not only make the basket look full, but it will also add a touch of natural beauty. Just be sure to use a liner so that the plants or flowers don't actually touch the basket itself.
Fill it with candy:
This is a great option if you're giving the gift basket to someone with a sweet tooth. Just fill the basket with all kinds of candy, from chocolate bars to gummy bears to hard candy. You can even add some wrapped candy for extra effect.
With a little bit of creativity and some strategic shopping, you can put together a beautiful gift basket that looks like you actually tried without breaking the bank. Just pick a theme, gather your supplies, and get wrapping!