by Joanne Greco

Created on: October 05, 2008   Last Updated: April 05, 2011

Christmas is a perfect time of the year to create a homemade gift for everybody on your holiday list. The obvious reason is that they are cost effective. You can easily create gifts for a fraction of what you would spend in the stores. Another great reason is that by creating your own gift, you can personalize it to meet the needs and interests of the recipient. Who doesn't love a personalized gift?

For these reasons, creating a homemade gift basket for Christmas is a fun and easy idea that doens't have to take a lot of your time.

Start shopping early for baskets and other containers that you will use. Flea markets and second hand shops are a great place to find new and like-new baskets.You might even have a few collecting dust around your house that you can use. Baskets are not the only container you can use. Use a colander for a cooking basket. Use a waste paper pail for a teacher or college student's basket.

Before you add goodies to your basket, you can add green or red napkins as liners for the bottom to pretty it up.

As you look for items to fill the basket up, think about the person you are giving the gift to. What do they enjoy doing? Do they have a favorite food or movie? Also, look for items that reflect the holiday.

Here's a short list of people that would appreciate a small gift basket during the holiday season:

• Your child's teacher

• Your child's girl scout or boy scout troop leader

• Your babysitter

• The instructor at your gym

• Your favorite hair stylist

• The neighbors on your block

• Your co-workers

Think about all the people you come into contact with on a daily or weekly basis. All of them would love a thoughtful gift such as a gift basket.

There are tons of themes you can use to create your basket around. Here are just a few to get you started.

• Baking or Cooking

• Pizza Lover

• Nature Lover

• Beach Bum

• Angels

• Fruit And Cheese

• Nautical and Boats

• Favorite Movie

• Outdoor Basket

• Sports Fan

• Snack Basket

There are so many themes you can create a basket around. The possibilities are endless.

A few candy canes or Christmas ornaments tucked in will make an all occasion gift basket look more like Christmas. You can pick up these items at your local thrift shop but remember to start shopping early.

Christmas only comes once a year so make it extra special for the people in your life by giving them a thoughtful gift that they'll use and love.

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