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Why not make Christmas shopping creative and fun this year, by making a special Christmas gift basket with a theme? I enjoy making gift baskets for all occasions throughout the year. The recipients are truly pleased with their one of a kind gift.

The first thing you need is a basket. I collect baskets all year long from thrift stores, or other stores that may have a special sale. Baskets can be quite expensive, so look for bargains throughout the year. Determine how much you want to put in the basket, and select the size accordingly. I have found that all shapes and sizes work, but I especially enjoy the flat, round baskets because they hold a lot, and all the gifts can be seen at a glance. There are also baskets decorated or painted in a Christmas theme available at discount stores such as Walmart, Target, or Kmart.

Lining the basket with a decorative tissue paper adds to the holiday theme. You can choose traditional red and green (and even mix the colors for a nice touch), or go for some of the patterned tissue papers now offered with florals, snowmen, Christmas sayings, glitter, etc. Or you might want to think outside the box, by choosing a pink or blue shade to match the gifts inside.

I recently made a Christmas gift basket for a counselor who meant a lot to me. I chose a Victorian theme for her basket and included a teapot, teacup and saucer, a rose bouquet, stationery with roses, a Mistletoe Yankee candle, a rose ornament, a box of tea, and a cloth napkin with a rose napkin ring. I also added a box of shortbread cookies, and some chocolate. She was absolutely thrilled.

Another basket I enjoy making is a Snowman Soup basket. I found the idea for this online. (This can be designed for one or for a family.) It can also be a great gift for a male or female. Choose an appropriate mug (or mugs). For a man you can choose a solid colored mug, or something more masculine. For a female, a bone china mug, or a mug with roses would be nice. Line the basket with red or green tissue paper, or a snowman motif tissue. Place the mug, several packets of instant hot chocolate, a baggie with miniature marshmallows (tied with a ribbon), and some candy canes for stirrers. Sprinkle Hershey's kisses and peppermints throughout the basket. Add a couple of cloth napkins with Christmas napkin rings. Something that adds a really nice extra touch is a chocolate covered spoon, which can often be found in gift stores, such as Hallmark Cards, around Christmas time, or you can make your own

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