GREAT HOMEMADE GIFT BASKET IDEAS

Great homemade gift baskets don't have to be a daunting task. In fact, they are quite fun to make and the more you do it, the more creative you'll get. You'll start to think of great ideas everywhere you look, from going to the grocery store, to shopping for shoes.
Homemade gift baskets are always a great gift for any occasion. Don't just think about birthdays and Christmas. How about a gift basket for graduation, a summer vacation gift basket, sending a child off to college gift basket, congratulations on new job gift basket, get well gift basket, or maybe a "just thinking of you" homemade gift basket?
People love to receive gift baskets of any variety, but homemade gift baskets really show that you put some thought and effort into the gift and your gift will be appreciated all the more. So get ready to dazzle your friends and family with these great homemade gift basket ideas.

The first thing you will need to do is have some basic gift basket supplies on hand.
You'll need:
Large clear or patterned cellophane bags Filler (colorful shred, tulle, tissue paper, etc.) Tape Dowel rods (to prop up some of the items) Ribbon Baskets, colorful boxes, tins, etc. Enclosure card

The next part is where the fun begins!

Today we will talk about the travel gift basket since it's that time of year when people are vacationing. If you are planning a vacation and have kids, this is a great idea to bring along items to keep your kids occupied. Why just pack a bag when you can make a fabulous kid's gift basket to present to your kids at your hotel room or in your tent or wherever you happen to be going. You'll be making a great memory for them when you pull out a beautifully prepared homemade gift basket. They'll feel like they're getting a great present!

SOME IDEAS FOR VACATIONING:
Kid's Basket Beach Ideas:
A large plastic pail with shovel
Water shoes or flip flops
Goggles
Deflated beach ball
A fun rolled up towel
Small sand toys
A pair of sunglasses
Some small snack pack items that will withstand the heat
Bubbles

For a teen gift basket or older child, you can use a soft small cooler packed with snacks, a book or magazine, sunscreen, a visor (a personalized visor or ball cap would be great), flip flops, and a can cozy.

Kid's Basket for Hotel Room Ideas:
A colorful tin
Crayons
Pad of drawing paper
Colored pencils
Travel sized games
Deck of cards
Silly putty
Yo-yo
Books
Pre-packaged kids crafts
Small flash light

Kid's Basket for Air Travel:
Keeping your kids occupied on an airplane can be a difficult undertaking. A small confined space and children generally don't mix well, but if you're prepared, the trip can be much more pleasant for you, your child, and the other passengers as well.
You may want to purchase a small backpack with wheels in case it's too heavy for the child to carry, but just make sure it's small enough to fit under the seat or in the overhead compartment.

Fill your kids gift basket with:
Handheld video games (you can find inexpensive ones at a re-sale shop like "Game Stop", or you can check Craigslist. You can often find great deals on a game system or some new games to surprise your child with.
Crayons
Coloring book
Blank page tablet
Books ("I Spy " books are great to occupy some time. My son loves them.)
Activity books with dot-to-dot or word find pages
A stuffed animal
A lap desk
Snacks (make sure they are approved for getting through security)
Travel games (there are some great travel-sized games out there like Scrabble , Boggle, Bingo, etc.)
Don't forget the batteries!!!

I hope this list will inspire you to put a homemade gift basket together for your child while traveling to make the trip more enjoyable for you and them, and hopefully eliminate some of the stress.
Happy Gift Basketing!!