Do-It-Yourself Guide to Gift Bags and Baskets

Gift Bags and/or Baskets are one of the neatest gift ideas for us continually baffled guys. Ladies love them (if you put the right stuff in), they’re easy to put together, you can buy everything you need locally and they’re actually kinda fun to do. You probably shouldn’t use them every single time, but, when you do, and you do it right, they make a big hit.

Here’s the skinny—

It’s probably a good idea to decide on the Main Gift first, then choose a container that gift will fit into, along with a bunch of smaller gifts and treats. You can put together a generic bag that has an assortment of unrelated gifts or you can use a theme, wherein all gifts are related in some way.

However you choose to do it, you’re going to have to pay attention to the presentation—You can’t just buy a container and throw a bunch of stuff into it, you know?!! No sir, if you’re going to get maximum return from your efforts, you have to make the whole package exciting and festive.

The best way I’ve found to put this thing together is to decide beforehand exactly, or close, what I want to end up with—A little planning eliminates a lot of frustration and saves a lot of time.

  • Choose the Main Gift

  • Decide what supporting gifts to include

  • Get a general idea of the treats to include

  • Choose the container to use

  • Purchase all the “ingredients”

  • Pick up plenty of bows, wrapping and tissue paper

  • Put it all together (I usually end up doing this in the car!)

Start by lining the container liberally with tissue paper, letting the paper stick out the top of the container. Wrap everything you’ll be putting in separately, with a small bow on each present. Put everything in as neatly as you can, using more tissue paper to separate things. Finish by putting a big bow on the outside of the container—Two or three helium balloons tied to the bag’s handles adds a nice touch, too. Voila! You’re now a hero! (Well, depending on what you put into the bag, that is).

Ideas for Containers

Let your imagination be your guide here—The possibilities are just endless. Following are some obvious, and some no so obvious, containers you can buy most anywhere. I’ve used Gift Bags numerous times over the years, but I’m disappointed in the lack of creativity I’ve shown now that I took the trouble to research this whole thing.

- Gift Bag, Paper

- Canvas Bag - Backpack

- Tote Bag

- Duffel Bag - Sports Bag

- Purse, Large

 - Briefcase/Attache - Suitcase

- Wicker Basket

 - Picnic Basket - Other Basket

- Waste Basket, Kitchen

 - Waste Basket, Office - Waste Basket, Bath

- Cooler

 - Bucket - Tub, Small

- Fedex Box

 - Stacking Crate, Plastic - Sprinkling Can

- Shopping Bag

- Tool Bag, Canvas - Vase, Large

- File Box, Paper/Plastic

 - Tote Box, Office - Mailbox

- Plastic Housewares

 - Sewing Box - Rubbermaid Item

- Stock Pot

 - Garbage Bag - Flower Pot, Large

- Laundry Bag

 - Pillow Case  

Ideas for Contents

My suggestion is to have one Main Gift and several smaller supporting ones, as well as an assortment of her favorite treats--The options are endless, obviously. The Main Gift is covered extensively throughout this site, but here’s some ideas for the supporting bag stuffers.

- Wine

 - Champagne - Cigarettes

- Premium Candy

 - Premium Cookies - Premium Nuts

- Gourmet Coffee/Tea

 - Premium Olive Oil - Premium Vinegar

- Special Cheese

 - Hot Sauce - Jigsaw Puzzle

- Lottery Tickets

 - Book - Magazines

- Music CD

 - Movie DVD - Polo Shirt

- Gloves

 - Scarf - Perfume

- Flowers

 - Plant - Office Supplies

- Kitchenware

 - Bath Products - Cosmetics

- Restaurant Gift Card

 - Disposable Camera - Candles

- Stuffed Animal

 - Costume Jewelry