Valentine Gift Basket Ideas

A gift basket is characteristically a gift in a basket ordered by someone who wishes to bestow it on someone else. This gift basket is then delivered by the company that assembles it directly to the receiver at their home or place of work. A gift basket can be given or received for a birthday, an anniversary, a wedding, an engagement, a graduation, a promotion, a holiday, to express condolence or ‘thank you’, and for no occasion at all.

A gift basket can come in a different size, different shape and different color. And a gift basket can contain fresh fruit or dry fruit, chocolates, candy, cakes, nuts, tea, coffee, crackers, jams, meats, breads, cheeses, wines, liqueurs, a combination of some or all of the above and so much more. A gift basket can be theme oriented or meet the especial needs of its recipient such as kosher, vegan, vegetarian, gluten intolerance, diabetic. Furthermore, a gift basket does not have to include food and drinks for it can contain items such as perfumes, soaps, shaving kits, hair products, creams and lotions, toys, games, stuffed animals, reading and writing implements, etc., etc., etc. In reality, contents or a gift basket are only limited by ones imagination.

Now that we understand what a gift basket is and how greatly it can vary, let us discuss the subject at hand—a Valentine gift basket. As is true with any other gift basket, one Valentine gift basket can vary tremendously from another in shape, size, color and contents. You could order a beautifully prepared and packaged Valentine gift basket through dozens of websites on the Internet but I do believe that it will be must more appreciated if you make it yourself for it will be perceived as a true labor of love. Have no fear, to put a stunning gift basket is amazingly easy and here are my step by step instructions that you might wish to follow:

1. Decide on the items you want to put into the gift basket and purchase them. Remember that you can mix and match.

a) Eatables: Heart shaped chocolates and candies, cookies, cakes, jams, nuts, cheeses, crackers, breads, meats, fruit (fresh or dry).
b) Drinkables: Champaign, wine or liqueurs and be sure to include two appropriate glasses. If you decide to have coffee or tea in your basket, include two pretty mugs with Valentine’s Day motifs.
c) Toiletries: Perfumes; colognes; creams and lotions; manicure, pedicure, or shaving utensils and lotions; hair and skin products; soaps and bubble bath. See if you can get these with Valentine’s Day wrappings.
d) Sexy items: His or hers lingerie, sensual and romantic music on a DVD or CD, sweet smelling red candles, a package of red rose petals to scatter on the love bed you two share, a romantic poem authored by you or someone else, sexy books.
e) Miscellaneous: Stuffed animals, dried flowers, toys, games, puzzles.
f) Saint Valentine’s Day card. You could buy one and add a few sentimental words of your own or, better yet, make the entire card yourself.

2. Now that you know what will go into the basket you will also have a clear idea of its size and shape—buy one.

3. Spread red cellophane on your worktable and stand the empty basket in its center. To test for size, collect the cellophane’s edges to meet above the basket. If you have approximately six inches to spear, you’ve got the right size.

4. Line the bottom of the basket with a red cloth napkin or a red doily. Arrange the largest items in the center of the basket, the medium size items on the sides and the small items to fill the gaps in between. Sprinkle with individually wrapped Valentine’s Day candy. Protect breakable items with bubble wrap.

5. Place your Valentine’s Day card on top.

6. Pull the cellophane edges upwards and tie with a wide red velvet ribbon. Secure any open edges with clear tape.

Your basket is ready and it is gorgeous!

Posted in Gift Ideas