Gift giving should be something personal and special to the person to whom the gift is given. Gift baskets make it easy to personalize your gift. Stuffed animals make an even greater expression of something as easy and special as a gift basket. Here are some ideas to help make it easy for you.
First, think about the person you are giving to. Are they male, female, boy or girl? What are their interests or hobbies? What would be most appreciated by the recipient? Once you have decided on an appropriate theme you can have fun selecting the items and putting together your very personalized gift basket. Now let’s have some fun with these ideas.
A gift for a tea lover can be quite fun. Select a basket with an opening of about 15″ and line the basket with a pair of table napkins in a gingham or country print. Then fill with an assortment of flavored teas, a pair of floral teacups, some shortbread cookies or other tea cookies, and top it off with a 12″ or 18″ posable plush stuffed animal bunny. Place the basket in the middle of a long strip of clear or colored cellophane (about 60″) and bring the corners up to the top. Tie a colorful ribbon around the cellophane above the basket to secure it. Add a gift tag or greeting card. Now you have a very personalized gift basket to give. For a variation, select an oriental pattern of napkins and teacups and a variety of oriental teas. Top with a 12″ or 18″ posable panda bear stuffed animal.
Let’s say you are giving to a man; is he the outdoor sportsman type or is he the type that prefers the open sea? For the outdoor type you might choose a rugged looking basket made of grapevine or willow. Then fill with a sporting or biking magazine, an assortment of energy bars or trail mix, a bottle of spring water, bug repellent and sunscreen. Now top it off with a realistic looking 12″ or 18″ stuffed animal bear, fox, wolf or moose. Wrap with cellophane and tie with rope or heavy twine for a more sporty look. For variation, select a zoology magazine and top the assortment with a stuffed animal lion, tiger, orangutan or polar bear. For an aquatic theme, select a fishing basket or similar wicker or reed basket; fill with a boating magazine and an assortment as above or snacks and beverages and top with a plush stuffed animal whale, dolphin or octopus.
Creating a gift basket for a child can be lots of fun. Select a basket that can be used for storing smaller toys in later. Fill with a few bananas, snacks, crayons, and zoo or jungle animal coloring books. Then add a 12″ or 18″ stuffed animal monkey, giraffe, tiger or lion. Wrap and tie with colorful ribbons.
These are just a few of the endless possibilities of personalized gift baskets you can create by adding plush stuffed animals. Let your imagination run wild and have fun giving gift baskets!