Gift Baskets

[Zonny]

Hi everyone!

I've seen plenty of brags on gift baskets, but I've never actually tried to do one myself.

But at work, our United Way campaign has their online auction coming up. I was thinking that a basket or two (or more!) could be a good thing to donate.

Do you generally manage to get the contents of the baskets REALLY cheap or even free? Where do you get the baskets themselves? Wrapping?

Help!

Z

[seapotato]

the dollarstore is your best bet for cellophane wrapping and ribbons! i used to get my baskets at the dollarstore as well, but now they are more than a dollar (but i guess still cheap?). you can also try thrift shops for baskets, or even a buy/sell site. some ppl give away their baskets.

[AmberLab]

Check out Frenchy's, SA Thrift shop, etc for baskets that you could spray paint to make them look new again. Wrapping I usually get at the dollar store, unless I see a great deal somewhere else.

[maybe]

For the stuff in the basket, you can get it mostly free or close to free. You can do a spa basket with personal care products and some Glade candles or a Men's Basket with more manly stuff or a Spring Cleaning in Winter basket. Keep an eye on the brags to see what people are getting with their coupons and see if you can do it.

[Zonny]

Thanks everyone! I'll have to put some thought into this!

Z

[tasha313]

To get all your stuff to stay the way you placed it, use some floral styrofoam (the one you use to poke dried flowers to make a bouquet) at the bottom of your basket and use brochette sticks and lightly tape it to the back of the item and poke into the mousse. this way all can be placed nicely and will also stay in place during transport

[melissa.k]

At Dollarama (in the b-day card aisle) they have shrink wrap. Its great you use a blowdryer and it looks really professional (they are like $6 a pack at Michaels)

[nadiabreckon]

I got some packs of wrap/bows/stuffing at Zellers this summer on clearance for like 0.75$ a pack!! I was very happy...maybe try looking there.

[couponclipperfun]

I use the pre-cut bags b/c it is just easier than cutting the celophane to the basket. You can buy these in different sizes

[Mia001]

i got a big cellophane roll in clearance after Christmas last year

it's a clear one....no desings, no colors....so it can be used for all occasion

[ccmp1974]

I used "recycled" gift baskets from my family or friends for my donations.I think everyone has an old one from a fruit basket or gift kicking around.I got my wrap at the Dollarama for $1 and it did 2 baskets for me.I usually try and just pay the tax on stuff or less if the coupon will cover it.Ask at work if you don't have a basket someone else may love to donate one to your cause.Best of luck and post some pics when you are done.

[corbinx]

I am planning to make a bunch of baskets for Christmas time so I started stockpiling. I find good deals on here (freebies, coupons, and pics/ideas from this section) so most of the items I got have been from free to $3.00 an item. I always get the cello wrap and ribbons at the dollar stores and was planning to ask family to see if anyone has nice baskets or boxes to give away. The way things are going I should be able to make some pretty big baskets for $10 to use for gift exchanges and donations (including wrapping) and they are retail close to $50!

[Coupon_Queen]

while hunting around for items, dont forget to check out the clearance section of stores. You can find really nice things to include in baskets for super cheap.