5 Tips on How to Create Holiday Gift Baskets

By Shannon Gurnee
In Do-It-Yourself
December 7, 2015
42 Comments
8458 Views

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I love this time of year! It’s a time of gratitude and cheer, as well as a time when I get to pick out gifts for my family and friends! One of my favorite ways to give gifts is by creating a gift basket. I recently headed to Big Lots and found a lot of great gift items! Oh my gosh, I spent quite some time in Big Lots looking at all their different holiday goodies and trying to decide on what I wanted to purchase. I was really happy with what I found and know the individuals I’m going to be giving them to will be as well and to be honest I even got me thinking that I could also start learning how to start a gift basket business from home.

As I mentioned earlier, I spent a lot of time walking up and down the holiday aisles looking for the perfect items to go in my gift hampers. There were holiday tins of popcorn, candy, seasoning sets, holiday decor, and pre-made holiday sets! I decided that in my gift basket, I wanted to include a pre-made set, as well as a holiday popcorn tin, a box of candy, a snowman plush decoration and a holiday sign (note: styles and assortments vary by store). At Big Lots, you’ll find everything an incredible selection of seasonal baking and meal prep items. Big Lots features a variety of quality holiday items at a great value! In fact, you’ll even find a giant box of candy if you really want it! Now, let’s talk about how to create a holiday gift basket.

5 Tips on How to Create Holiday Gift Baskets

1 – Choose a theme. For my gift basket, I chose to go with Santa and Snowmen. I also chose to do a combination of foods and decorations.

2 – Stick to a budget. With the holidays, it can get really easy to overspend. Plan a budget for each gift basket and stick to it. You’ll find a great variety of holiday goodies at Big Lots to fit any budget!

3 – Know your recipient. In this case, know if there are any allergies or foods that he or she doesn’t like. I would feel terrible if I gave a family or a friend a gift basket filled with a food they were allergic, couldn’t have or didn’t like. Make note of those foods they do like throughout the year (I like to do that in the Notes on my phone).

4 – Store them the right way. When I talk about storing, I’m especially referring to food items. If it’s an item that needs to be refrigerated, be sure to put in the refrigerator as soon as you get home. You may even want to make a note letting the recipient know it needs to be refrigerated. Also, don’t leave chocolate in a hot car with direct sunlight on it. Put the chocolate in a freezer bag to keep it nice and cool.

5 – You don’t actually have to include a gift basket. While a gift basket physically is a great way to present your goodies, it’s not always necessary. You can use a gift bag as well – or even a few gift bags tied together. If you do use a gift basket, get creative and decorate it with pretty bows and ribbons.

Be sure to follow Big Lots on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for new promotions and specials throughout the year!

What items would you put in your holiday gift basket?

About Has 6453 Posts

Shannon Gurnee is the author of Redhead Mom formerly "The Mommy-Files", a national blog with a loyal following. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development with a Minor in Business Management. Shannon and her husband, Frank, have a large family with 6 awesome kids and love living on the Central Coast near San Luis Obispo, California, as well as traveling around the world. A full-time Social Media and Professional Blogger, Shannon also serves as a National Brand Ambassador for many well-known companies. Her blog focuses on motherhood, family fun activities, traveling, fashion, beauty, technology, wedding ideas and recipes while providing professional opinions on products, performances, restaurants, and a variety of businesses.

42 Responses to “5 Tips on How to Create Holiday Gift Baskets”

  1. […] post 5 Tips on How to Create Holiday Gift Baskets appeared first on The […]

  2. carol says:

    I love making gift baskets. That box of candy is ENORMOUS! I’ll take it!

  3. Big Lots is one of the best places to get decorating and gift basket supplies. Everything they have is very attractive, and their prices are great.

  4. Jeanette says:

    I love going to to Big Lots! We can have a bigger christmas because of what we save there. Great place to get a gift basket for sure.

  5. Liz Mays says:

    I’m loving these ideas. I should make a few gift baskets for my family up north. Big Lots will be a great stop for some gifts.

  6. lisa says:

    These are great ideas! I don’t think I’ve ever been in a Big Lots but it looks like an awesome store!!

  7. Emily says:

    Great advice! I love shopping at big lots, great products at great prices.

  8. Maurene says:

    Sometimes if I want to give different things, I think of creating a gift basket. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips.

  9. Tonya C says:

    Big Lots is a great place to shop, they have great products, I love their store.

  10. Rebecca Swenor says:

    These are great tips for creating a holiday gift basket. Gift baskets do make for great gift ideas and it is important to know what that person likes when shopping for items for the basket. I love shopping at Big Lots because they have amazing items and because their prices are not outrageous.

  11. Jeanine says:

    I love making gift baskets. We don’t have a big lots here but I went to one in NY when I went over shopping with my MIL years and years ago, and it was just seriously an amazing store. We need them here. These are great tips!

  12. ricci says:

    I love making holiday gift baskets!! They are so much fun and you can really put so much thought into it! Great post!!

  13. Alanna B says:

    I am planning on making a gift basket for my husband because I bought him a bunch of little things that I feel like is a waste to wrap on their own. I also LOVE Big Lots for gift basket fillers.

  14. Maggie Branch says:

    My gift baskets usually have a theme. My favorite to make is a spa basket for my younger sisters complete with face masks and nail stickers.

  15. I like to make all different gift baskets. I always make a spa one for my Sister. My kids like ones filled with treats.

  16. I have neveer made a gift basket basket before so thank you for the idea. I think I will do this fio=r my neighbor!

  17. Dogvills says:

    These are very useful tips. I like giving gift baskets to friends and neighbors.

  18. Digna says:

    Creating holiday gift baskets are such a great idea. A Big Lots opened recently near our house. We are already members there.

  19. Great gift idea for friends who are hard to gift. A small decorative jar filled with an assortment of candies and chocolates would be a nice gift!

  20. Melissa says:

    I love Big Lots and wish there was one closer to my home. I used to live five minutes from one now the closest one is 2 hours away.

  21. I’ve never made a holiday gift basket before, this is such an awesome idea. Definitely want to make one for my mom.

  22. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says:

    I love giving AND getting gift baskets. You can literally include anything and make them so personal.

  23. Pam says:

    I love making gift baskets to give as gifts. It’s so easy to personalize them for different people and interests.

  24. Raijean says:

    I’m loving these baskets. I need to do a few for the holidays.

  25. I love making gift baskets for people. My soon-to-be ex-husband and I made gift baskets for our families for the last few years. It is something my mother and I did for people for years so I am sure I will do it this year as well.

  26. Big Lots is a great store! I have to see where there is one by me since we moved and I used to go to one in NJ all the time.

  27. Meagan says:

    I love Big Lots. I love creating themes for my gift baskets!

  28. I love Big Lots! They always have great stuff for holiday gifts!

  29. I love Big Lots! One year my sister and I bought all of our Christmas gifts there. When I do gift baskets, I tend to do a pampering theme. Facial masks, bath salts, a candle, a good book, and some fabulous chocolate! 🙂

  30. Theresa says:

    I like to craft up gift baskets for the holidays too! I haven’t been to Big Lots this season yet, but will head over this weekend for basket fillers!

  31. Kristi says:

    I love Big Lots! You gave some great suggestions for gift baskets and from a store I love… now to plan the budget before I head over there otherwise I will for sure over spend!

  32. Tracey says:

    I love going to Big Lots! They have everything and their prices are great.

  33. Christie says:

    Gift baskets with chocolate are always winners in my book! Love these gift basket ideas, so easy!

  34. This is a cool idea. It’s definitely more fun and thoughtful than a typical gift.

  35. Big Lots is definitely one of my favorite stors. YOu can find a little bit of everything at any time. Thanks for sharing and glad you found some goodies.

  36. Shell says:

    I like to put lots of baked goods in my holiday baskets. Looks like there would be some good fillers at Big Lots!

  37. Crystal says:

    I bought some great outdoor decorations there this year. I still have some shopping to do, and a gift basket would be perfect.

  38. Jennifer says:

    I don’t know if we even have a Big Lots near us. Those prices are crazy amazing though… but that chocolate box… um WOW!

  39. Donna says:

    I have found amazing deals at Big Lots… from party favors to furniture, they have it all. I would make a coffee themed gift basket for my bff. 🙂

  40. I would be completely distracted and overwhelmed in that kind of store! Your tips are perfect. Biggest box of chocolate I’ve ever seen! Love the stuffed holiday figures you added too.

  41. I never would have considered Big Lots for gift baskets but it looks like they have a ton of cute stuff. I need to make a trip there this week!

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