Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

• Have a theme for your gift basket.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Gift baskets are a way you can do more than you can with an ordinary present. An ordinary present is just one thing, but a gift basket contains many items. In addition, it lets you express your creativity in the theme you choose and the items you select for the basket. To get started, consider the recipient's interests and tastes and then build on that.
  
  

Shower Basket

• Promote calm and stress relief by giving the recipient of your Christmas basket a shower set. Select a nice waterproof basket that can double as a shower caddy. Fill the basket with luxury soaps and shower gels. Add washcloths, a "Do Not Disturb" sign, loofah sponges or shower sandals. Wrap the basket in a plush towel or robe. Take care when you are picking the shower products, though. Some people are sensitive to fragrances and other soap ingredients.
  
  

Baking Basket

• Who wouldn't like a gift basket centered on baked goodies? Select a picnic basket or a rustic-style basket. Tuck in various baked-good mixes in jars. These are all the dry ingredients needed to make baked goodies such as muffins and brownies. Add pot holders, an apron and a set of nice cloth napkins to round out the basket. Other ideas for filling the basket include cookie sheets and muffin tins, place mats, travel cutlery and cookie cutters. Line the basket with a red-checked tablecloth.
  
  

Car Basket

• Whether the recipient of your gift is a car lover or just owns a car that could use a little TLC, consider giving car-care items in a basket. Let a large bucket serve as the basket. Include car-wash soap, wax, a chamois towel and a pack of air fresheners. Add extras like key rings, floor mats, seat covers, a steering wheel cover or a windshield sun screen. Adorn the bucket with a set of fuzzy dice instead of a ribbon.
  
  

Gardening Basket

• Help a friend or family member think of spring during the long winter months. Line the bottom of a basket with a sealed bag of planting soil or garden mulch. Include flower pots, a hand shovel, a trowel, gardening gloves and seed packets. Add color to the basket with plant identification markers and a small box of plant fertilizer. Include extras like a gardening apron or mat, a hat to ward off the sun or a small watering can. Finish it off with a glossy book showcasing gardens around the world or across the United States. The recipient can open it up when the snow's piled knee-high in January.