• A well-decorated gift basket can be a thoughtful and original present.decorative basket image by amlet from Fotolia.com
  
  Gift baskets can be designed to fit almost any occasion. Whether you are making a gift basket for a housewarming party, corporate event, birthday party or holiday celebration, designing your own basket leaves a lot of room for creativity. Incorporate elements of design into your gift basket, and add items of personal interest to the recipient, to create a present that will impress family, friends and co-workers.
  
  

Basket Materials

• Baskets can be woven from a wide variety of materials. For a traditional approach, use a white wicker basket or a wood basket woven from cedar, bamboo, willow, oak, pine or birch. Many craft supply and home decorating stores also sell woven baskets lined with fabric that would be excellent for gift basket design. For a more original design, use wire baskets, flower pots, painted salad bowls or even kitchen pots as containers for gift baskets. Take the weight and size of the basket contents into consideration when selecting your basket container to ensure a sturdy and secure fit.
  
  

Contents & Stuffing

• Consider designing the gift basket based on a theme that matches the occasion. A basket designed for a housewarming gift could include cooking utensils, pasta, a recipe book and oven mitts. If you are making a gift basket for a birthday, items might include candles, stuffed animals, chocolates, crafts, art supplies, books or gourmet food samples. Depending on the theme and occasion for your gift basket, you may want to incorporate stuffing into the overall basket design. Many people use soft, curled wood shavings as a plain stuffing for homemade gift baskets. Vivid colors of shavings also come in the form of plastic "Easter grass" commonly found in Easter baskets. You can also use colored sheets of tissue paper as filler in between basket items.
  
  

Decorations

• Sprinkle confetti or glitter over the contents of your gift basket to add more sparkle and decoration. But be aware that some people may not care for the mess when the basket is opened. You can also use tulle fabric or colored cellophane wrap from a craft supply store to create a more professional look for homemade gift baskets. Wrap a basket by placing the basket on top of the cellophane and gathering the cellophane ends together at the top. Secure the cellophane wrap with floral wire or ribbon. Consider taking the time to make a simple bow to add the finishing touch to your gift basket. To make a bow, fold a strip of ribbon into six loops, twist the loops together in the center and secure with floral wire.