DIY gift basket ideas! This list of things to put in a gift basket will give you lots of ideas for easy and affordable presents for any occasion.
In my experience, everyone LOVES to receive a gift basket.
It’s such a fun treat to give or receive a themed bundle of items that fits a person perfectly.
Gift baskets show that you really thought about the person and what they’d like.
Plus, they’re totally customizable for your gift recipient, budget, and the gift-giving occasion.
DIY gift baskets can pack a really big punch for cheap, and they’re actually really fun to put together!
They can also work as a gift for an entire family, a couple, or one special individual.
And putting together your own homemade gift baskets is SO much cheaper than buying a premade basket.
Pro-tip: Throughout the year, pick up clearance items you find that might work well for a gift basket. (The Bath & Body Works semi-annual sale is a great example!)
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Gift baskets are perfect for:
- Christmas
- Birthdays
- Mother’s Day or Father’s Day
- Valentine’s Day
- Housewarming gifts
- Teacher gifts
- Baby or bridal showers
- Kids or grandkids
- Sympathy or post-surgery presents
- Raffle prizes
- The person who has everything
You can make it as inexpensive or luxury as your budget allows.
Here are some easy tips and tricks for how to make a gift basket!
What to put in a gift basket
To decide what to put in your gift basket, start by choosing a theme.
That’ll give you direction, and help narrow down what type of items to choose.
Think about the recipient, and if they have any particular hobbies or interests.
Or choose one of the diy gift basket theme ideas below!
Pro-tip: Grab a FREE 30 Day trial of Amazon Prime to get unlimited free shipping to make shopping for a gift basket super easy…without even leaving home!
What can you use to make a gift basket out of?
In addition to a regular basket, feel free to get creative with the vessel you use to contain the gift basket items.
You can make a gift basket out of a:
- Traditional basket
- Baking dish
- Nice storage container
- Makeup pouch
- Mixing bowl
- Jar
- Tote bag
- Laundry basket
- Tackle box
- Cooler
- Flower pot
Think about the theme of your gift basket, and if one of the items could pull double duty as container AND part of the gift.
How do you fill the bottom of a gift basket?
If the container you’re using is deep, you’ll need some basket filler so the actual gift items can be displayed nicely.
Ideal basket fillers are soft and decorative. Here are some ideas:
- Tissue paper
- Shredded white or colored paper
- Cellophane
- Straw
- Large confetti
- Cloth napkin
- Kitchen towel
- Newspaper (Use it as filler on the very bottom to make it shallow, then cover with a more decorative topping.)
Okay, let’s dive into these DIY gift basket ideas!
35 Unique DIY Gift Basket Ideas
1. Spa basket:
- Loofah
- Body lotion or hand cream
- Body scrub
- Bath bomb
- Aloe socks
- Candle
- Foot soak
- Nail polish
2. Pasta basket:
- Nice bag of pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Italian candies or cookies
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
- Salad dressing
- Italian bread
- Bread dipping seasoning
3. Art Basket:
- Coloring books
- Sketch books
- Colored pencils
- Crayons or pastels
- Nice markers
- Paint brush set
4. Date Night in a Basket:
- Romantic DVD
- Bottle of wine
- Wine glasses
- Wine bottle opener
- Candle
- Chocolate
You can find out how to make a cute date night gift basket here.
5. Movie basket:
- DVDs or Redbox gift certificate
- Popcorn
- Toppings for popcorn
- Movie theater-style candy
- Hot cocoa mix
6. Baking Basket:
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Cupcake liners
- Decorating tips
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters
7. Basket for a Cook:
- Cooking utensils
- Apron
- Kitchen towels
- Pot holders
- Cookbook
- Seasoning mix
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
Get some inspiration for a cooking gift basket here!
8. Pizza Night Basket:
- Package of pizza dough mix
- Pizza cutter
- Italian seasoning
- Pizza stone
- Jar of pizza sauce
9. Sundae Basket:
- Ice cream scoop
- Sprinkles
- Hot fudge, caramel, or strawberry topping
- Jar of maraschino cherries
- Cute ice cream bowls
- Ice cream cones
10. Basket for Book Lovers:
- Reading light
- Book(s)
- Gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble
- Mug
- Tea
- Bookmark
11. Basket for a Gardener:
- Gloves
- Hand-held gardening tools
- Seeds
- Bulbs
- Kneeling board
- Liquid fertilizer
- Watering wand
- Hose nozzle
- Live plants
12. Housewarming Gift Basket:
- Kitchen towels
- Candle
- Cleaning supplies
- Cutting board
- Kitchen utensils
- Wine
- Extension cord or surge protector
- Wall hanging kit
- Command hooks
13. Basket for Teenage Girl:
- Body wash
- Loofah
- Body spray
- Fuzzy socks
- Makeup brushes
- Earbuds
- Gift card
14. Basket for Teenage Boy:
- Wireless earbuds
- Candy
- Gift card
- Hat
- Socks
- Sunglasses
- Body spray
- Soda
15. Get Well Soon Gift Basket:
- Tea (such as Throat Coat)
- Chicken soup mix
- Mug
- Bath soak
- Soft tissues
- Throat lozenges
- Vicks
- Chapstick
- DVD
- Essential oils
- Emergen-C
16. Chocolate Lover Gift Basket:
- Hot cocoa
- Chocolates
- Brownie mix
- Hot fudge
- Chocolate coated spoons
- Chocolate covered pretzels
17. Basket for a College Student:
- Comfy socks
- Snacks
- Gum
- Reusable water bottle
- Coffee tumbler
- Pens and pencils
- Gift card for fast food or gas
18. Gift basket for Golf Lover:
- Golf Balls
- Tees
- Golf towel
- Practice wiffle balls
- Golf club brush
- Collapsible cooler
- Golf gloves
19. Fitness Gift Basket:
- Workout DVD
- Sweat towel
- Socks
- Yoga block
- Protein bars
- Earbuds
- Light dumbbells or ankle weights
20. Snow Day Gift Basket:
- Warm socks
- Hot cocoa
- Soup mix
- Snowman kit
- DVDs
- Popcorn
- Small game
- Jigsaw puzzle
- Chapstick
21. BBQ Grilling Gift Basket:
- BBQ sauce
- Seasoning set
- BBQ tools
- Apron
- Grill cleaning spray
- Burger patty press
- Meat thermometer
22. Travel Gift Basket:
- Hanging travel bag
- Emergency sewing kit
- Travel mug
- Gas gift card
- Sleep mask
- Neck pillow
- Travel bottles
23. Car Care Gift Basket:
- Car wash gift card
- Glass cleaner
- Interior wipes
- Car wash soap
- Air freshener
- Microfiber cloths
- Tire gauge
24. Picnic in a Gift Basket:
- Durable plates, napkins, utensils
- Collapsible cooler
- Ice packs
- Crackers
- Picnic blanket
- Wine
25. Coffee Lover Gift Basket:
- Flavored coffee
- Cute mug
- Milk frother
- Flavored creamer
- Chocolate covered spoons
- Coffee stirrers
- Disposable cups
Here are some fun ideas to include in your coffee lovers gift basket.
26. Cozy Night at Home Gift Basket:
- Slippers
- Hot cocoa mix
- Candle
- DVD
- Chocolates
- Popcorn
27. Pet Gift Basket:
- Toys
- Pet’s favorite food
- Treats
- Leash
- Pet vest
28. Teacher Gift Basket:
- Snacks
- Gift card
- Hand sanitizer
- Insulated tumbler
- Mints
- Flavored coffee or creamer
29. Fishing Enthusiast Gift Basket:
- Small travel rod
- Lures
- Fishing line
- Hooks
- Bobbers
- Sunglasses
- Fillet knife
- Rubber gloves
- Travel mug
30. Cleaning basket:
- Disinfecting wipes
- Cleaning brushes
- Sponges
- Dishwasher tabs
- Glass spray
- Daily shower spray
- Cleaning gloves
- Duster
- All purpose spray
31. Breakfast Basket:
- Pancake mix
- Maple syrup
- Spatula
- Pancake flipper
- Champagne or sparkling cider
- Kitchen towel
- Coffee
- Flavored creamer
- Apple juice
- Jam
32. Summer Gift Basket:
- S’more ingredients
- Marshmallow roasting sticks
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Beach towel
- Flip flops
- Beach toys
- Sidewalk chalk
- Lemonade mix
33. Kids’ Craft Kit Basket:
- Crayons and markers
- Gel pens
- Friendship bracelet kit
- Pipe cleaners
- Colorful feathers
- Popsicle sticks
- Pom-poms
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Washi tape
- Stickers
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Paint
- Clay
34. Kids’ Dress Up Box:
- Scarves
- Age-appropriate makeup
- Sunglasses
- Fancy hats
- Glow bracelets
- Funny masks
- Crown or tiara
- Temporary hair dye
35. Christmas-Themed Gift Basket:
- Holiday movie
- Sugar cookie mix
- Holiday cookie cutters
- Christmas sprinkles
- Ornaments
- Holiday mug
- Cozy socks
- Twinkle lights
- Scented candle
Ready to try making a homemade gift basket?
I hope these ideas for things to put in a diy gift basket has given you inspiration for putting together some fun presents.
Your gift recipient will just love to receive a cute basket that you put together with them in mind.
What are your favorite diy gift basket ideas?
