A tisket, a tasket: what to put in that gift basket?

[queenofthehivemomof5]

When school supplies are on back to school sales I like to stock up for art gift baskets. I get a rubbermaid type file box, decorate with stickers (free) and the childs name in perm. colored marker. Inside I tuck in crayons, markers, water colors, homemade play doh, papers, sissors, glue, glitter, pom poms, pipe cleaners, and what ever craft supplies I find on clearance around town. This is always a big hit with the kids.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Not really a gift basket, but here is a nice site that shows you with pictures (ala stevebass does) a recipie for making a diaper cake.

Diaper Cake

[YouPdWhat]

I have these on file but do not remember where I got them ( borrowed )


Coffee and Tea Mix Recipes


These mixing & serving directions only apply until you get to the dotted divider line. To prepare the following coffee recipes: mix in food processor or blender until you have a fine powder.

For all the coffee recipes except the cafe' au lait, use 1 to 2 spoonfuls to one mug of hot water (to desired taste)


BAVARIAN MINT

• 2/3 cup instant coffee
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. dried mint leaves
• 2/3 cup nondairy creamer

CAFE' L'ORANGE

• 2/3 cup instant coffee
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. dried crushed orange peel
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

CAFE' MOCHA

• 2/3 cup instant coffee
• 3 TBS. unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 cup nondairy creamer
• 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk

CINNAMON-N-SPICE

• 2/3 cup instant coffee
• 1 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. allspice

TOFFEE COFFEE

• 1 cup instant coffee
• 1 cup nondairy creamer
• 1 cup brown sugar

CAFE' VIENNA

• 1 cup instant coffee
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 1/3 cups nonfat dry milk
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

CAFE' ORANGE CAPPUCCINO

• 1 cup instant coffee
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups nonfat dry milk
• 1 tsp. dry orange peel

SWISS MOCHA

• 1 cup instant coffee
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups nonfat dry milk
• 4 tsp. cocoa powder

CAFE' VIENNA MIX

• 1 cup instant coffee
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups nondairy creamer
• 1 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk
• 4 TBS. cocoa

CAFE' AU LAIT

• 1 11 oz jar nondairy creamer
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup instant coffee
• dash of salt
• (use 1/4 cup mix to 2/3 cup hot water for the cafe' au lait)

NIGHT CAP COFFEE

• 2/3 cup nondairy powdered coffee creamer
• 1/3 cup instant coffee
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• Use one heaping TBS. to 1 cup hot water.

CHOCOLATE MALT COFFEE CREAMER

• 1 cups instant hot cocoa mix
• 2/3 cup nondairy powdered coffee creamer
• 1 cup malted milk mix
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

RASPBERRY COCOA MIX (Cherry would be good too)

• 3 cups instant hot cocoa powder
• 1 pkg. unsweetened raspberry Kool-aid (0.13 oz size)
• Use 2 heaping TBS. to 1 cup hot water.

FORGET-ME-NOT TEA (hot or cold)

• 1 15 oz jar orange tang-type mix
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened tea mix
• 1/2 cup sweetened lemonade mix
• 1 package cherry Kool-aid (0.14 oz, unsweetened)
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg

To serve, stir 2 heaping tablespoons tea mix into 8 oz. hot or cold water.


RUSSIAN TEA

• 1 cup instant tea mix (unsweetened and no lemon)
• 2 cups dry tang powder
• 1 pkg. lemonade, unsweetened powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 TBS. nutmeg
• 1 TBS. allspice
• 1 TBS. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together and store in air tight container. To use, place 1-2 rounded teaspoons of dry mix to 1 mug of hot water. (can use a shot of whiskey or spirits for hot toddy.)

RUSSIAN TEA - UTAH STYLE

• 2 cups tang powder
• 1 TBS. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup sweetened lemonade powder (country time)

Mix together and store in cupboard in an airtight container. When ready to use, add 3 TBS. mix to 1 cup hot water. --

[hotcouponmama]

I think the movie basket in the microwave tub works really well too!

[cutenirish]

Originally Posted by hotcouponmama I think the movie basket in the microwave tub works really well too!

I've done that and it does work nicely!

I think i'm making gift baskets for ppl for xmas- i'll be spending some time in this thread!

[hotcouponmama]

My MIL does inexpensive gift baskets for her neighbors.

I do a HBA stocking for my teenage nephews. I get them all the razors, shaving stuff, lotions and soaps, as well as a new toothbrush and tube of toothpaste. Then I also put GCs in there for blockbuster and McD's, as well as some stocking stuffer candy and fruit. I have done that for them for several years and they really enjoy it, and best of all, it's basically free.

I have a stocking here on hand for them I fill, then transfer it over to a gift bag that I saved from xmas morning.

I do HBA baskets for my two single cousins who still live at home with their mom- tons of lotions and bath stuff and expensive razors they wouldn't buy for themselves, shampoos and makeup. That basket is almost completely free - I actually do it in a pretty gift bag and then tie the bag shut with the string of a loofa or bath scrubbie. I usually put a few other things in it - little mini-picture frames, candles, handmade soaps from craftfairs, etc.

[cutenirish]

NICE WORK! I was going to do that last year for some of the guys in the family but I know they'd all think it was stupid and not appreciate it so i give it to my Dad and Brother :) They get "free bags" from me every few months just cause :) I could probably supply three men with deoderant for 18 months each LOL!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I just did a cookie baking gift for my DD's teacher. I bought a nice heavy duty baking sheet. On it I artfully stacked a box of parchment paper, a cookie dough scoop, some cookie cutters, 3 bags of betty crocker sugar cookie dough mix, and 3 other flavors of BC cookie dough mix (Choc chi, PB, oatmeal) and some cake sprinkles. I wraped it in celophane and tied with a bow. She seemed to think it was cool.

[chanfu]

I just made a couple of mini gift baskets for a Christmas party I'm going to that is having a $5 gift exchange.

Mini Gift Basket #1: Movie Lover's:

One plastic popcorn container from Target's Dollar Spot: $1
3 packages of Deerfield Farms microwave popcorn from Walgreens @ 3 for $1: $1
One box of Junior Mints from Target: 89¢
One pack of movie trivia cards from Target's Dollar Spot: $1
One DVD of Christmas episodes of classic TV shows from Target's Dollar Spot: $1
I also threw in a free sample of ActII microwave popcorn that I got from Wal-Mart and a printable Blockbuster rent-one-get-one-free coupon.

Mini Gift Basket #2: Hot Chocolate Lover's:

One Christmas mug from Walgreen's, on sale at 2 for $1: 50¢
3 packages of Land O'Lakes hot cocoa mix from Hy-Vee @ 79¢ each: $2.40
2 Hershey's Cacao Reserve Squares from Walgreens @ 2 for $1: 1
One 99¢ package of Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Chunk cookies from Target: 99¢
One tiny ceramic cannister with a tiny wooden spoon from Walgreens, on sale @ 2 for $1: 50¢
I filled the above with cinnamon sugar. Walgreens had a large bottle of it for $1; this provided me with way more than I needed to fill the cannister.

I love making gift baskets!

[jdeere]

For friends this year for Christmas I bought small wicker baskets from Dollar General on clearance. Some were lined in red check or others in solid muslin. I put in a can of chow chow I canned this summer from our garden, along with a bag of dried peas, a bag of BC cornbread muffin mix(a bargain from Kroger about a month ago). I also plan to include a jar of my homemade salsa and a Xmas dishtowel.