Welcome to my 2011 gift idea series. This week we’re talking about gift baskets, and these next few posts will show some specific examples of items that can be collected into gift baskets encompassing various themes. Many themes have been “done to death”; my goal is to provide you with some fresh ideas. Don’t forget to come back at the end of the week to enter to win a gift basket for yourself!

A gift basket’s contents can carry the common theme of a season.  For this example, I chose autumn.  (Obviously, I wouldn’t expect that you would buy food and similar items in bulk – you’d probably find those things locally.  But this way I could show you pictures!)

• Assorted Mini Fall Color Oak Leaves (filler)
• Shizen Paper Assortment
• Brown Lightweight Circle Ring Infinity Scarf
• Yankee Candle, Autumn Leaves
• Nordic Ware Great Bundt Pumpkin Pan Set
• Farmer’s Market Foods Organic Canned Pumpkin
• Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Lotion
• Mary Engelbreit Notecards “Friends in the Apple Tree”
• Korker Bow – Autumn Leaves

A favorite product can sometimes inspire a gift basket.  I put together a Dr. Pepper-themed basket similar to this one for my dad a couple years ago.  (The lip balm on the list didn’t make it into the picture.)  If you put together this type of basket, it’s nice to include the item that inspired the basket, in some special packaging, if possible – a collector’s edition, perhaps.

• Dr. Pepper Sweet & Kickin’ Barbecue Sauce
• Dr. Pepper More Than Mesquite Marinade
• Dr. Pepper Cherry Dessert Topper
• Dr. Pepper Jelly Bellies
• Dr. Pepper lip balm
• I’m A Pepper T-Shirt
• Dr. Pepper boxers

A library-themed basket can be a fun, specific basket for a book lover.

• Library Cards
• Library Card Pockets
• Date Stamp
• Avery Carter’s Foam Stamp Pad, Black
• Antiquarian Bookplates
• Helix Book Safe
• The Librarian’s Book of Quotes
• Expressions Bibliophile’s Tissue Dispenser
• Book Lover Bibliophile Degree (Novelty Item)