DIY Gift Baskets: 15 Themed Christmas Baskets That Look Way More Expensive Than They Are

DIY gift baskets are the easiest way to turn a handful of small, cheap things into a present that looks like it came from a fancy shop. The secret is a theme. When every item in the basket tells one cozy story, like a slow coffee morning, a movie night on the couch or a quiet spa evening, the whole thing feels thoughtful and generous, even if you spent less than a takeout dinner. Baskets also solve the hardest part of holiday shopping: what to give the person who has everything. You can fill them with dollar store finds, kitchen extras and a few homemade touches, then wrap them in cellophane with a big bow. Grab a cup of something warm and pick the themes that fit the people on your list..

Coffee Lover DIY Gift Baskets With a Hand Painted Mug

Start with the basket that wins every time: a cozy coffee morning. Paint a plain white mug with little red berries and green leaves using glass paint pens, then bake it in a cold oven so the design lasts. Nestle it in a wicker basket lined with plaid fabric, add a jar of coffee beans tied with twine, a small jar of cocoa, a pair of rolled knit socks and some wrapped biscotti. Tuck pine sprigs into the gaps and finish with a velvet bow. It looks like a boutique hamper, but most of it came from your own cupboard..

You will need: A wicker basket, plaid fabric, a plain white mug, glass paint pens, a jar of coffee beans, cocoa mix, knit socks, biscotti, pine sprigs, a velvet ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint the mug, let it dry, then bake it as the pen package says (an adult handles the oven). 2. Line the basket with fabric and stuff the bottom with crinkle paper. 3. Place the tallest items at the back, the mug in front, and fill the gaps with greenery and the bow.

Hot Cocoa Basket With Homemade Marshmallows

Hot cocoa baskets are a hit with neighbors, coworkers and grandparents alike. Layer cocoa powder, sugar, mini chocolate chips and crushed peppermint in a tall glass jar so the stripes show. Cut a pan of homemade marshmallows into fat squares and bag them with a red ribbon. Add two plain white mugs, a couple of peppermint sticks and a wooden spoon for stirring. The whole basket costs a few dollars and smells like Christmas the moment someone opens it. Who on your list would curl up with this on a snowy night?

You will need: A small basket, a tall glass jar, cocoa powder, sugar, chocolate chips, crushed peppermint, homemade or store marshmallows, clear bags, two mugs, a wooden spoon, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Layer the dry cocoa mix in the jar and tap it level between layers. 2. Bag the marshmallows and tie them shut with ribbon. 3. Stand the jar and mugs in the basket, tuck in the spoon and peppermint sticks, and add a little card with mixing directions.

Movie Night Basket in a Popcorn Bucket

Skip the basket entirely and use a striped popcorn bucket. It already says movie night before anyone looks inside. Fill it with clear bags of popcorn kernels, a few boxes of candy, two striped cups and a cozy fleece blanket folded beside it. For families, add a handwritten list of five holiday movies to watch together. It is one of the cheapest DIY gift baskets you can make, and it gives people a reason to slow down on a busy December evening. Which movie would you put at the top of the list?

You will need: A paper or tin popcorn bucket, popcorn kernels, clear treat bags, ribbon, boxed candy, two cups, a fleece blanket, a gift tag.

How to make it: 1. Bag the kernels in portions and tie each bag with ribbon. 2. Stand the bags and candy boxes upright in the bucket so they peek over the rim. 3. Roll the blanket and tie it to the side, then add a tag with your movie list.

Spa Night DIY Gift Baskets With Homemade Bath Salts

A spa night basket looks expensive but is mostly salt and a little love. Mix Epsom salt with coarse sea salt, a few drops of food coloring and dried lavender, then spoon it into small glass jars with tiny wooden scoops. Add a rolled fluffy towel, a bar of handmade soap wrapped in kraft paper and a few stems of dried eucalyptus. A white woven basket keeps the look calm and clean. It is perfect for a busy mom, a nurse or a friend who has had a long year. Would you keep one for yourself too?

You will need: A white woven basket, Epsom salt, sea salt, food coloring, dried lavender, small jars with lids, wooden scoops, a hand towel, a bar of soap, kraft paper, twine, dried eucalyptus.

How to make it: 1. Stir the salts with one or two drops of color and a pinch of lavender, then let them dry on a tray. 2. Fill the jars and tie a scoop to each. 3. Arrange the towel at the back, the jars in front and tuck the greenery around them.

Baker’s Basket Built in a Mixing Bowl

For the friend who lives in the kitchen, the container is part of the gift. Pick a pretty ceramic mixing bowl and line it with a red gingham tea towel. Fill it with wooden spoons, a whisk, a small rolling pin, star cookie cutters and a jar of homemade vanilla sugar. Tie a wide ribbon around the bowl like a belt and finish with a bow at the front. Long after the cookies are eaten, the bowl stays on the counter and reminds them of you. Could you add a favorite family recipe card?

You will need: A ceramic mixing bowl, a tea towel, wooden spoons, a whisk, a small rolling pin, cookie cutters, sugar, a vanilla bean or extract, a small jar, wide ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Make vanilla sugar by burying a split vanilla bean in sugar for a week. 2. Drape the towel in the bowl and stand the tall tools at the back. 3. Add the cutters and sugar jar in front, then wrap the ribbon around the bowl and tie a bow.

Gardener’s Basket in a Galvanized Pail

Gardeners are dreaming about spring all winter, so a gardener’s basket feels like a little promise of sunshine. Use a small galvanized pail as the basket. Fill it with a pair of garden gloves, a hand trowel, a ball of twine, a few seed packets and a small potted herb from the grocery store. Paint a terracotta pot with simple stripes or dots to add a handmade touch. Tie a plaid bow on the handle and it looks like something from a garden center gift shop. Who on your list cannot wait for planting season?

You will need: A small galvanized pail, garden gloves, a hand trowel, twine, seed packets, a potted herb, a terracotta pot, acrylic paint, a plaid ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint the terracotta pot and let it dry overnight. 2. Set the herb inside the painted pot and stand it in the pail. 3. Tuck the gloves, trowel, twine and seeds around it, then tie the bow on the handle.

Book Lover Basket With a Handmade Bookmark

Book lovers are easy to please and hard to surprise, so add something they cannot buy. Make a bookmark from a strip of card stock covered with pretty scrapbook paper and a tassel made from embroidery floss. Pair it with a secondhand book you loved, a reading socks set, a small bag of tea and a mini book light that runs on batteries. Thrift stores and library sales are full of beautiful hardcovers for a dollar or two. A short note about why you chose the book makes it personal. What book would you hand to a friend this year?

You will need: A basket or crate, a used book in good shape, card stock, scrapbook paper, glue, embroidery floss, a hole punch, tea bags, cozy socks, a battery book light.

How to make it: 1. Glue paper to a 2 by 6 inch card stock strip and trim the edges. 2. Punch a hole at the top and add a floss tassel. 3. Slip the bookmark into the book and arrange everything in the basket with your note on top.

Game Night DIY Gift Baskets in a Wooden Crate

A game night crate is the perfect family gift because everyone gets to open it together. Find a small wooden crate at a craft store and stain or paint it. Fill it with a classic board game or a deck of cards, a bag of popcorn, some candy and a set of score pads you make by stapling scrap paper together. A painted crate becomes storage for games long after the holidays. Among all the DIY gift baskets here, this is the one kids get excited about too. Which game always comes out at your house?

You will need: A small wooden crate, wood stain or chalk paint, a brush, a board game or cards, popcorn, candy, scrap paper, a stapler, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint or stain the crate and let it dry. 2. Staple paper into little score pads and tie them with ribbon. 3. Stand the game at the back and fill the front with snacks and score pads.

Pasta Night Basket in a Colander

Here is a gift that turns into dinner. Use a metal colander as the basket, then fill it with a bag of fancy dried pasta, a jar of homemade sauce or a good store bought one, a block of hard cheese, a small grater and a wooden spoon. A rolled tea towel and a recipe card for your family’s favorite pasta dish make it feel personal. Newlyweds, new neighbors and busy parents all love this one, because it is one less night to plan. Would you write down your secret sauce recipe?

You will need: A metal colander, dried pasta, a jar of sauce, hard cheese, a small grater, a wooden spoon, a tea towel, a recipe card, twine.

How to make it: 1. Lay the tea towel in the colander so it drapes over the sides. 2. Stand the pasta and sauce at the back and tuck the cheese and grater in front. 3. Tie the spoon and recipe card to a handle with twine.

Cookie Decorating Kit Basket

A cookie decorating kit is a gift and an activity in one. Bake plain sugar cookies in star and tree shapes, let them cool completely, then pack them in a shallow wicker tray. Add squeeze bottles of white, red and green icing, little jars of sprinkles and a piping bag. Families with kids will spend a whole afternoon decorating, and grandparents love it as a visit activity. It also works for adults who want an easy, cozy craft night with a cup of tea. Who would you invite to decorate with you?

You will need: A shallow basket or tray, baked sugar cookies, royal icing in three colors, squeeze bottles, sprinkles, small jars, a piping bag, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Bake the cookies a day ahead so they are fully cool and firm. 2. Fill the bottles with icing and the jars with sprinkles. 3. Pack the cookies in rows with the icing and sprinkles beside them and tie a bow on the side.

Winter Warm Up DIY Gift Baskets With Knit Socks

When the first cold snap hits, a warm up basket feels like a hug. Line a basket with an old knit sweater for a cozy texture, then fill it with rolled pairs of thick socks, a soft scarf, mittens and a jar of homemade cocoa mix. Add a rice filled fabric pouch that can be warmed in the microwave for a few seconds as a hand warmer. It is a sweet choice for older relatives, students far from home or anyone who is always cold. Which color socks would you pick?

You will need: A basket, an old knit sweater or throw, knit socks, a scarf, mittens, cocoa mix in a jar, cotton fabric, uncooked rice, a needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Sew a small fabric pouch, fill it with rice and stitch it closed. 2. Line the basket with the sweater. 3. Roll the socks and scarf and stand them up in rows, then add the mittens, cocoa and warmer.

Tea Time Basket Tucked Into a Teapot

For the tea lover, use a teapot as the container. Fill a thrifted china teapot or a plain white one with tea bags in little paper envelopes, a small jar of honey, a tea strainer and a few homemade shortbread cookies. Set it on a saucer with a matching cup and wrap the whole set in cellophane. Mismatched vintage teacups from thrift shops make this look like an antique store find. It is perfect for a grandmother, a teacher or a quiet friend who loves a slow afternoon. Do you have a teapot hiding in a cupboard?

You will need: A teapot, a cup and saucer, tea bags, small paper envelopes, honey, a tea strainer, shortbread cookies, cellophane, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Tuck the tea bags into envelopes and stand them in the pot. 2. Set the pot, cup and saucer on a tray and add the honey and cookies. 3. Wrap everything in cellophane and tie it with ribbon at the top.

Breakfast in Bed DIY Gift Baskets on a Tray

A breakfast tray is the container you can actually use the next morning. Find a wooden tray with handles, give it a coat of paint or stain, and fill it with a jar of homemade pancake mix, a small bottle of maple syrup, a jar of jam, two mugs, a pretty napkin and a little vase for a flower. Add a card that says breakfast is on you this weekend. It is a lovely gift for a couple, new parents or a mom who never gets to sleep in. Who deserves a slow morning most?

You will need: A wooden tray, paint or stain, pancake mix ingredients, a jar, syrup, jam, two mugs, a cloth napkin, a bud vase, cellophane, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint or stain the tray and let it dry. 2. Layer flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a jar and tie on the recipe. 3. Arrange the jars and mugs on the tray and wrap it with cellophane and a bow.

Teacher Thank You Gift in a Pencil Cup

Teachers use pens, sticky notes and tape all day long, so this little gift gets used right away. Paint a large tin or ceramic cup to look like a pencil with yellow paint, a pink band and a silver stripe. Fill it with colorful pens, sticky notes, washi tape, a small hand painted apple ornament and a wrapped chocolate bar. Tie it with red and white twine. Kids can help paint the cup, which makes it even more special. For more ideas kids can make, see our DIY teacher Christmas gifts. Which teacher made a difference this year?

You will need: A large clean tin or cup, acrylic paint in yellow, pink and silver, a brush, pens, sticky notes, washi tape, a small ornament, chocolate, twine.

How to make it: 1. Paint the cup in pencil colors, adding a pink band at the bottom and a silver stripe above it. 2. Let it dry and seal it with clear varnish. 3. Fill it with supplies and tie the twine bow around the middle.

How to Wrap DIY Gift Baskets With Cellophane and a Big Bow

Wrapping is what makes DIY gift baskets look shop bought. Set the filled basket in the middle of a large sheet of clear cellophane, bring the sides up and gather them above the handle. Tie them tightly with a rubber band, then cover it with a huge satin bow with long tails. Fluff the cellophane so it puffs out, and trim the top into a neat fan. Crafters at MSN shared how a simple theme and good wrapping can turn a mug into a full cozy gift. What theme will you wrap first?

You will need: A roll of clear cellophane, a rubber band, wide satin ribbon, scissors, clear tape, a gift tag.

How to make it: 1. Cut cellophane about three times the height of the basket. 2. Gather it at the top and secure it with a rubber band. 3. Tie a big bow over the band, curl the tails with scissors and add the tag.