A gift basket can be a well appreciated and cherished gift on occasions of birthday, anniversary or for any other special occasion. A gift basket can be a container, or even a real basket, full of various related items. Gift baskets come with a variety of container options, filling options, and wrapping options.

Though typically termed "giftbaskets," other containers can be used to store a number of gifts. A sand bucket containing beach supplies, such as shovels, towels, or water toys, might be a good gift for a young child. A laundry basket filled with cleaning supplies would be appreciated by any college student. Pretty much any attractive or useful container can be used to make a giftbasket.

When filling a gift basket , the most successful baskets contain several related items. For example, a good anniversary gift might be a basket containing a nice bottle of wine, some chocolates, and some champagne glasses. The contents of the basket can be used together, and this gives the basket cohesiveness overall.

A gift basket is appropriate for a wide variety of occasions. To show appreciation to a woman, you might fill a basket with her favorite cosmetics, while an appreciation basket for a man might contain aftershave lotion and a nice razor as well as a grooming kit. For the college-bound high school graduate, a basket complete with dictionary, thesaurus, pens, and pencils would be much appreciated. A picnic basket could be a romantic gift for the newlyweds, filled with plates, cups, and cutlery, and even a blanket and cooler to round out the theme.

Only celebratory occasions don't call for a basket like this. A nice card, few videos, and some tissues can be included in a "get well soon" basket for a sick colleague. A top hat filled with hot chocolate and materials to make a snowman makes the special "winter break" basket for kids which make them ecstatic. Sympathetic occasions can be handled graciously with a basket full of pictures and memories of the deceased, an IOU for a special cheer-up get together, and some non-perishable treats.

Another important aspect of basket giving is the wrapping. Although one could just toss everything together in a basket, arranging it attractively makes the gift appear more thoughtful. Some people use tissue paper or "Easter grass" between objects to hold them in place and add festivity. Remember to add a bow to the top to create a polished final detail!