Graduation Gift Baskets
High school and college graduates are entering a new stage of their lives. It is a time of celebration. A thoughtfully created gift basket presented to the recent graduate is sure to be appreciated. The great thing about gift baskets is they can be customized for any budget, theme, occasion, and personality.
Gift baskets for the high school graduate:
Leaving home for the first time can be intimidating, exciting and overwhelming. Whether living in a dorm room or in an apartment, all first time college students will appreciate a graduation gift basket filled with fun and some of the essentials. The best "basket" material to use is an item that the graduate will be able to continue to use after they remove all the goodies. A laundry basket, plastic tote, or an under-the-bed container all work well. For a smaller gift basket, purchase a wastepaper container in the graduate's favorite color or with the college's name on it.
The best items to include in any gift basket are the ones that fit the graduate's personality, tastes and needs. If the graduate is your best friend from high school, add a personal touch and include a DVD set of the favorite TV series you two watched religiously together each week. Family members can share a scrapbook filled with pictures from the last year and fun hand-written memories.
Include items with the college's name or mascot on them, like mugs, key rings, mouse pads, or even a t-shirt. For the sports fan, tickets to the first football game will be a big hit. Don't forget to keep things green and include an eco-friendly water bottle for the graduate to take to class instead of buying bottled water.
Consider including these gift basket items that can be used by everyone: gift cards or an envelope with cash, a pen/pencil set, stapler and staples, laundry supplies, a set of small plastic storage containers, scented candles, lanyard with a key ring, flashlight, variety pack of batteries, stamps, a blank journal, a small tool kit with hammer, a sewing kit, duct tape, a personal first aid kit, flash-drive, computer paper, can or bottle opener, comfy slippers, washcloths, and specialty body washes.
Gift baskets for the college graduate:
Entering the world after college presents an entire different set of challenges. If the college graduate will be moving into a new apartment or city there are many gift basket ideas to celebrate this new stage of life. Presenting the gift in a reusable basket works well for the college graduate also. Storage totes, a laundry hamper and under-the-bed containers make for excellent "baskets." For a smaller gift basket, consider a large serving platter or bowl or even a gift bag in the form of a reusable, green grocery tote bag.
Even college graduates will appreciate a fresh supply of laundry items, cleaning supplies, and small storage containers. If this is a their first apartment, select essentials like tool kits, picture hanging supplies, guest hand towels, linen napkins, placemats, coasters, a welcome mat, and eco-friendly light bulbs. Don't forget about kitchen supplies like whisks, spatulas, large serving spoons, bottle openers, paper towel holders, dish towels, scrubbies, chip clips, magnets for the fridge, and an ice cream scoop. The key is to select items that graduates will use and enjoy but may not remember to buy for themselves when first settling in to a new place.
Other good items to include in the gift basket are gift cards to local restaurants, coffee shops, home improvement centers and grocery stores.
After choosing your "basket" and gift items, everything must be assembled in an attractive presentation. Select fillers like shredded decorative paper or tissue paper to place in between items. Arrange the items so any breakables will be securely cushioned. If giving hand towels or washcloths, use those items as fillers to cushion other items. Choose filler colors to match the graduate's school colors and even add a mini-school pennant to continue the theme. Smaller baskets can be enclosed with clear plastic, found at local card and party supply shops. To finish the basket, attach colorful ribbons or even balloons to the outside.
Celebrate your high school or college graduate with style and a personalized gift basket. A gift basket tells the graduate you took the time to consider their future and shows how much you value their accomplishments.
