Hamper box help for family please.

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

I am planning on doing a hamper each for family members.
They will have in them,
A bottle each of their favourite drink, alcoholic or soft drink.
Homemade gingerbread stars in a gift box made by me
Homemade sweets, such as fudge, turkish delight,marshmallow and rhubarb and custard.
I need a little more inspiration as this is where I get to a stand still.
I also need help with getting a hamper box each for them. Any ideas of what I can use instead of a traditional hamper box or where I can get them, as the shop I plan on using may have none left by the time I can afford to buy them.
TIA

[gregssausageroll]

Last year, M&S did traditional hampers (wicker style) and also bags for life as hampers too - not the plastic bags for life but their cotton ones.

Could you may be see on ebay if there are any packed lunch type size cotton bags? You could full and then use lots of cellophane and ribbon?

[gregssausageroll]

like this?

[PotteringAlong]

(idea nicked shamelessly from another thread) : someone was doing night in hampers - add in some pj's, a DVD and some popcorn?

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

Great ideas! Will have a good look at the bags as they are cheaper than the wicker hampers too thanks :)
Also great idea for the night in one thanks, I saw a pub themed one on ebay which I thought was perfect for bil's. It was a few bottles of lagers, twiglets, 2 packets of 'posh' crisps and peanuts [hgrin]

[NoHunIntenDEAD]

For the box, you could just get a cardboard box and wrap it in festive wrapping paper?

Other ideas for filling it:

• homemade marmalade/jam etc
  
• mince pies
  
• Hot chocolate/cocoa
  
• chocolate!
  
• a satsuma?

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

Thanks NoHun. Good ideas and brilliant idea for the box! [hgrin]

[NoHunIntenDEAD]

! :) Glad you like the box idea. And my new name!
I like the veg crates idea too, mind!

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

The veg crates are a great idea as we have a farmers market in the garden centre next door to us every weekend, may send dh round there this weekend! Thanks [hgrin]

[LadyInPink]

I did a hamper last year for PIls and covered a cardboard box with Xmas paper and it looked great, plus it can get recycled as they probably wouldn't use a fancy wicker hamper/basket again.

I put in:

Bottle of wine
Mulled wine
Fancy mixed nuts
snacking salami
marmalade
roasted veg crisps
choc Xmas decorations (for the fun element)
Xmas cake
Mince pies

Sure there was more but can't remember now but it all had long life dates on it and it was all nice quality stuff that was more treats as well as useful.

It was well received and they are very hard to buy for!

[plipplops]

They're only small but I do a little gift box thing each year for a few of our friends. Last year bought a load of Emma Bridgwater tins (the ones with Big Love and loads of stars on them), and put homemade honeycomb, peppermint creams, apricot pickle and cheese (I bought the cheese though...) The year before I just hoarded some cardboard boxes and covered them in gold paper. I looked for cheap wicker baskets and couldn't find them anywhere. Love the fruit crate idea though...

[LadyInPink]

Just remembered another one: My aunt is diabetic and my Uncle is always on a diet and so one year i bought a wooden square bowl (cheap asda one) and filled it with different fruits, nuts, dried fruit etc and home made some diabetic chocolates in a chocolate mould - went down really well too. Bought some Xmassy cellophane and red ribbon and made it look presentable

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

Good ideas for the christmas cake especially, that would be shop bought as I am lazy and would forget to feed it and the tree decs.
I like the wooden bowl idea, the wooden bowl would be a perfect size for the pub hampers!
Thanks :)

[Tinkerisdead]

Ive done hampers before in ikea cardboard lidded boxes. Think they are about 2.50 for two. I used blue and white ones and did an icy nordic type theme. Dunelm also had similiar when i went in last week.

In mine i put chutney, savoury biscuits, cheese and an individual christmas cake.

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

So many good ideas! I am going to struggle to pick something [hgrin]
What is an icy nordic theme? What does it look like, entail? :)

[PotteringAlong]

The good food magazine this month hasxa stuff to make for Christmas presents section! Is worth a look!

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

Ooh brilliant, I will try and get one. :)

[Tinkerisdead]

Monster the ikea box has a white nordic style pattern on it. I used wire stars and silver wired ribbon etc. Bought cellophane in a huge roll on ebay. Silver or navy tissue paper. I iced my cakes with white holly leaves with those edible silver balls as berries.

[MonsterBookOfHorrors]

TheDoctorsWife that sounds beautiful! I will be certainly nicking your idea for my Hampers! [hgrin]