I want ro make up food hampers for christmas presents - any ideas?

[ilovecaboose]

NOt sure where this should go but I want to make up christmas hampers for presents this year. I know where I can get the stuff to go inside, but where do I get nice looking, but cheap baskets from to put the stuff in. Also need to find cellophane for wrapping it all in.

Anyone with experience got any hints/tips as well? I've never done it before. Each will be personalised but want to include things such as homemade truffles, homemade chutneys and biscuits and then wine, cheese, chocolate etc.

Good idea or not?

beksy is that a wind-up?

good idea - I'm sure our local charity shop usually has some baskets/tins. Will go have a look see.

She is putting the same message on lots of other posts too

No it's not a wind up. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was just looking for some input on for my marketing coursework, but don't worry about it.

yeah its nice cos its personalised

I do often "wrap" presents in nice tins I see

you can always do with more tins, I find. Oh yes.

start a new thread belsky - more people will see it that way.

Oh sorry I thought it was becasue of the thread yesterday about how vile the food in teh iceland adverts looked!

beksy hijacked my thread too...
I would start a whole new thread people might respond better

I'm doing a hamper (well, wastepaper basket) for GPILs, I asked my MIL for what they liked and she said tinned steak (eeugh!) so that was an easy start . I also got some posh soup pouches, gentlemen's relish, couple of mini Xmas puds, shortbread, condensed milk and basically chuck something in the shopping trolley every week. Lidl / Aldi are also great for cheap hamper chocs and non-perishibles.
I also snuck a peak in their bathroom last visit to find out what their brand of handwash is.

We did these last year - mix of more expensive things (drink, nice chocolates etc) and cheaper bits - small bags of fudge, boiled sweets etc. Because we did quite a lot (basically all our presents!) we got the baskets wholesale from www.gadsby.co.uk - also helped that they were quite local so we could pick them up. But then we got some more baskets from the local homeware store as well.

We just got cellophane from Paperchase - they sell it on the roll, wasn't that expensive. Another nice touch is to get some shredded tissue paper as a base to put everything on and fill the gaps - but we also used hay in some as a cheaper alternative!

Twocats, ar you in Somerset then? Know the family of Gadsby lovely people. Got our baskets for the kids club hamper raffle from Wilkinsons though they are quite nice

We do this sometimes too, I tend to go for nice, traditional stuff- fairtrade whever poss, so like honey, wine or whisky, mustards, maybe olives from farmers market, biccys etc.

Oh yes, in deepest Somerset - in fact we were making local food hampers last year, lots of cider and chocolates and preserves. Are you down here too, or just from here?

We're Somerset but studying away at uni atm, will be abck in the next two years though we hope. I am from Bridgwater, Dh from Chard. Go abck a lot though, as kids are in a carnival club in Ilminster.

bumping for any more ideas (no hamsters please )

Ah, we're just recent arrivals - been in Shepton Mallet for a bit over a year now. Definitely staying down here though. Where are you at Uni?

whe i was at uni i did food hampers and had fab time, mine were quite small but i made some walnut oat biscuits, you could prob find the recipe on the goodfood mag website, homemade chutney and then bought some cheese to go in as well.dont know if you have a TKMax near you but i put mine in cellophane (from lakeland ltd) on a wooden chopping board.another year have put little xmas cakes, made in 200g baked bean tins. oh yes just remembered a massive hit year:made choc brownies and put mugs and coffee and the brownie recipe in.

Oh yeah, you could always make up a cookie mix, layering the dry ingredients in a nice old coffee jar with a bow and a printout of the instructions.

At Uni in Newport (just over the bridge), Dh hung about your area for a bit and I worked at Strode for a while, so I know it a bit (plu obv. the carnival goes there)

Do you like Shepton? I've heard varying opinions

Poundland do packs of 3 baskets. Cellophane from local florist, they will quite happily sell you some.

I put face pack, minature booze or small bottle of wine, some brightly coloured chocs, roses or quality street type, bath bomb, mad christmas earrings, bit boring but they looked nice.

SORRY - just read food hampers

thanks UCM - I've decided I'm not gonna put just food in.
And thanks to others - definately give me some good ideas.

So far for kiddies I am thinking homemade gingerbread men and some chocolate fudge (good food had some good ideas about using shaped flexi ice cube trays) and for the younger ones a couple of pocket money toys from HAwkins BAzzare (my mate works there).

But have problem of what to do for cousin's 17yo dsd. DOn't want it to be childish, but don't want it to be too adult either.

WHat do you think of doing her say chocolate truffles and [please enter other food suggestion here] and some pick and mix style smellies from boots? Also she has young teenage brother - would he like fudge and gingerbread men do you think?

Nevermind ages to go (planning it cos stuck at home ill and fed up of lying in bed reading )

ilovecaboose - just to let you know you can buy huge rolls of cellophane from you local florist wholesalers. They do loads of different colours and designs as well.
These hampers sound like wonderful presents btw.

thanks