Mothers are incredibly difficult to buy for and never is it worse than on Mothers’ Day when you’re on a more limited budget. Mums will always tell you that they don’t want ‘stuff’ and that something homemade will go down better, but that doesn’t stop it from feeling cheap if you just make a card. Fortunately though, a mothers day gift basket makes an excellent present that shows both time, effort and though and that you’ve spent at least some money.

Creating the ultimate mothers gift basket depends on a lot of factors, and there is a vast range of different things you can include to make it perfect. Firstly you need to think about the actual basket itself. For this you can either go with the standard basket which can be bought from most hobby or craft shops. Tie a bow or ribbon around this for extra marks on presentation. Alternatively however you can use something else as the container to be a bit more original. This way the container itself might actually make a useful gift in itself, so why not choose a nice handbag or a vase or bowl – things that any Mum can use. This also makes the gift more original and unique.

From here you want to start actually filling your container with gifts. The standard contents of a gift basket are made up of foodstuffs so consider jams, fruits, chocolates and cakes. French fancies or Thorntons are bound to go down well. Remember – this is a gift, if you fill the basket with ‘practical’ foods it becomes a bit like giving her a hoover or broom for a mothers day gift (trust me that does not go down well!).

So you have the good, but you needn’t limit it to food at all. Other great items you can include are things for the bath (Mums love baths, everyone knows that) such as bubble baths (my Mum absolutely loves Badidas) or bath soaks, moisturisers, rough sponges or scented candles. Here relaxation is the aim and you can also include a book or CD for them to enjoy while they do. A final inclusion that’s bound to go down well is an alcoholic beverage. Wine normally goes down well, as will spirits such as gin or brandy, or if you want to prove you’re the best offspring in the world a bottle of champagne even.

If you want to go that extra mile then a bunch of flowers can be a great finishing touch to improve the overall look of your basket. Now simply arrange the items inside the basket so that they look attractive without giving everything away. Insert the card so it’s clearly visible too and try to lean items so that they’re at an angle (it creates the impression that there’s more inside the basket). The great thing about making a mothers day gift basket is that you don’t even have to wrap it!

Mack LeMouse

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