How to Make A Heart Felt Gift Basket

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Easy Valentine's Crafts, Directions to make Valentine's Gift Basket
Winter blahs had me down this season. I wanted to curl into a ball and stay in the house until spring. My interactions with others began to dwindle as I passed up opportunities to get out of the house.  No wonder I had been feeling down for the past few weeks! I was forced out of my self-imposed pity party when I received a frantic phone call from my mother-in-law. She informed me that my niece had been seriously injured in a freak accident with her normally docile horse and was being rushed to the hospital.  Not knowing what to expect I sped to the hospital.  Thankfully, her injuries were not life threatening but she needed surgery and faced a two month recovery period.
The Horse Who Caused All The Problems

When I first saw her in the ER, covered in hay, dirt and tears, I knew I wanted to do something to cheer her up.  Being in pain and unable to move was going to be a challenge for a normally active girl.  After some thought, I decided a pampering gift basket was in order.  I wasn’t sure what items to include in my gift basket but decided no one could resist a long leisurely bath, especially when not able to take a bath for a few days!

easy Valentine's Day crafts

I wanted to make the entire gift reusable so I began by spray painting the inside and outside of a terra-cotta flower pot with fast drying indoor/outdoor white spray paint. I allowed the paint to dry then used a heart shaped sponge to make a pattern of hearts around the pot. Now came the fun part, filling the flower pot! Going with the bath theme, I added a hand towel, wash cloth, bubble bath and an assortment of candy. I picked up some NIVEA  from Sam’s Club and added it to the basket as well. (You can see my complete shopping trip here.) At less than $9 for two bottles, this was a steal.  I’d be able to keep a bottle for myself and share a bottle with my niece who needed something gentle for her skin while she was covered with scrapes, cuts and bruises. Because one application lasts for twenty four hours, she can apply it after her long soak in the tub and not worry about having to reapply lotion again until the next day.

It’s the Connecting Touches that make these baskets special
We’ve been using NIVEA in our family for years. I once caught this same niece and my son trying to flush a bottle down my mother in law’s toilet when they were toddlers. I’m not sure if she would appreciate the reminder.  I wasn’t able to snap a picture of my niece receiving the basket since she had just gotten back from surgery when I arrived and didn’t want her picture taken right now anyway.
Instead, I’m enjoying my bottle.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Healthy nourished skin for me and my niece
  These gift baskets are so easy to make and can be used for any occasion by changing the pattern on the flower pot to match the holidays.  Be creative when filling the basket.  It can be used to make a movie night basket with the addition of a movie, a few boxes of theater candy and a bag of popcorn. For the gardener, add a spade, trowel, flower bulbs and a bottle of NIVEA lotion for post gardening hands.

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10 Comments

  1. Terri
    February 14, 2013 at 2:52 am

    I hope your niece’s recovery goes well and quickly! So hard to be down, especially at that age. I love all your ideas for fun and easy gift baskets with NIVEA! You are so right, NIVEA is perfect to give for so many occasions! Terra cotta pots are always fun to work with, too!

  2. Kristyn
    February 10, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    amazing idea and i love Nivea products they are amazing!

  3. Shelley Bryan
    February 10, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    I love the idea of using a flower pot for a gift basket!

    I have never tried Nivea before but, will have to after hearing that an application lasts for a full 24 hours.

  4. Jennifer Wagner
    February 10, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    Nice basket. I love gift baskets.

  5. Daisy Bryce
    February 10, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    This is such a cute idea!

    I hope that your niece recovers quickly.

  6. mglawler
    February 10, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    What a cute gift idea!

  7. Barb W.
    February 10, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    Cute idea on the flower pot! Can see how that could easily be adapted for any season. Prayers for your niece, hope she recovers very soon!

  8. Melanie
    February 10, 2013 at 7:47 pm

    What a great gift idea and I bet your niece will get better in no time with an aunt like you. We love Nivea, too great choice.

  9. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell
    February 10, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    That was so sweet of you to do that for her! I’m sure it cheered her up just a bit!

  10. Jeannette
    February 10, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    That is such a cute basket and such a great idea! Now, I want to make some – guess I’m off to Sam’s!