How to Make an Economical Kitchen Gift Basket

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kitchengiftbasket2

We’ve had big changes around our home this year. My daughter has gotten married and our “spare” daughter has moved into her own apartment. As we were entertaining one evening, my spare daughter looked at me quite seriously and said, “Living on your own is expensive!” I had to choke back a laugh when I said, “I’ve known that for years! If you think it is expensive now, wait until you have kids!” Her statement made me think about all the little things no one realizes is needed until they are on their own. When I was passing by the card section in Walmart, I saw the 47 cent and 97 cent Hallmark value cards and suddenly my mind was filled with creative card ideas!


Hallmark

I decided to make a gift basket filled with seven greetings cards. Each card would be attached to a small kitchen item needed around the house with instructions to open one card a day for the next week. I thought this would be a fun way to prolong the surprise and offer a little pick me up each day.
cards

To make my basket, I tried to think of kitchen items people forget to buy or don’t have on their wedding registries, but are incredibly useful. I started with the basket itself. I purchased a large plastic bowl that will be perfect for entertaining. I filled it with shredded paper and added my seven items including a pair of tongs, a pair of kitchen shears, an eight piece measuring spoon set, a measuring cup, a set of chip holders, microfiber dish clothes and a coffee scoop, which was probably the best gift my son-in-law could receive!
bag stuff

I wrote Days One through Seven on each card and enclosed a personalized message inside each card. I used a hole punch to punch a small hole in the corner of each card and, using a ribbon, attached the card to the gift. As you can see, this gift was a hit with the kids! It’s economical too, costing around $15 for the cards, the gifts and the extra supplies.
hallmark wedding

Have you heard about the Hallmark Rewards program? You can earn rewards for the Hallmark cards you buy at Walmart. For every 5 cards you buy, you’ll earn a reward. Make sure you check out Connections from Hallmark to sign up for Hallmark Rewards, and to see great content from other bloggers. Join in the #ValueCards conversation on Twitter and check for more card greeting ideas!

Kitchen gift basket 1

What are your favorite card ideas?

41 Comments

  1. This is such a great idea! 🙂 Love it–and I’m sure your kids did as well! It’s so funny how many things you don’t “realize” until you’re out on your own–the older I get the more thankful I am for my mom!! #client

  2. What a great idea! The items you chose will definitely come in handy.

  3. I love this idea! It’s so practical yet personal!

  4. A great gift basket idea for kitchens. I love practical gifts!

  5. What a great gift idea!! I would have loved this when I moved into my first apt.

  6. What a great gift! Wish somebody would have made me one when I started living on my own. Beautiful cards!

  7. I love gift baskets like this where you know for sure the person you’re giving it to will have great use for most of the items. Very nice!

  8. This is a great idea! Those little kitchen things that, like you said, aren’t on registries are still extremely helpful in the kitchen…and when you buy them as a young adult, they add up really quickly. So expensive!

  9. I love how practical this gift and filled with useful items that a newly married couple could actually use.
    Where did you get that beautiful bowl?

  10. What a cute basket and it’s filled with necessities! Hallmark makes some of the funniest cards, those are my favorite.

  11. This is such a great idea! I’ve always been a huge fan of Hallmark. Cards are always really important to me, and I put a lot of time and effort into picking out just the right card for someone. My rule of thumb is, if it makes me start crying or laughing hysterically in the store, while thinking about the person I am giving it to, it’s the one!

  12. that is a very useful and cute gift! and, the price of the cards is too low to be real! i have purchased cards for over $5!

  13. Jessica @EatSleepBe

    What a sweet idea. That would make a terrific housewarming present.

  14. What a great gift!! I love getting practical gifts and I love making them for others. Love the cards as well, super cute.

  15. Those cards at Walmart are the best. I mean, seriously? .47? You can’t beat that. And they’re NICE!

  16. This would make a great gift idea. I am going to have to keep this in mind.

  17. Giving a practical gift is such a good idea. I gave my brother something similar when he moved into this first apartment.

  18. What a great gift for a newly married couple! I love the items you chose to put in the basket, simple yet important!

  19. That is one of my favorite Wedding gifts! I love throwing together a fun kitchen basket full of utensils they can use in their new kitchen with a fun Hallmark Card!

  20. Fabulous idea! I especially LOVE the kitty cat card ..hehe

  21. Great ideas! I’m loving these. Thanks for sharing.

  22. Nothing better than kitchen wares! I love the cards too..sometimes you just need a card for emergencies.

  23. I love this! Everything in the basket is an essential for the kitchen, even the basket (which is actually a kitchen bowl). Genius!

  24. This is such an awesome gift! I just got my Hallmark cards for our anniversary today… I’m SO excited to celebrate 5 years with the hubby!

  25. Okay, that has to be the sweetest, most thoughtful gift ever. I love that you used cards with everything, I am one who would have just thrown everything in a plastic bag and said here… Love your idea so much more. HA!

  26. That is the perfect housewarming gift! I love practical things like this!

  27. What a thoughtful gift! I bet your daughter appreciated receiving it.

  28. This is such a great idea! I’m going to a housewarming party next month and I’m coming back to this! Thanks!

  29. I love Hallmark cards!! A gift basket is always a thoughtful present. One of my favorite thing to do with cards is sending them to people who are unable to leave their homes. I used to do that through my church and said a prayer for the person each day….it was more of a blessing for me than for them.

  30. What a neat little gift basket! We have a housewarming party that we are attending and I think one of these would make a perfect gift!

  31. What an excellent idea! And with one 24 and one 25 year old, I will definitely do this 🙂

  32. I love this idea for someone just starting out. There are so many things that you don’t realize you need until you go to make something.

  33. I think the basket of kitchen goods is a wonderful idea! Not to mention that the card with the kitten holding the flower is ADORABLE!

  34. I absolutely love this idea. I have 3 daughters and am going to do this for them. You can never go wrong showing love and this is such a fun way to do it. You my dear girl are genius!

  35. What a fun gift. This would be great for those with a new pet, new house, or even a new little one in the family. This is great!

  36. This is a darling idea! perfect for a wedding or going to college gift!

  37. Such a fun and thoughtful gift. I love it!

  38. I absolutely love this kind of gift. A gift that will be useful and keep gaining appreciation over time, and its easy to put together, plus its really cute!

  39. I love this idea!

  40. That is such a thoughtful gift full of useful things! I might have to steal your idea.