13 Themed Gift Basket Ideas for Women, Men & Families!

13 Themed Gift Basket Ideas

If you’re scrambling for some good Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – one of these cute themed gift baskets below should fit the bill just right!

Themed gift baskets are a great way to show someone you put thought into their gift. You can be creative (and often thrifty) from the basket you choose to the fillers you use.

Here are 13 great themed gift basket ideas to get you thinking outside the box when the next occasion comes around. I think magazine subscriptions make a great starter and backdrop to a gift basket, so many of these include subscriptions.

The Martha Stewart

This one is for the domestic diva who loves to bake (or tries to, anyway). 😉  

Choose a unique basket that could be put to use in the kitchen as a mail sorter, or perhaps a bread basket. Start with a copy of Martha Stewart Living or another cooking magazine (along with a gift subscription).

Fill with fun gadgets like a cookie dough scoop, magnetic measuring spoons, or a set of cake decorating supplies. Soften it with a vintage towel, or potholders. You may also want to include a mason jar filled with granola, nuts, or a ready-to-bake muffin mix.

The Gardener
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Choose either a basket that is practical for gardening or a large watering can or terra cotta pot. Start with a gardening magazine, for instance, Southern Living and fill with cute new gardening gloves, a bright little flower pot, and some seeds or starter plants. Add one or two small garden hand tools. A kneeling cushion probably wouldn’t go amiss either.

Sports Fan
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A new cooler with the team logo on the front is a great starting place for a Sports Fan Basket (Go with a small soft-sided cooler to keep the cost down)  Fill it with a copy of Sports Illustrated or ESPN magazine, then a pennant to hang in their man cave, a new team jersey/hat, and of course, a vintage-looking team tee shirt is always a great choice. You can fill space easily with game-time snacks,  like a bottle of soda and a bag of chips or peanuts.

Camping.
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This is a fun one that can work two ways:  If the occasion is an actual camping trip, you can start with a cooler. Fill it with a 12-pack of soda, marshmallow roasting sticks, and S’mores supplies, flashlights, a book of ghost stories or a hiking guide, and don’t forget the bug spray!

But an even more impressive idea is this fire pit “basket” that includes everything you need for a backyard campfire! Include Hershey bars, marshmallows, graham crackers, roasting sticks, flashlights, and fire-starting supplies. This basket would be a PERFECT housewarming gift!.

Busy Mom or New Mom

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New moms & busy moms both need similar things – and this bag of tricks will help take care of caffeine, serenity, beauty, and rejuvenation. Start with a tote bag – because new moms and busy moms are both going to be toting stuff everywhere, all the time. :). Fill it with a copy of Family Circle Magazine, or Disney Family Fun, and a 1-Year Subscription. (I love getting these magazines – it helps you focus on the fun/creative parts of being a mom when you’re feeling dragged down by the not-so-fun moments)

I put lots of stuff in this one because it lends itself well to a group gift for a new mom – and if several people want to pitch in, then you’ll need more stuffing ideas. I suggest including a travel mug for coffee or tea, and a Starbucks or Dunkin’ gift card to go with it. A pretty new scarf and some lotion to make mom feel feminine again. A little devotional is great for those quiet moments, as well as a candle, some nail polish, and maybe even a handheld massager.

Kiddie Pool Summer Fun Basket
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Okay – this is one of the coolest ideas I’ve ever seen, I just had to include it in this list!

 I found this kiddie pool basket on an Easter basket idea board. They used it for the grandkids  – but also, this would work for a lot of other things. Simply fill it with goodies, and use a hula hoop as the handle (Packing Tape to secure it in place) Cut out strips of construction paper and fold it accordion-style to make jumbo Easter grass – perfect for filling in all the gaps!

As an alternative, you might fill the pool with backyard summer fun supplies: Flavor-Ice pops, Beach towels, Goggles, Sprinkler, Frisbee, Sidewalk Chalk, and maybe a Slip-n-Slide. Inexpensive Dollar Store toys like bats & balls, kites, etc.. would be great too! Since it’s large, it would make a great raffle item for the end of the school year, or a mom’s group fundraiser.

 Art Supplies for Kids/Teens

Girls and boys alike love art supplies – new scented markers or glittery stickers, a shaped paper punch out or some stencils – there are lots of items you can put together that the little artist probably doesn’t already have.

Start with a supply tote from the dollar store – this was just $1 at the Family Dollar. Fill it with age-appropriate goodies – for a teen; you may want to up the maturity level with a sketch pad, nice paints, fine-point sharpies (for doodling their angst away), or anything else that comes together to make a nice art set.

Fill in the spaces with goodies from the Dollar Aisle at your local CVS – these foam sunshines and flowers were super cheap, and the bag of fuzzy balls was only $1 at Big Lots. This art supplies gift basket would also be perfect for a non-candy Easter Basket (just add Easter Grass to the bottom layer!)  Or help lessen the blow of back-to-school with a cheerful DIY homework caddy :).

Coffee-Lovers Basket
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Caffeine addicts are usually fairly vocal about it – so a couple of friends probably already spring to mind who’d love a coffee-themed gift.

Start with a thoughtful container that could double as a countertop basket to hold all their coffee supplies. This little basket below was the perfect size for a coffee scoop and a sugar jar. (Check places like T.J. Maxx, the dollar store, yard sales or thrift stores for inexpensive options).

Another cute idea would be to use a large jar with a lid. Fill with their favorite coffee, a nice heavy scoop, and a refillable travel cup. This Starbucks travel mug is just $1 at the Target Dollar Spot! (makes this basket look more high-end, right?)  Fill in the gaps with several granola bars.

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* To fan them out in a way that stays put, use packing tape to keep the bottoms of the bars together.
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Baby Shower Gift Basket

This is a great way to present several inexpensive gifts in a pretty package – and it makes a shoestring budget feel less…. shoestring.