This post is sponsored by Aldi UK who kindly provided the items within the basket free of charge
Please note due to my work commitments I am behind with my blogging schedule this December so this post replaces the usual Food Waste Friday!
Loitering on the playground just the other day, I heard a mum ask her son,
“Where am I going to get a wicker shopping basket for your part in the Christmas play?”
Proving that it’s all about being in the right place at the right time, I tapped her on the shoulder and said
“I have one”.
I didn’t explain that actually I have about 5. It may be more than that, they’ve been relegated to the loft. The hubby does not share my fascination with empty wicker baskets, scattered around the home, serving little purpose (even if they do look lovely).
Hoarding (despite contrary belief) occasionally has it’s benefits. Particularly when looking to upcycle and make your own gifts.
This year we are making many of the gifts we give, but I’m also making up food hampers for family and friends.
Take 1 preloved basket (Charity shops are a great source to locate one if you do not have one already)
Grab some stored (previously used) ribbon and material (I have some organza that a friend gave me when she decorated her chairs for an event)
Place the recycled material in the bottom of your basket
For under £30, a quick trip to the local Aldi, and a little imagination (plus an upcycled basket) the perfect gift for a Grandma who has it all (including a sweet tooth) is ready to be deposited under the tree.
(The large red bow is one I kept from a bouquet of flowers – if you don’t have one a florist or gift shop will make you one up – they are very inexpensive but effective!)
The beauty of putting together your own hamper is that you can base it on an individuals tastes and preferences:
I selected:
| Iced Fruit Cake (Cognac Infused) | £6.49 |
| Handcrafted Chocolate Truffle Selection | £4.99 |
| Scottish Shortbread Musical Biscuit Tin | £3.99 |
| Lebkuchen Assortment | £2.99 |
| Milk Chocolate Mountain Bar | £2.99 |
| Luxury Handcrafted Chocolate Slab | £2.49 |
| Salted Caramel Mince Pies | £1.59 |
| Mini Marzipan Stollen | Can’t remember! |
The marzipan stollen I purchased a few weeks ago. My mom loves stollen, and I have always planned on making my own, but know this year I’m not going to get the opportunity – maybe next year?
By the way – the Christmas play went well…
How fab, so simple yet so effective!
So funny – my gran once said she’d never seen so many baskets in one place as at my house… this was about 20 years ago and I’ve always used baskets for all kinds of things around the house as well as giving/received gifts! Actually, they are still popular for shopping where I live (Switzerland), where there are folk who shop little and often. I definitely keep all my shopping bags in a basket that I take with me in the car.
Great idea.
Happy Christmas to you! I have not made any baskets but my brother makes me up a basket of homemade and local foods every Christmas (like maple syrup, jam and pickles) and it is my favourite thing to get 🙂