Holiday Gift Basket Dos:

• Pick something they’ll enjoy. That seems obvious, but try to pay attention to what people like or don’t like. While most baskets are pre-assembled, you can find “create your own” baskets and just pick the items you know your gift recipient will like. Use an online holiday gift basket service, or go to your favorite store and put them together yourself.
• Pick a themed basket. Sometimes you can find holiday gift baskets that are centered around a certain theme, whether it’s from a specific region, based on a certain food (like a chocolate gift basket), or even the person’s favorite sport, team, or even profession.
• Remember, a basket is not always about food. While everyone loves a chocolate gift basket, you can get a basket of bath items — specialty soaps, bath oils, loofahs — scrapbooking items — pattern scissors, scrapbooking glue, and a craft knife.
• A basket is not always a basket. Any large container will do. Decorate a large flower pot and fill it with gardening supplies for your gardening friends.

Holiday Gift Basket Don’ts:

• While giving a wine and cheese basket is appropriate, make sure you’re not giving something to people who can’t have it. Don’t give cheese to someone with lactose intolerance, sausage to vegetarians, or nuts to people with peanut allergies. While it’s the thought that counts, it’s the insensitivity (or the trip to the hospital) that will be remembered.
• Be careful about giving holiday gift baskets to kids. A basket of DVDs or some small toys is a great idea. A basket of clothing is not. We know someone whose grandmother gave him a bunch of tube socks for Christmas when he was 10, and while he laughs about it, we think he cries inside whenever he tells the story.
• Don’t give something generic or a “one theme fits all” basket. While they’re okay when it comes to holiday gift basket ideas, they’re rather impersonal and didn’t require a lot of thought. If your friend or relative actually likes the baskets you can buy at the Holiday Gift Basket Emporium at your local mall, then that’s fine. Otherwise, put some effort into it. Find out what the recipient actually likes, and build a basket around that theme. It shows you care enough to know what they like and enjoy. (Of course, if they collect summer sausage and foil-wrapped cheese triangles, then go nuts.)