How to Wrap a Gift Basket

Front view of a wrapped gift basket and present

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Project Overview
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 1 gift basket
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5—15

A beautifully wrapped gift basket adds to the fun of gift-giving, especially around the holidays. Instead of buying one special gift and wrapping it in wrapping paper, why not curate a collection of smaller, themed gifts this year and arrange them in a creative gift basket anyone on your list would love to receive?

Gain inspiration from these three simple yet festive ways to wrap a gift basket this holiday season.

Before You Begin

One fun thing about a gift basket is the fact that the vessel itself can be part of the gift. For example, use a large ceramic mixing bowl as the "basket" and fill it with lots of baking tools and supplies to create a gift basket for your friend who loves to bake.

A nice wicker basket is always a great option as it's sturdy, durable, and available in lots of different sizes depending on what kinds of gifts you plan on filling it with—so remember, don't just think about the gifts, think about the basket, too!

To make it a more personalized holiday gift, consider creating a themed gift basket. Put together a food-themed basket with a beautiful wooden board, a bottle of wine, and tasty charcuterie treats for the foodie in your life.

For that movie-loving friend, fill a gift basket with popcorn, lots of fun snacks, and a snuggly throw blanket that'll make their movie nights extra special.

Think about the person you're putting together a gift for, consider their interests and hobbies, and go with a theme!

What You'll Need

Materials

Woven Gift Basket With Twinkle Lights

  • Woven basket
  • Tissue paper
  • Strand of mini twinkle lights
  • Batteries

Kraft Paper Box Gift Basket

  • Kraft paper box
  • Gift tag
  • Crinkle Paper

Wicker Gift Basket

  • Wicker basket
  • Crinkle or tissue paper
  • Cellophane
  • Ribbon
  • Twist tie
  • Holiday decor such as greenery, gift tags, or mini ornaments

Instructions

Overhead view of materials needed to wrap a gift basket

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Woven Gift Basket With Twinkle Lights

Create a magical holiday gift basket by adding a strand of battery-operated twinkle lights for an extra festive touch.

  1. Create the Base

    First, select your gift basket vessel, which in this case will be a woven basket. Gather the gifts you'll be putting inside it to figure out what sized basket you will need.

    Once you have your basket, fill it with tissue paper to create a colorful base—add a little bit of padding and volume to support the items you'll be nestling inside it.

    Creating the gift basket base

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  2. Add the Gifts

    Next, arrange the gifts inside the basket, positioning them in an aesthetically pleasing way and creating size and shape variation.

    Layer larger items on the back or bottom of the basket—place those that are smaller or lighter in the front or on top.

    Add extra tissue paper as needed to fill in any empty spots.

    Adding the gifts to the gift basket base

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

    Tips

    Adding mugs and candles to your gift baskets is a cost-effective way to make a gift feel cozier. If you have space, add cozy snacks or a blanket as well.

  3. Turn on the Twinkle Lights

    To finish off your gift basket and to make it feel extra special, add a strand of battery-operated mini twinkle lights.

    Hide the battery pack under the gifts—then arrange the strand of lights inside the basket, tucking it around and under the basket's contents to keep it in place.

    Twinkle lights added to a gift basket

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Kraft Paper Box Gift Basket

Use a simple Kraft paper box and fill it with seasonal gifts for a simple and merry gift box idea.

  1. Prepare the Box

    Start by preparing your Kraft paper box. This style of gift basket is particularly fitting for flat gift items such as cookies, small skincare or makeup gifts, and even little jewelry boxes. Figure out the size of the box you will need, then fill it with crinkle paper about halfway up the box.

    Preparing the brown kraft paper gift box

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  2. Fill the Box

    Place all your gifts inside the box, gently pressing them into the crinkle paper layer and nestling them in to keep them in place.

    Filling the box with gifts

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  3. Decorate the Top

    Finally, add a festive touch to the box lid, which can be as simple as a holiday gift tag or as elaborate as hand-drawn designs and a big bow. Close the box with your gift tag-adorned lid and it's ready to brighten someone's day.

    Adding ribbon to the gift box

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Cellophane-Wrapped Gift Basket

For a classic look, you can't go wrong with a cellophane-wrapped gift basket topped with a big satin bow.

  1. Choose Your Basket

    Choosing the right vessel when it comes to putting together a gift basket is half the fun since it becomes a part of the gift.

    If you're creating a food-themed gift, for example, go with a classic wicker basket with a handle for a traditional look.

    Choosing a wicker gift basket

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  2. Fill It Up

    To make the gift basket look nice and full, make sure to fill its base with lots of crinkle or tissue paper before nestling in your gifts.

    Mix tall, small, large, skinny, round, and rectangular objects—such as a bottle of wine, a box of crackers, wedges of cheese, and a packet of nuts—to create variety and an interesting look.

    Filling the gift basket

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  3. Wrap It in Cellophane

    Grab a roll of cellophane and place it on a clean, flat surface. Next, place your gift basket in the middle, then bring up the two sides of the cellophane around it to gauge how large a piece you need to cut. Once you know the size, make the cut.

    Wrap the cellophane around the basket, scrunching it up in the center at the top of the basket, then secure it with a twist tie.

    Finally, take a roll of festive ribbon and tie a bow around the twist-tie-secured cellophane.

    Add a gift tag, some mini ornaments, or a fresh spring of greenery into the ribbon knot for an extra little decoration.

    Wrapping the gift basket in cellophane

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena