Scoop up some of the beauty of a tropical island and deliver it to your loved one by creating a Hawaiian gift basket. Hawaii is a fun theme for gift baskets for all types of occasions. These baskets can be great for someone that is going on vacation, a beach host or even a new couple about to embark on a tropical honeymoon.
Baskets
Choose a basket that has a wide top and a handle. Wider, flatter baskets are more visually appealing because they display the items that you've so carefully selected. You can find baskets at thrift stores, yard sales or craft stores. Purchase the basket after you have your filler so you can make sure everything will fit. Line your basket with raffia, shredded decorative paper that can be purchased at most craft stores.
Filler
Use a full, unsliced pineapple as your centerpiece. Check with your produce department to see how long its pineapples will stay fresh. You don't want to prepare the basket too far in advance because you are including real food. Add a pretty jar filled with sand and sealed with a cork. Include two fake flower leis. Place one on each side of the pineapple. Place mini hula figures (one male and one female) on each side of the pineapple. Add a bottle of sunblock on one side and aloe on the other for a useful touch. Scatter some pretty shells across the front of your pile of items. Stick an inflatable beach ball and two pairs of inexpensive silly sunglasses into your stack. If the person drinks, include some tropical drink mix. Print out some information about traveling to Hawaii and include this information in the basket. Travel tips will be a very useful item.
Wrap
Shrink wrap the gift basket. Depending on the size of your basket, you may be able to use a shrink wrap bag. Place the basket in the bag and gather the extra wrap around the the top. Leave about 4 inches of extra wrap and cut off the excess. If your basket does not fit in a shrink wrap bag, you can use a roll of shrink wrap. Place the basket on the sheet and gather the extra around the top. Use colorful curling ribbon to tie the top. Use a hairdryer to shrink the plastic around the basket for a nice, tight, professional wrap. Be careful not to get the hairdryer too close to the shrink wrap. Use the low setting on the hair dryer. If you have one available, a heat gun also works for shrinking the wrap tightly around your basket. Curl the ribbon with scissors and secure a few fake flowers to the gathering at the top of your basket.
Tags: your basket, craft stores, each side, each side pineapple, extra wrap, gather extra