Owens Corning

Gift Baskets For Mother's Day

For a personalized Mother's Day gift choose a theme related to your mother's interests and fill a basket with appropriate things. Baskets come in all sizes and shapes and different styles can be used for different objects. Some baskets are already decorated with stencil designs or ribbons, some are painted, but most are plain, the interest coming from their shape or materials. Some have handles while others don't. If you want to decorate the basket before filling it this will enhance its use after the gifts within have been used.

Small Plants
Fill a round or square, low basket with small pots of African Violets and add Spanish moss to unify the pots. Tie a fat satin ribbon around the basket, or handle if it has one. If your mother enjoys cooking, fill a willow basket with small herb plants for the kitchen.

For The Gardener
Some baskets have compartments. These are great for giving gardening accessories. Fill each section with a good pair of clippers, garden gloves, packets of seeds, potting soil, and floral note cards.

For The New Mom
If you're a new father, make a hit with a basket from your newborn to the new mom for her first Mother's Day. Choose a pretty pastel basket and fill it with such items as a framed picture of the new baby, a "baby's first" record book, a bottle of perfume or something silky and sexy, and the May issue of Parent's Magazine.

For The Sewer
Make a personalized sewing basket filled with all sorts of notions such as a pin cushion, pins, a new pair of scissors, a pattern to make something she'd love along with the fabric to make it and tie the handle with a fat bow made from a tape measure.

For The Crafter
For the quilter, fill a basket with a variety of fabric remnants, a rotary cutter, needle holders, and a quilt pattern. For the knitter or crocheter fill a basket with beautiful yarn and a pattern to make a sweater or afghan.

To Pamper Her
A day of pampering includes a basket filled with fancy soap, bath oil beads, a loofa mitt, body cream, shampoo, cream rinse and a romantic novel to read in the tub.

A Month Of Reading
If your mom loves to pour over magazines, fill a basket with the latest issue of every magazine you think she'd like to own. Add a box of her favorite chocolates or fresh fruit.

Closet Queen
Line a basket with a new bath towel and fill it with individually rolled hand towels tied with pretty ribbons. Add a set of padded hangers, scented shoe stuffers, a set of lingerie cases and a container of potpourri.

For The Cook Fill a basket with luxuries one doesn't usually buy for oneself. The possibilities are enormous from cooking utensils to cookbooks to specialty food items from a gourmet shop.

Spice It Up
If your mom likes exotic cooking, fill a basket with unusual spices, herbs and condiments.

For The Tea Lover
Choose a variety of fancy teas, a book about tea, a pretty teacup and saucer, a box of tea crackers, or homemade cookies and special jam.

For The Coffee Lover
Buy small packages of a variety of freshly ground coffees. Fill the basket with espresso, mocha bean candies and other coffee flavored goodies.

From Kids To Mom
Guaranteed to be appreciated. Design a bunch of cards with promised favors enclosed, such as "this ticket is good for ____" you fill in the personalized favor that will make your mom happy or make life a bit easier for her. Put each one in an envelope and decorate the outside. Fill the basket with colored tissue paper and insert the envelopes on end between the tissue folds so it looks interesting. Tie with a pretty ribbon and streamers, maybe even a few balloons and insert a fresh flower into the basket.

At-Home Picnic
Warm any mom's heart with a picnic basket filled with a bottle of wine, a complete "take out dinner" and a rented movie.

Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.

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