​Pack a hamper for Christmas

If you have been following our Christmas gifts series you will have already had plenty of inspiration for gifts that you can make well in advance, especially using seasonal foraging supplies and a bit of kitchen creativity!

Perhaps you had a go at making sloe gin, chilli jam or apple jelly? Perhaps you made a raspberry flavoured gin or two, or have been creating pretty decorations in glass jars such as snow globes, or bath salts?

As Christmas gets closer, we now turn our attention to a gifting classic - hampers! The beauty of hampers is that they can be endlessly customised to suit your recipient. Stuck for a gift for grandparents? Fill a wicker hamper with their favourite biscuits, marmalade, oatcakes, cheese, fudge... whatever they love! Looking for something to say thank you to a kind neighbour? Again, simply gather your wicker basket and fill it with things that will make them smile - pretty biscuits and crackers, chocolate, hot chocolate mix and even a mini bottle or two!

These hampers are also great if you theme them. For example, if a friend or loved one has just had a new baby then you could create a thoughtful hamper with restorative herbal teas, hand cream, biodegradable wipes, nutritious cookies and things to make a tired parent feel special.

Some ideas for making your hampers

Stock up on your hamper supplies. A wicker hamper or basket is a great choice because wicker is beautiful, natural and biodegradable. It will last for years and can be reused around the home as a beautiful storage container - or even as a picnic basket or boot tidy, depending on the size.

Pick your packaging

You'll find a great range of wicker basket and hamper products at Wares of Knutsford, with different sizes, shapes and specifications to suit all needs and budgets. When you have picked your wicker, then think about your choice of packaging material. This could be something functional such as brown paper with a decorative layer of coloured tissue. More environmentally friendly than plastic beading. Shredded cardboard also makes a surprisingly attractive base for your gifts too and it's very popular this year, again with the environmentally-friendly angle, compared to layers upon layers of plastic wrap.

Choose glass products over plastic where possible, perhaps making some last-minute glass bottle and glass jar gifts such as bath salts, cookie mixes or tea light candles with hand-poured soy wax. Check back to our previous blog posts for inspiration!

Add beautifully packaged food items, or perhaps make your own. Treats such as fudge are beloved by everyone and also easy to make with a sugar thermometer, or you could opt for simple cookies or even chocolate bark which couldn't be easier! Simply melt a good quality dark chocolate onto a silicone dish, add nuts and dried fruits for a pretty effect, let the chocolate dry and break it up into chunks. Delicious!

Be creative

Think about little extras that you could add to your hamper as there are no rules here! A cook might love a pretty tea towel and decorative spatula, and a craft-loving child might love their own little hamper with pens, mini pads, stamps and stickers. What about a hamper filled with teas from around the world, or a selection of your favourite cakes and bakes, if you love to cook yourself (and are perhaps on a budget.)

The beauty of the end gift is in the thought and presentation, so finish your hamper with a single protective cello wrap and some colourful ribbons and bows, complete with a finishing gift tag.

You'll find wicker baskets and wicker hampers at Wares of Knutsford, as well as decorative accessories so you really can make the perfect hampers at home without hassle! They are also a great deal of fun to put together and you can involve younger family members too if they would like to make their own personal gifts. A hamper for grandparents, aunts or uncles made by children and filled with their own hand-made cookies and drawings would be wonderfully personal and greatly appreciated. Why not buy some white mugs and waterproof pens and let your children decorate some personalised mugs, to gift in a wicker hamper alongside their bakes and some favourite teas or hot chocolate? With a little creativity, you can come up with something really special without breaking the bank!

Check out the latest range of holiday gifting products at Wares of Knutsford today and let us help you create the perfect gift for your loved ones this festive season! Our team are on hand to help with any queries that you might have and we offer huge product ranges at highly competitive prices - and with the 'Wares difference' approach to customer service!