The holidays are fast approaching, with the inevitable; "What am I going to get them?" dilemmas. Are you tired of fumbling around with tape, ribbons and those tired old cardboard boxes? For your next gift-giving occasion, why not tap into your creative wellspring and craft a customized, unique, one of a kind gift that is both fun to make and highly appreciated. I am talking about a themed gift basket.

Themed gift baskets take a bit of time and some creativity, but the thoughtfulness of the gift will not be lost upon the recipient.

If you should decide to go this gift-giving route, it is very important that you go all the way and design a gift worthy of kings or just your picky mother-in-law. What I mean is - don't just throw one together and call it a day. Commit to it with enthusiasm and you will enjoy designing it as much as they enjoy receiving it.

Many people's perception, including mine, of a gift basket was of a round wicker basket filled with chocolates, coffees and some funny looking candies with strange names - not anymore. Wicker is so 1980's. Now anything with a reasonable opening can be used a basket -- gift bags, crates, watering cans, wooden boxes, small furniture & baby carriages. If it can hold stuff, it can be a basket.

So, with this in mind, the first order of business is to determine the topic of your gift basket. Do this by analyzing the recipient's tastes and hobbies to come up with a

Once a theme is settled upon, keep it consistent. For example my mother likes reading financial books, so for Christmas, one year, I bought her a small bookshelf, flipped it on it's side and filled it with several books, a book light, a magazine subscription, a custom bookmark and several gourmet snacks. I then holidayed it with a little ribbon. She loved it.

A gift for a young child could start off with a red wagon filled with more toys themed for kids "on the go". A football buff could receive a cooler with his favorite team's team logo on it. Then stuff it with jerseys, tickets, maybe an autographed football; really just let your imagination go.

If you're not sure about themed gift baskets, try it with a friend's gift first, to build up your confidence. After you see their positive reaction you will really find themed gift basket giving very appealing.

Maybe you'll get the gift basket bug and decide that the rest of the world should bear the fruits of your passion by starting your own gift basket business. Now that would make for a nice Christmas!

Heather writes for Schmeg.com. She operates All Gift Baskets & Chestnut Creek Gift Baskets