In this article Mary Jones tells us how she loves to make Halloween gift baskets for friends and family, and how she adapts them for a family who don’t celebrate the occasion.

If you have run out of the usual ideas for seasonal gifts then you may want to consider Halloween gift baskets for a change. Like other gift baskets, you can make these yourself, ensuring a unique present, or if short of time and ideas, buy them ready made. You can give them to anyone, regardless of age.

Many people assume that Halloween gift baskets need to be a large, elaborate affair, but this isn’t the case. They can come in all sizes, from small gift baskets for kids to large arrangements for an entire family.

To make the gift baskets, I first fill them with orange or black paper, and then add various treats such as Halloween candy shapes or home-baked cookies shaped like webs, ghosts or pumpkins and decorated with colored icing. I then add small novelty toys for children, while for adults I like to include candles and perhaps a horror-themed DVD. I like to finish the baskets by draping fake spider’s web over them for that extra bit of spookiness.

Of course, not every family celebrates Halloween. Some close friends of mine with two children prefer to spend the occasion doing other things as a family, such as bowling or going to see a movie. In order that the children don’t feel left out, my friends have agreed that I can give their children gift baskets at Halloween, but with a different theme.

Last year my theme was crafts; I added coloring books and crayons, stamp and ink sets, a book of simple recipes and animal mask-making kits. The children and parents were all delighted with the alternative Halloween gift baskets. This year I’m doing a movie theme, with microwave popcorn, sodas, candies and a family film.

Whether traditional or alternative, I love making Halloween gift baskets for friends and their children and I’m sure you will too. And of course, don’t forget that extra special basket for your own family.