Want to make your own hamper but don’t know where to start? Do-it-yourself hampers are not only truly personal, but are cost-effective too. If you don’t have the time, there are some great gift hampers that are ready-made. But if you can plan in advance, here are some quick and easy hamper ideas. Once you realise how simple it is to create your own hamper, you’ll be doing it time and again! You can save time and money with a DIY hamper – we’re here to help with a 6-step guide.
1) Make your own hamper – theme ideas
This can be the hardest part – what kind of hamper do you want to give? Here are some gift ideas if you want to make your own hamper:
Food hamper ideas
- British food hamper
- Spanish food hamper
- Italian food hamper
- Chinese food hamper
- Thai food hamper
- Indian food hamper
- French food hamper
- Japanese food hamper
- Mexican food hamper
- Pizza kit hamper
- Cheese hamper
- Chocolate hamper
- Sweets and candies hamper
- Sauces, rubs and marinades hamper
- Olives, peppers and pickles hamper
- Cupcake kit hamper
- Biscuits, cookies and sweet treats hamper
- Gourmet food hamper
- Organic food hamper
- Vegan food hamper
- Vegetarian hamper
- Kosher hamper
- Halal hamper
- Gluten-free hamper
- Sugar-free hamper
- Dairy-free hamper
- Raw food hamper
Drink hamper ideas
- Tea hamper
- Coffee hamper
- Craft beer hamper
- World beer hamper
- Red wine hamper
- White wine hamper
- Champagne hamper
- Prosecco hamper
- Gin hamper
- Whisky hamper
- Rum hamper
- Cocktail kit hamper
Pamper hamper ideas
- Bath and bubbles hamper
- Candles and scents hamper
- Mum-to-be pamper hamper
- Face and body cleansing hamper
- Nails and manicure hamper
- Detox hamper
- Hair care hamper
Lifestyle hamper ideas
- Gardener’s hamper
- Chef’s hamper
- Knitter’s hamper
- Crafter’s hamper
- Baker’s hamper
- Sporty hamper
- Traveler’s hamper
- Eco hamper
- Student hamper
- Teacher’s hamper
2) Buy a wicker hamper, gift basket or gift box
There are lots of presentation options to make your won hamper, gift basket, crate or gift box. There are several things you need to think about before making a choice:
- Match the theme – choose a hamper or box that matches the theme and contents of your gift selection. Bear in mind who you are giving it to, and what they would appreciate.
- Colours and tones – try to find a colours or styles that blend with your gift selection and your theme. The colour of the hamper or box doesn’t have to be the same as the gifts, but try to find packaging that fits the mood.
- Size does matter – make sure that the hamper or box is big enough to at least fit all of your gifts, leaving some extra room for presentation and wrapping.
- Hamper for life – think about giving a wicker hamper that can be used time and again. The packaging for your gift will then be remembered and used for years to come. Perfect for picnics – super for storage – the ultimate in eco-friendly packaging!
Where can I buy empty hamper baskets or gift baskets?
- Hobbycraft – great selection of wicker hampers, tray baskets and crates. For a real bargain, we recommend the wicker tray basket for only £3.
- Virginia Hayward – for the very best quality, empty hampers. Their range of traditional willow hamper baskets are based on the classic hamper design. They come with a lid, finger holes and leather fastenings. The 18″ traditional lidded hamper is a great option for £19.99.
- Amazon – lots of choice of hamper baskets to suit any budget.
- eBay – as you would expect, there is a huge range of empty hampers here. There are also hundreds of gift baskets to choose from, in all shapes and sizes.
3) Buy your hamper gifts
You want your hamper to be filled with perfectly-matched gifts. You have already decided your theme, so it’s time to shop for the hamper contents. We have found a few online stores to speed things up for you:
- Gourmet food gifts – with the A-Z of luxury edibles, Fine Food Specialist really has it covered. From caviar and truffles to specialist mushrooms and wagyu beef. This is the place to go for foodie gifts when only the best will do.
- Wine and champagne gifts – the team at Majestic Wine are renowned for only selecting wines that tick all the boxes. They have great personal service and excellent local delivery too.
- Cheese gifts – with dozens of cheeses to choose from, Pong Cheese is the ultimate fromagefest. Cheeses from the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland are all on their list. Choose from hard, soft, blue, washed or smoked cheese – a veritable pick and mix for any cheese lover.
- Tea and coffee gifts – for anyone that loves a cuppa, you are sure to find plenty of gifts at Twynings Teashop. There are hundreds of teas to choose from with flavours suit all palates. For the caffeine addicts, there’s Whittard of Chelsea which was established in 1886, so they know a thing or two about coffee as well as coffee and hot chocolate.
- Cakes, biscuits and chocolates – so, your buying for someone with a sweet tooth? No problem – Biscuiteers have it covered. They have worked with top retailers like Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Mulberry and Burberry – they really know how to create something special. Try their personalised cakes, personalised chocolates or personalised biscuits to add that thoughtful touch to your bespoke handmade hamper.
Tips for choosing hamper gifts
- Stick to the theme – try to find gifts that are all part of the same story. It could be a country, a colour, a style or a period in history. Be creative, but be consistent!
- Be unique – look for gifts that are unusual or hard to find. Try a specialist retailer like IWOOT (which stands for I want one of those). Being able to pick just the right gift is one great reason make your own hamper.
- Get personal – for something really special, add a personalised gift. There are over 2000 personalised gifts to choose from at notonthehighstreet – including for birthdays, weddings, new baby and Christmas.
4) Buy hamper filling or stuffing
You will need to use some filling in your hamper to keep the contents safe from damage. You can also be creative and use the filling as part of the presentation of your gifts, putting them in the best position. There are two main options for filling your hamper with void fill or gift basket filler packaging:
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Wood wool
This is the more traditional option, sometimes called wood shred. Wood wool has been used for centuries to protect porcelain, glass bottles and other fragile goods during transit. If you are looking for the classic hamper look, have a look at Etsy for some great value wood wool.
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Shredded tissue paper
This is a more colourful and, some might say, modern option. You can use single or multicolour shredded tissue paper to fill your hamper. We found the best deals for shredded tissue paper on eBay.
5) Buy wrapping and ribbon
If you are sending an open gift basket or tray, you may want to wrap it up to secure the contents. The best way to do this is with cellophane and ribbon.
Cellophane wrap
For some lovely and colourful printed cellophane rolls, try Country Baskets. They have cellophane wrap with lots of designs to suit any theme – the perfect finishing touch!
Ribbons and bows
Ribbons, string and raffia from Country Baskets are also ideal to match with any hamper theme. They also do some fancy pull bows which make your DIY hamper look 100% professional.
6) Find a hamper delivery company
It’s wonderful that you have managed to make your own hamper, but it’s not good on your kitchen table. You need to have your hamper delivered – and you want it there safely and on time. After all your hard work and attention to detail, you want the recipient to be delighted with their gift. Of course, you could take it yourself, but that isn’t always possible. We looked at the best delivery options for your DIY hamper.
UK hamper delivery
Try these sites to compare UK delivery prices:
- myParcelDelivery – recommended for heavy hampers up to 3okg
- ParcelHero – great service rating from feefo (4.6 / 5 from over 10,000 users)
- P4D – Parcels for Delivery – compare prices from top couriers like DHL, Parcelforce and UPS
Worldwide hamper delivery
Try these sites to compare delivery prices worldwide destinations:
- Worldwide Parcel Services – excellent 8.9 / 10 rating on Trustpilot
- 4D – Parcels for Delivery – delivering to all corners of the globe including USA, Canada, Spain, France and Australia
Save time and buy a hamper kit!
If time is of the essence and you want to create your own hamper with minimum fuss and maximum impact, watch this video from The Basket Company:
They have put together a Make Your Own Hamper Kit that has everything you need for your homemade hamper, all for £15 (just add your gifts). What could be simpler?
However you choose to do it, go ahead and make your own hamper for someone you love!
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