BisketBaskets Blog

Have you been fortunate enough to receive an invite to a Memorial Day get-together? We hope you have! For as magical as Christmas is, and as festively fun as Halloween, there’s something special about coming together on holidays that honor the many brave men and women who have made our country the uniquely wonderful and free place it is today.

While many observe Memorial Day’s meaning by visiting cemeteries and memorials, it has increasingly become a day to gather together with family and friends for a relaxing day of eating and simply enjoying each other’s company. Of course, there is always the option of observing Memorial Day both ways, dedicating time to those we have lost as well as those we are blessed to still have with us.

If you will be attending a cookout or indoor Memorial Day celebration this year and are stumped over what to bring along as a hostess gift, we have some affordable options in mind that can be saved for another day, or used right away! Here’s a few of our top selections…

Country Living Blue Ribbon Sweet BBQ Sauce – Richly sweet, smokey and spicy, this generously-sized bottle of barbeque sauce will be the best thing that ever happened to chicken, ribs and more!

Gourmet Popcorn Gift from Colorado Kernels – Gourmet popcorn has never been hotter than it is now, due in large part to the decadent variety of options available, like those found in this popcorn gift set! One of our favorite fellow Colorado businesses, this gift is packed with popped perfection from Colorado Kernels. Flavors include: Caramel, Aspen Gold Toffee and Mile High Pecan. In other words, Yum, Yum and Yum!

Vineyard Cookie Bouquet – Available with your choice of 3, 5, 7, 9 or 12 cookies, these hand-decorated indulgences are more than just pretty – they’re oh-so-delicious! Whipped up in flavors of Honey Vanilla Sugar, Vanilla Sugar, and Lemon Sugar, each is a memorable dessert unto itself. Your host or hostess is sure to hide these away from the kiddos so they can savor every last morsel!

Your kids are away at college; things are quiet around the house. However, college campuses around the nation are gearing up for the most stressful week of every college student’s semester… finals week! Do you want to send your collegiate son or daughter a simple gift that says both “thinking of you” and “hang in there”? Consider sending a finals week care package from BisketBaskets.com! Below are just a few of the amazing care packages that will help any student cope with the stress of finals week.

Coffee and Donuts Care Package: What college student doesn’t live off coffee all semester long? Not only will the delicious and aromatic coffee and donuts satisfy your student’s taste buds, but the sugar and caffeine is sure to keep them alert and in the study zone.

Party Animal Care Package: Give your little study bugs something to enjoy after finals with this fully loaded party animal care package. Stuffed with delicious candy and salty treats, your college kid will be poised and ready to celebrate!

Colorado Care Package: You don’t have to live in the Rocky Mountains to enjoy Colorado anywhere! This beautiful Colorado care package is stuffed with various treasures from the great state Bisket Baskets calls home. With delicious tea and coffee, this is the ultimate exam week relaxation kit.

Skittles Care Package: Your favorite student will be tasting the rainbow at the end of a stressful semester when you send them this Skittles care package for exam week. The delicious fruity flavor of Skittles is the perfect reminder that while they may feel overwhelmed, not everything is so bad after all!

While there are certainly plenty of fundraisers held during the fall and winter months, as spring brings more people out of their homes for countless events, fundraising types and opportunities open up!  People often respond better to a donation request if they have the chance to win something in the process, and among the most popular options are attractive gift baskets.

When choosing gift baskets for your fundraiser, consider the average age of those who will attend, and what their interests might be. While many of our gift baskets have a universal appeal, something more tailored to your attendees might draw even more interest!

Know that an auction of sorts is the right path to take in reaching your fundraising goals, but aren’t sure which route to take? Consider the oh-so-popular silent auction…

Silent Auctions – A Little Work Brings a Big Reward!

While the best part of silent auctions is the generally large donations they bring in, they are also quite fun for the attendees. To set up your silent auction at your fundraising event, you’ll need just a few supplies, most if not all of which will already be at the location. Be sure to have enough tables to display the gift baskets attractively, a tablecloth to add to the polished appearance, a sheet of paper to place in front of each gift basket, and a few pens.

After you have set your tables up, display your gift baskets with enough space between them that 2 people can stand side-by-side when bidding on adjacent baskets. When someone finds a basket that interests them, they will add their name and the amount they are willing to bid to the paper in front of that basket. If someone has already placed a bid, their bid will have to be higher, and the interested person after them will have to bid even more yet! For baskets with wide appeal, such as coffee gift baskets and wine gift baskets, those bid amounts can climb quite high. It’s important to remember that people are primarily interested in making a donation to a cause they care about – having a chance at winning a great basket is just the icing on the cake. This means that they will typically bid much higher than the actual value of the basket.

If you want to keep bids anonymous, you can simply assign a bidding number to all attendees. They can then write down their bidding number and bid amount instead of including their name. As the silent auction draws to a close, let the guests know to get their final bids in! As these auctions usually run the majority of the fundraising event, many will be sure to stop mingling for a moment to raise their bid if need be. If two friends or colleagues both want the same basket, their playful competition to take home the prize can result in a big win for your fundraiser!

While we strive to keep our prices as low as possible year-round, we do like to offer up some attractive sale prices on select baskets whenever possible. And, it just so happens some of our most popular picks are on sale right now! We spread our sale across a variety of options so everyone can enjoy some savings. When browsing our site, keep an eye out for bolded sale prices. Or, check out the 3 favorites below to get started!

Get Well Cookie Gift Box – Regularly $44.99 – On Sale for $38.99! Have a friend or family member miles away that you’d love to give a reassuring hug to, but simply can’t make the trip? Send your ‘Get Well’ wishes the sweetest way possible with this cookie-packed gift. Each box is bursting with 7 ounces of white chocolate macadamia cookies, 7 ounces of oatmeal pecan cookies, and 3 adorable hand decorated gourmet cookies, one shaped like a doctor’s bag, one like a nurse, and one spelling out ‘Get Well’ amidst colorful sugar flowers.

Gourmet Gift Box – Regularly $36.99 – On Sale for $31.99! This supreme sampler makes a gorgeous gift for birthdays, anniversaries, to celebrate a new job, or just about any occasion. It is both attractive and tasty, with a diverse assortment of treats tucked inside. We fill each box with CaPeachio’s crackers, Wine Vineyard cheese spread, Dolcetto chocolate pastry, and 3 hand decorated cookies.

Dog Gift Basket – Regularly $39.99 – One Sale for $34.99! Know a precious pooch who is a bit under the weather, or could simply use a little pick-me-up? This adorable set comes complete with a stuffed ‘Chill Pill’ toy and generous bag of yummy Harry Barker treats (we haven’t actually tried them ourselves, but our dogs love them!) Baked in the USA, these all natural treats are perfect for dogs with sensitivities or allergies.

In our last blog post – Building Beautiful Gift Baskets: More Than Meets The Eye! – we gave a tidy breakdown of everything that goes into creating an attractive, memorable gift basket. This includes not only time, skill, patience and passion, but the cost of all the necessary supplies as well.

With Easter on the near horizon, and Easter being possibly the most basket-centered of all holidays, we thought it only fitting to highlight a few Easter gift baskets you might want to consider instead of putting together your own from scratch. Not only will each ensure your loved ones know you’re thinking of them fondly on this special day, but they’ll also get to enjoy an abundance of tempting treats artfully arranged for a truly photo-worthy gift. Plus, you save the time, gas, and frustration of putting together a basket yourself. No worries that the store will be sold out of all the pretty baskets, or the most mouthwatering treats. We stocked up to be sure we have enough! Let’s take a peek at 3 popular Easter gift baskets and treats for every budget…

Gourmet Caramel Apples – $12.99 – These are almost too pretty to eat, but also too delicious not to! Bisket Baskets is proud to offer Amy’s Gourmet Apples, tempting treats from a company that has been serving up the sweetness for over 15 years. An affordable indulgence accented with a shiny, seasonal bow, this jumbo Granny Smith apple is smothered in buttery caramel and rolled in a heavenly sprinkle and peanut mix. Sweet and nutty, the texture and flavor are decadently delightful.

Easter Cookie Care Package – $36.99 – Is the sweet-lover on your list more of a ‘cookie person’ than a ‘candy person’? Make their day even more special with this adorable box of beauties! Each of the truly scrumptious cookies is artfully hand-decorated, making them as tasty as they are attractive. Also included is a snuggly soft plush Easter Bunny that will surely last longer than the cookies do! They can bring him out every year and remember your thoughtful gift.

Happy Easter Gift Basket – $62.99 – This eye-catching Easter gift basket offers up oodles of flavorful fun! Inside the gorgeous woven basket your lucky giftee will find a Bissinger’s Milk Chocolate Bunny, Gourmet Jelly Beans, Hand-decorated Easter cookies, Ghirardelli Squares and more! This Easter gift is also a great choice if you want to send something a whole family can enjoy. They’ll just have to fight over the bunny ears!

At some point in our lives we have all seen one thing or another that made us pause and think, “I could make that myself!” Sometimes, we do make it ourselves and it works out wonderfully. Other times, the results are less exciting than we anticipated, or the cost and time involved are much greater than we thought they would be.

Working in the gift basket business for many years, we have encountered many people who underestimated all that goes into creating an attractive basket. That is, of course, until they undertook the task and had a new appreciation for things! We don’t mean to take away from the fact that many people can and do build gift baskets on their own that are very attractive. We just wanted to highlight what goes into making them all they are so you can see how much love we add to every order!

Here’s a list of ‘ingredients’ we add to every gift basket…

Up Front Time. We spend more time than you might imagine shopping at several stores for all the products that go into our baskets. To ensure our candies, cookies and more are as fresh as possible, we don’t keep a large supply on hand. It takes us longer to shop more often, but we think it’s worth it!

Gas. In addition to the time involved in gathering all the gift basket essentials, money spent on gas is also something to consider. You can rarely find everything you’ll need in one location, so pushing that pedal is a must!

There’s more to the basket than the basket. An obvious expense is the basket, pot or container itself. That one goes without saying! But there are an abundance of other supplies necessary to making the basket its attractive best. These include, but are not limited to: Foam, Sticks, Tape, Cello Bags, Decorative Void Fill, and Ribbon Materials to create handmade bows. And, of course, all these elements are not always available in one location, adding to the time and gas costs mentioned above.

The Products Themselves. Candy is more expensive now than we ever remember it being, and while somewhere in our collective minds we still expect a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup to be 50 cents, it hasn’t been anywhere near that cheap for quite some time! The same goes for Skittles, M&Ms, and unfortunately, just about everything!

Construction Time. Including all the purchasing and prep time that goes into building a basket, it takes about 3 days from start to finish. On the first day we spray foam into the pot to make a base upon which to build. This is left to set overnight, with a second spray coming the next day to build up the fill further.

Weighting Your Basket. This is where us professionals have a definite edge – practice makes perfect! Constructing an arrangement that is properly weighted is essential to keeping it looking fabulous, and keeping it upright!

So, there you have it. While the finished gift basket might look simple enough to create, it truly is a labor of love, time and money. Even with the daily practice that comes with the job, the arrangement alone takes our design experts at least an hour per basket – and that’s not including the 2 day foam prep!

When most of us think of romantic gifts, the first things that come to mind include flowers, chocolates, jewelry and weekend getaways. These are all wonderful ideas on their own, but can really make an impact when they are tied together. By their very nature, gift baskets are a tied-together gift, packed with indulgent treats, sweets, eats and more! And whether you’ll be giving them on their own, or incorporating one of the gifts mentioned above, we have some ideas to make the occasion even more memorable and special. Let’s take a look at a few popular choices for events that center around romance…

Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets – Ahh, the holiday of love! Cupid is working overtime on arrow duty, and couples everywhere are enjoying some much-needed quality time together to focus on one another and how important their relationship is in their lives. Just as no two relationships are identical, neither are the Valentine’s Day gift baskets that would be perfect for your lovely lady or gentleman. Our selection includes awesome options for all tastes, whether your cutie loves cookies, candy, champagne or roses!

Bridesmaid Gift Baskets – While your friendship with your bridesmaids isn’t romantic unto itself, it’s likely these special ladies in your life are more familiar with your relationship than anyone else! The bond we share with our closest girlfriends in unlike any other in our lives. Many if not all of your bridesmaids have been with you through thick and thin – an eager ear on the other end of the phone to hear about every aspect of your relationship from the first date to the ring! Honor that priceless friendship with a beautiful bridesmaid gift basket you know she’ll love. Chances are different baskets will appeal to different friends, so it’s a good thing we have such a spectacular selection!

Grand Champagne Gift Basket – Perfect for popping the question! Whether you’re planning to propose at home, or while away together on vacation, our Grand Champagne Gift Basket helps you set the mood while providing all the necessary celebration essentials. If you will be surprising that special someone with a trip, consider gifting this beforehand and tucking the travel tickets or accommodations information inside for them to unveil. You can then suggest you bring the basket along to enjoy while you’re away, and either tuck the ring inside for them to find, or simply keep it close by when you do propose so champagne is at the ready!

Colorado is known for its beautiful mountains, falls, and lakes. And beyond all of those great things there is so much more to see and explore – just as there is in love! To prep yourself or a loved one for their trip to Colorado, treat them with one of our great Colorado gift baskets from BisketBaskets.com. This can also be a wonderful way of letting your special someone know you have a fun and exciting Valentine’s Day trip planned. Here are our top 5 favorite places to visit in Colorado:

– Denver, the state capital, is known as the mile high city. Filled with museums, shopping and outdoor activities, there is something for the entire family to enjoy if you’ll be bringing the kids along!

– Parker is a self-declared town, which makes it the 2nd most populous town in the United States. Parker is known as a commuter town at the southeastern most point of Denver. Also, Bisket Baskets stems from this great town. Our Colorado gift baskets are made and designed by true Coloradans!

– Aspen is a great place to visit for the avid skier, as it sits on the Rockies. Also a great place for shopping and other outdoor recreation. Overall, a well-known tourist attraction that deserves its popularity.

– Telluride is home to many film festivals including the Sundance Film Festival and other festivals held during the year. Also another tourist attraction for skiing and winter sports.

– Boulder is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains and also houses film festivals. Boulder is a great place to explore, shop, hike or bike. Also houses some beautiful views of the mountains!

Colorado gift baskets are great for people who live in Colorado, enjoy the state, or will be visiting it and falling in love with it soon!

If there are two resolutions that are heard most often throughout New Year’s eve, they are “I’m going to lose weight” or “I’m going to eat healthier.” This can sometimes be difficult, of course, due largely to the fact that we all have extremely busy lives and schedules. So why not get that person pursuing this new lifestyle a Healthy Family Meals Gift Basket from us?

This gift is perfect for someone trying to keep their resolution! With a fantastic selection of meals, including chili, veggie rainbow pasta, healthy chicken and dumplings, and roasted corn chowder, they’ll have tasty treats that are nutritious and delicious for the whole family!

In addition to the scrumptious meals included in this basket, there are delightful desserts included, too! Healthy sugar cookies, amaretto cheesecake cheeseball dessert mix, and a delectable chocolate pastry to eat after your healthy meal. Who wouldn’t want this delicious gift basket to kick off their new year the right way?

Want to shop our Healthy Family Meals Gift Basket or other family-oriented baskets? Visit us today at BisketBaskets.com!

Celebrate New Year’s with some new traditions!

We all enjoy celebrating the New Year in our own way. With all the traditions out there that people incorporate into their celebrations, we wonder: what are the most popular? Bisket Baskets and more have compiled a list of the most popular New Year traditions, as well as perhaps incorporating one of our holiday gift baskets, so you can practice them the way you want!

• A fireworks display
• Throwing a quarter into the middle of the floor for good luck
• Resolutions
• Champagne
• Kissing at midnight
• Singing the traditional New Year’s song, “Auld Lang Syne”
• Many different types of food
• Not leaving the house on New Year’s Day
• Stocking your cupboards
• Carrying someone through the threshold (also known as “First Footer”)
• Not breaking anything in your house; this includes glasses, plates, any electronics, etc.
• Not washing your clothes on New Year’s Day, for fear of “washing” a family member out of your life
• Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, you must clean the stables of your barn for fear of witches putting a spell on your livestock.
• Eating black eyed peas will bring you luck

Have more New Year’s traditions/superstitions? Leave us a comment below!