Use Halloween items like a plastic cauldron and fill with treats.
Halloween gift baskets are an inexpensive way to give a lot of gifts at once without spending a lot of money. A gift basket need not be a basket at all. Consider using a trick-or-treat pail, plastic pumpkin or other Halloween themed vessel for the gift basket. The best Halloween gift baskets have a central theme that relates to the season and contains a variety of items, from candy and treats to inexpensive gift items.
Treat Basket
A basic Halloween gift basket should contain sweet treats. Candy is the most popular way to go, but other treat items like popcorn balls, cupcakes and caramel apples are also festive choices. If too much sugar is a concern, make it a fruit basket with blood oranges and other dark colored fruits.
Book Basket
To create a Halloween book basket choose classic horror literature like "Dracula" or "The Shining," or pick something that's not going to induce nightmares like the Harry Potter books. Books on paranormal investigations, real ghost encounters and other spooky facts can be even scarier than fiction. Add Halloween stationery items like paper, pencils, erasers and pens.
Decorating Basket
Halloween gift baskets can also be practical, such as a basket of Halloween decorations. Pick up fake spiderwebs, yard signs, door hangers and other outdoor decorations for cheap at your local dollar store. Indoor decorations like wall hangings, candle holders and candy dishes help the recipient get ready for Halloween.
Cookie Basket
Sending a bouquet of cookies is a sweet alternative to flowers. At Halloween time cookie baskets can be ordered in festive shapes like ghosts, bats and pumpkins. Create your own cookie basket at home by baking and decorating homemade sugar cookies in Halloween shapes. If you don't have the time to decorate cookies try pumpkin spice cookies or chocolate chip cookies with green and black candies.
Game Basket
A game gift basket contains fun Halloween activities like puzzles, brain teasers and board games. Pick up a spooky Halloween murder mystery game or a Halloween themed version of a popular board game like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" Monopoly. Fortune telling games like a Oujia Board are a spine-chilling addition.
Monster Basket
Pick your favorite Halloween monster and base a gift basket around it. A vampire gift basket might contain items like plastic vampire fangs, fake blood or a rubber bat. Fill a plastic cauldron with witch items like gummy worms, a light-up toy wand and a stuffed black cat. For a werewolf basket make cookies in the shapes of dog treats, buy Moon Pies and add a stuffed wolf toy.
Toy Basket
A toy gift basket will thrill a young child and those who are still a child at heart. Halloween versions of popular toys like Barbie and Mr. Potato Head can be purchased during the season. No child can resist the appeal of fake slime. Stuffed toys in Halloween themes are appropriate for any age child as they are not likely to be scary.
Gross-Out Basket
Put plastic spiders in the basket for a gross treat.
A gross-out basket can give the recipient a case of Halloween heebie-jeebies. Bugs and spiders are a popular choice, whether they are plastic rings, rubber toys or gummy candies. Really gross items like fake vomit or rubber severed limbs are best for those with a dark sense of humor and won't take offense.
Costume Basket
Halloween is a time for costumes, so create a basket with costume items like fake teeth and costume makeup. Hats, headbands and antennae can be worn as costumes or just to get into the Halloween spirit. Add a mask to your costume gift basket like a glittery masquerade mask or a rubber monster mask.
Entertainment Basket
An entertainment basket gives the recipient something fun to do or watch on Halloween. Add classic horror DVDs or family friendly Halloween fare like "Hocus Pocus" and "Halloweentown." A basket with movie theater treats and tickets for a local movie theater lets the recipient have a fun night out for Halloween.
