Make a gift for friends and neighbors

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     On my calendar of obscure holidays, I noticed that Friday is Make a Gift Day!  Well, I've already been making gifts, but I took this as a challenge and decided to come up with something different to make.  I perused Pinterest and as I looked through my own board of gift ideas, I saw this adorable treat basket that I had almost forgotten about! The directions for this basket made from 1 sheet of paper can be found on downhomeinspiration.com.

     This basket is made so simply and inexpensively with 1 sheet of 12 x 12 decorative paper and some ribbon!  You can use paper, or in my case I used decorative cardstock.  And, because it is the holidays, I added a larger bow at the top! I love how these paper baskets turned out, and you can fill them with any treats that you would like! Kristen filled hers with mini-muffins.  I thought that the 4 slots would be perfect for mini loaves of bread or different candies or cookies.  

     In the end, I ended up filling mine with fudge, a Pumpkin Gingerbread mini-loaf, Hot Cocoa Bombs and some Hershey's Kisses!  (I feel like I copped out with the Kisses, but I didn't have time to bake the cookies that I had planned on.)  But, who wouldn't love to receive a cute little basket filled with treats like this?

     Here are a few tips that I found when making the basket:

• As mentioned, I used cardstock.  I bought a pad of Christmas Cardstock at Michael's, but you can also find really cute ones on Amazon.  Here is a cute one, and here is an elegant one.
• Use a ruler to help get good creases, as Kristen suggests!
• When folding the diagonal creases, remember to fold them right sides together.
• Have someone help you tie the ribbon to bring the inner tips together, it is much easier to get them tight. Luckily, I had Maddy here to help me.

     And one more idea, these would make adorable Easter Baskets in the Spring with pastel papers!

    Oh!  I almost forgot! I wanted to share the Pumpkin Gingerbread Recipe with you!  It is delicious! 

     I baked these in the 8 cavity mini loaf pan that I have.  You can purchase it here. 
     Here is the recipe:

    We wrapped them in little cellophane bags that came with to-from tags that will be great to write the recipients name on, plus the name of the bread! (I still think that 4 different mini loaves would be adorable.)  I picked up my bags and tags after Christmas last year.  But here is a sweet set on Amazon. 

     I hope that you will try your hand at this cute little basket to fill with treats this year!  What will you fill yours with? Here are some more ideas:

• Jam Muffins
• Cake Mix Banana Bread
• Florida Fudge
• 3 Ingredient Jam Thumbprints Cookies
• 12 Days of Hot Cocoa Bombs