Contributed by Aurora LaJambre, Catalogs.com Info Guru

Gift baskets have become increasingly popular for holidays, birthdays and special occasions. What begins with an impulse to give a loved one a gift you know he or she will use and enjoy, results in something fun and unique.

Themed gift baskets are personable and they show your loved ones that you pay attention to their likes.

If you’re not sure how to tie your best friend’s interests into fun, simple basket themes for creative gifting, here are my Top 10 gift baskets for inspiration:

10. Gardener’s Gift Basket

Gardening gift baskets are so much fun to receive because they contain a variety of small gifts. Full of possibilities for next season, gardening gift baskets often come with gloves, a few packets of seeds, candles, tea and biscuits.

9. Travel Gift Basket

A travel gift basket is a fun, useful gift. Instead of an actual basket, use a colorful reusable jute shopping bag. Include items she doesn’t have or upgrades like a slim travel mug, travel journal, nuts and dried fruit and travel size toiletries.

8. Movie Night Gift Basket

This is an easy gift basket to put together on your own. You can interpret this theme in two ways: stock a popcorn bucket with a packet of microwave popcorn or kernels, a DVD, and candy. Or you can present a ‘Night at the Movies’ gift basket with a gift certificate to a local theater, candy and a coupon for you to babysit, redeemable with a little notice.

7. Care Basket for a College Student

College students are needy creatures, but they work hard. Holiday or not, you will make your student’s semester with a modest care package. The theme is ‘creature comforts’: granola bars, tea bags, hot cocoa mix, soup mix, oatmeal packets and a picture of home. A mug, bag of dried fruit and nuts, or a pair of movie tickets tucked in may even merit a ‘thank you!’ phone call.

6. New Baby Gift Basket

A gift basket for new parents can have an array of the small items one never seems to have enough of. Baby gift baskets include diapers, bibs, rattles and a soft doll. You can also find Bath Time baby gift baskets that include baby lotions and soaps, towels, rubber duckies and a super soft blanket packet in a bucket to help bathe the little one.

5. Home Chef’s Gift Basket

This one of my basket themes is called ‘Home Chef’ because it’s always perfect for someone who loves to cook. Gather ingredients for her favorite cuisine fresh herbs and spices, to pastas, oils and sauces.

4. Crafter’s Gift Basket

Because the crafter in your life is always happy to work with new fabric, a better glue gun, soft yarn, glue, scissors, colorful thread and replacement paints. Individually, these may not sound like impressive presents, but together they will make her day.

3. Coffee Gift Basket

What coffee lover doesn’t perpetually run out of coffee? Fill a small woven basket with espresso, a few coffee varieties, chocolate covered coffee beans (just because), biscotti or cookies and a bar of chocolate and prepare for hugs.

2. Wine and Cheese Gift Basket

Looking for a romantic gift? A wine and cheese gift basket is meant to be shared, preferably on a blanket outdoors someplace with a nice view. Pack a picnic basket with a corkscrew, a cheese board and knife, and two wine glasses wrapped in cloth napkins. Add a bottle of wine, a small variety of cheeses and crackers, and you’ve got a date. Of course, it never hurts to throw in some grapes and chocolate for good measure.

1. Chocolate Lover’s Gift Basket

Is there possibly a better way to make a chocolate lover’s eyes light up than to give her a basket of her favorite fuel? The answer is no and now you have an excuse to go to the chocolate shop. Classic chocolate gift baskets include treats like rocky road popcorn, brownies, gourmet chocolate bars, truffles and chocolate covered nuts. If buying a chocolate gift basket, go for the brands you know are yummy.

Whether you choose a ‘date night’ theme for your spouse, a ‘craft basket’ for a sister or a ‘movie day’ theme for a child, you can find gift basket themes already packaged in stores, online — or make your own.