Community Chat

[Irish1210]

How cool that you run a B&B............that is something I've always thought would be fascinating ~ I love to decorate, rearrange, hunt for antiques, etc.

However, I'm a stranger to the kitchen : )

I used to love the show "Newhart" where they ran the local inn ~

Again, thanks for being so giving to our four-legged friends : )

[chrystaltree]

With gift baskets, the sky is the limit.  You just cannot go wrong.  I would stay away from bath products because many people don't like scented products and honestly, those are done to death.  I think a "snacks" basket would be fun.  Some tea bags, coffee bags.  Packs of cookies, cakes, candies.  Any packaged sweet or candy.  You could go to the dollar store and get some pretty cloth napkins and roll them and put a bow on them and put those in the basket.  If it's a big basket, a couple of pretty tea cups or mugs would be nice.   We raffle off gift baskets at our church at the Holiday Bazaar and I am always amazed at the themes that people come up with.

[Shanus]

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@Witchy Woman wrote:

A local animal rescue has requested help with gift baskets to be used for a silent auction at an upcoming charity event.

My head should be filled with ideas, but I've only come up with a Bath & Beauty basket to be filled with Perilier and Korres products (I have a huge stash of unopened items).

I'm doing another one centered around an Alice in Wonderland round purse I bought from HSN and never used.  Not sure what else I'll put in there, but I was going to donate it anyway.

Any ideas welcome!

Thanks in advance!

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@Witchy Woman  I go along w/ the idea of theme baskets. I’ve done one w/ gourmet corn chips & homemade salsa, margarita mix, 2 margarita glasses, a few fresh limes for color. I put it a colorful basket, wrapped w/ plastic wrap & tied w/ festive ribbon. 

[Witchy Woman]

@chrystaltree

That's a good point about the scents of products.

I agree with you.  

There's lots of other ideas here!

[Witchy Woman]

@Irish1210

Ours is unique in that it is a free standing "cottage."  

I provide all the fixings for a continental style breakfast, but do not cook as their is a full kitchen in the house.

We found that, for many people, privacy is paramount to "free food."  

When we traveled and stayed at B&Bs, my husband was never much on sitting and having coffee and breakfast with strangers at a given hour.  

So, when we started our B&B, we decided to do things differently.  

It has worked out just fine and less work for me!

[lolakimono]

@Witchy Woman

Since this is for animal lovers, how about something like this?

(I saw these on Target's site)

and some seed, or a hummingbird feeder and supplies.

[lolakimono]

@Witchy Woman

IDK what your purse looks like, but you could use that as the container (if it's large enough) and fill with teas, like these, from Amazon.  You could pick up a few mugs at Marshalls/TJM or Pier1.

[q-girl]

I have found that in my local professional sports team area (Philadelphia) that, as long as you have something on the organization's letterhead, they have always been willing to donate something, often autographed, from the team. I have received footballs, hockey pucks, jerseys and things like that. Baskets made with these things either together or separately, each as the centerpiece of the basket, always did well. 

I looked up up a phone number for community relations or the equivalent on the team website, and was sure to place a "donated by" sign on the basket.

Hugs . . .

[joannecha]

Any theme or idea you can think of. Check out Pinterest if you need ideas. I am putting one together over a few months for our church pre- school that has a silent auction fundraiser in January. I’m doing one for readers so it’s a collection of books ( I’m buying them up through the summer at yard sales and library book sales. I’m including a nice throw, some hot chocolate, and tea. And before you get funky on me, all the books I am including are in excellent shape and will be wiped down with sanitizing wipes.

[lovesrecess]

I have donated many baskets for silent auctions...one of the favorites has been starting with a Philosophy bath and shower gel...I build the basket around the scent. I did a Vanilla Bean gel with a vanilla Yankee candle, a CD of relaxing music, and as many other Vanilla Bean items like hand cream, lip gloss, lotion, etc as I could find locally. I always include a big bath puff just because I like the way it looks. You can add a hair turban or spa towel also.  I also included a box of white chocolate fudge.

I have done larger ones at Christmas and used Gingerbread Man, added gingerbread cookies, Yankee gingerbread candle, and included a wreath I made and a Christmas carol CD. Added ingredients to make the cookies as well. You can also use Bath and Body Works if you prefer and build from those scents. Another basket I recently saw was a "new grandparents" basket...it had a baby blanket, baby toys, stuffed animals, photo frame, brag book, dreft spray, Viva paper towels, wipes....loved it!