Gift Baskets for College - How-to Tips You Can Use

If you have kid away at college and you want to punctuate all those phone calls with something special, I have a suggestion from my friend Dena, I would like to pass on: Care packages from home make a big hit. Whether it's a delivered college gift basket or a box from home, with wrapping tape all over doesn't matter - it can be anything and the gesture will be just as warm. The idea of getting some homemade cookies or other snacks along with the toothpaste, aspirin, bath mat and other practical things is always something that college kids love.

Something else that might be appreciated: One-cup coffee makers are a big hit with those who need a jolt in the morning as well as anyone trying to study late into the night. So consider a mini-coffee maker as one of your gift basket items - it’s a good way to reach out with a coffee lovers gift basket surprise.

We know how popular and important it is to keep the brain focused for those long study sessions so maybe you can stock the shelf with a few other items like cocoa, tea and power bars to keep the brain working past midnight.

Of course something from the cookie jar, like homemade chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal or even those famous Oreos would surely be appreciated. Cookies survive the mail pretty well if they are cushioned with plastic peanuts or air bags.

Add a gift card to that basket - cards are easy to make once you realize all it takes is a couple old magazines, scissors and a glue stick. Of course a 4X5 envelope (even used will do, just doctor it up) and a couple of sheets of colored paper. Rubber stamps are always helpful but potatoes and erasures will work as a quick way to make your own.

Where do ideas come from? You can get off to a good start by going for the wacky look. Paste cutout faces or just lips on a stick figures. Or pictures of something ordinary, like a spoon or sugar packet and draw arms and legs, then add word balloons. The sillier the better.

It’s all good fun and hard to beat when there is someone wishing they could spend some time with family back home. Put your "what would my teen like" thinking cap on and see what you come up with. If you are short on time, try an online service that specializes in college gift baskets, it's an easy way to send your message.