How To Build A Hamper People Actually Want
How to build a hamper
A good hamper has one theme and one hero item. A bad hamper is a basket of unrelated things at the same price.
Height is what makes a hamper look full: build the back tall, the front short, and pack the gaps so nothing shifts.
The card that goes on top
However it is wrapped, the card is the bit they read first and the bit they keep.
You Old Bastard (Funny Birthday Card)
£3.87
Cheeky Wordsearch Valentines Day Card For Him
£3.87
Fifty & Even More Fabulous Than Ever (50th Birthday Card)
£3.87
Cheeky Wordsearch Valentines Day Card For Her
£3.87
I Wish You Looked At Me Like Any Can of Diet Coke Ever (Valentines Day Card)
£3.87
Sixty Looks Pretty Good On You (60th Birthday Card)
£3.87
Pick one theme
- Breakfast: good coffee, jam, granola, a bakery loaf, a mug.
- Cosy night in: film snacks, hot chocolate, a blanket, a candle.
- New home: tea, biscuits, a tea towel, a plant, the bin bags and loo roll nobody buys.
- New parents: freezer meals, snacks that can be eaten one-handed, decent coffee, a card for them rather than the baby.
- Pamper: bath soak, hand cream, a face mask, chocolate.
The formula
- One hero item that costs the most and sets the theme.
- Three or four supporting items that fit the theme.
- One edible, because everyone eats.
- One tiny extra - a note, a joke item, a photo - that makes it personal.
Building it so it looks full
- Line the basket with tissue, a tea towel or shredded paper, hanging over the edges.
- Put a box or rolled towel under the back to raise the tallest items.
- Arrange tall at the back, short at the front, labels facing forward.
- Wedge the gaps so nothing rolls, then wrap the whole thing in cellophane and tie at the top.
Budgets that work
- Under £20: one good hero item plus three supermarket supporting items in a lined shoe box.
- £20 to £40: a basket you can reuse, a decent hero item and five supporting bits.
- Over £40: split into two smaller hampers for two people rather than one huge one.
How to write it so it lands
- One theme only - mixed hampers look like a clear-out.
- Build height at the back before you add anything else.
- Cellophane and a bow at the top is what makes it look bought.
Where to shop next
- Homemade food gifts
- How to wrap a present without tape
- Gift bag alternatives
- How to wrap awkward shapes
- How to tie a gift bow
- Eco friendly gift wrapping
- How to post a gift safely
- Gift presentation ideas on a budget
- Wrapping and presentation guides
- Money-free gifting guides
- All guides
- Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
Frequently asked questions
What should you put in a hamper?
One hero item, three or four things that match its theme, something edible and one personal extra.
How do you make a hamper look full?
Raise the back with a box, line it generously, face labels forward and pack the gaps with shredded paper.
How much should a homemade hamper cost?
Anywhere from £15 upward. Spend most of it on the one hero item rather than spreading it evenly.