In the first instance, decide if your Christmas gift basket will be for one person, a family or a number of friends or colleagues.  Occasionally it's good to give and to receive a gift for a group of people that can be shared and enjoyed in each others' company.

Secondly  decide on the size of your themed Christmas gift baskets and what you are willing to spend to create a great gift basket.

Thirdly, choose a theme for your gift basket.

If your recipient is a gourmet beer, wine or food lover it is simple to gather a number of attractive gift items in this category and place them together in a suitable container.

A gardener will alwaysbe thankful for a range of small items that can be used in and to remind them of their flowers and plants.

Movie lovers will appreciate DVDs, popcorn and sweet treats.

Spa and pamper gift baskets are fantastic for a wide range of women (and men) those near and dear to you, new partners, lifelong friends and even fairly casual acquaintances.

It is relatively easy to put together - but even easier to buy - gift baskets that are themed by time of day (Breakfast gift baskets), country (Italian gift baskets) and even region (Texas gift baskets - they'd be the big ones, I guess!).

While gift hampers are great to give and receive regardless of what they contain, a themed Christmas gift basket can jazz up the festive season even more with a little thought about what type of foods or hobbies or activities your recipient really enjoys.

And while it is colossal fun to create your own gift baskets, often it is less tricky (and more economical) to purchase a themed Christmas gift basket from a respectable online company who can make up and deliver to order at this busy time of year.