How To Make A Boo Basket For Her - A Cosy Autumnal Gift

This post is in collaboration with Very.

I have to admit, I am completely on board with the whole boo basket trend.

If you haven't seen them all over TikTok and Pinterest yet, a boo basket is basically a Halloween or autumn version of a gift hamper. You fill a basket with cosy treats, little gifts, seasonal decorations and anything else you think the person receiving it would love. As a mum of four, I can immediately see the appeal.

There is always someone in this house who would happily receive a basket full of beauty bits, candles, chocolate or something cosy. In fact, with two teenage daughters, I suspect if I started making these every year I would very quickly find myself committed to a new family tradition!

For this one, I wanted to put together a more grown-up boo basket for her. Nothing too childish or overly spooky. Think autumn evenings, twinkly lights, pumpkins, a candle, makeup and a little bit of jewellery.

Basically, the sort of basket I would be very happy to find waiting for me.

What Is A Boo Basket?

A boo basket is essentially a Halloween gift basket. Some people make them for children and fill them with sweets, Halloween toys and pyjamas, but I actually think the idea works brilliantly for adults too.

You can give one to your daughter, best friend, sister, mum, girlfriend or partner. There aren't really any rules either, which is part of the fun.

You could make it completely Halloween themed, or go for more of a cosy autumn feel with candles, pumpkin decorations, skincare and snacks.

Personally, I prefer the second option. I like Halloween, but I'm much more "ceramic pumpkin and fairy lights" than plastic skeleton hanging from the ceiling.

I've sourced everything from this Boo Basket from Very, and it was great to be able to choose from such a wide variety of products, including luxury gifts for her, autumnal homeware and halloween decorations. There was so much choice actually that I could have made several different Boo Baskets, each with a slightly different theme.

So, step by step here is how to create the perfect autumnal Boo Basket for the special lady in your life, be that your daughter, cousin, aunty, mother or grandmother, I'm sure there is plenty to choose from Very that they will love.

1. Start With A Basket That Doesn't Get Thrown Away

First things first: you need something to put everything in.

I really like using a proper storage basket rather than a disposable gift box because the basket becomes part of the present too.

The Very Collection Square Paper Rope Check Basket works really well for this because it has a neutral checked design and doesn't scream Halloween.

Once all the treats have been taken out, it could easily be reused in a bedroom, bathroom or living room. With six people living in our house, I can assure you there is always something that needs putting in a basket. Hair products, chargers, random toys, craft supplies, socks... there is never a shortage.

A little trick when filling your basket

Before adding the gifts, put some tissue paper, shredded paper, blanket or even a folded tea towel into the bottom. It gives everything a bit of height and stops smaller presents disappearing into the depths of the basket.

Put the bigger things at the back and work your way forwards. It instantly makes the finished basket look much more generous.

2. Add Some Autumn Decorations

This is where the basket starts to look really lovely. I wanted a mix of autumn and Halloween decorations rather than anything too scary, because the nice thing about autumn decor is that you can keep it out long after 31st October.

Ceramic pumpkins

The Very Collection Set of 2 Ceramic Shaped Pumpkins are exactly my sort of Halloween decoration.

They're cream and ochre rather than bright orange, so they have a much more grown-up autumn feel. They would look lovely on a shelf, fireplace, kitchen table or bedside table, and they're something that can come out year after year.

Something a bit more spooky

Of course, you can't make a boo basket without at least one properly Halloween-themed item. The Very Collection Spooky Scene Snowglobe With Music adds a bit of fun and brings the Halloween side of the basket to life.

I love the idea of putting it amongst all the softer autumn decor so there is still something a little spooky hiding in there. It is also the kind of thing that becomes part of the family's Halloween decorations and gets brought back out every October.

Cosy little lights

Then there are the Lights4Fun Glass Acorn LED String Lights. If there is one thing guaranteed to make autumn feel better, it's twinkly lights.

The nights start drawing in so quickly here in Wales, and once we get into autumn I am all about lamps, candles and little strings of warm lights rather than the big overhead light. These would look gorgeous arranged around a shelf or mirror after Halloween, but you could also weave them around the basket itself when you give it.

Turn them on just before the recipient sees the basket and suddenly everything looks incredibly Pinterest-worthy with very little effort.

3. Put Something In There For A Cosy Night In

I don't think you can really make an autumn gift basket without a candle.

The French Connection Vetivert, Eucalyptus & Sea Salt Candle is a really nice option because it doesn't have an overly sweet or artificial "pumpkin spice everything" scent. The vetivert, eucalyptus and sea salt combination feels fresh and relaxing, so it is something you can use well beyond Halloween. Genuinely this candle smells amazing!

I always think candles are a safe bet in gift baskets too. They feel like a treat, but they are also something most people will actually use.

If I were making this basket for a friend, I would probably add a bar of chocolate and a good book alongside it and basically be giving them permission to cancel their plans and stay on the sofa.

4. Add One Proper Treat

The smaller bits make a basket look lovely, but I like the idea of hiding one or two gifts in there that feel a little more special.

A little bit of sparkle

The Love Collection Gold Plated Sterling Silver Multi Shape CZ Stud Set works perfectly for this.

Jewellery is brilliant for gift baskets because it takes up hardly any space but still feels like a proper present. You could tuck the jewellery box right at the front or hide it underneath something else so they don't spot it immediately. I have taken the lid off mine so the earring sparkle catching the eye but it would work well to leave the lid off and have the jewellery be a surprise to open!

Beauty treats

Then there is the Iconic London The Full Face Edit Gift. If you are making a boo basket for someone who loves makeup, this is exactly the kind of thing that suddenly makes the whole basket feel very exciting.

It includes a selection of Iconic London beauty products, so rather than buying lots of separate little makeup items, you've got one substantial beauty gift. With teenage girls in the house, beauty products are always a safe bet here. I've left the items in the gift box for a bit of wow factor, but you could always open the set and divide it between two boo baskets if you were making more than one, or if you need some little items to slot in here and there.

5. Don't Forget The Presentation

One thing that makes a huge difference with gift baskets is how you present them. You don't necessarily have to squeeze every single thing inside.

The Very Collection Rose Hip and Berry Autumn Wreath would look lovely placed behind the basket or even hung above it. It has leaves, berries and rose hips, so it feels autumnal without being specifically Halloween.

You could put the finished basket on a chair or table with the wreath behind it, turn on the little acorn lights and leave it there as a surprise. That is half the fun of a boo basket, really, it isn't just giving someone a present. It is creating a little moment for them.

What Else Can You Put In A Boo Basket For Her?

This is where you can really personalise it.

Once you've added a couple of bigger gifts, fill in the gaps with little things you know she will enjoy.

Some easy boo basket ideas for her include:

• Fluffy socks
• Chocolate
• Popcorn
• Hot chocolate
• A favourite book
• A face mask
• Lip balm
• Hand cream
• Nail polish
• A mug
• Tea or coffee
• A mini perfume
• Hair accessories
• Pyjamas
• A notebook
• A handwritten card

You definitely don't need all of these.

In fact, I think the best baskets are the ones that are slightly random because they have been put together specifically for one person. Their favourite sweets, the skincare product they always buy, a book you think they'll love, something funny that makes you think of them. Those little details are what make it feel personal.

Boo Basket Ideas For Teen Girls

If you are making one for a teenage daughter, niece or younger sister, you could fill it with:

• Makeup
• Skincare
• Lip gloss
• Jewellery
• Fairy lights
• Fluffy socks
• Hair clips
• Chocolate
• Halloween pyjamas
• A cute pumpkin decoration

I can definitely see these being popular as teenage sleepover gifts too. You could even make smaller matching baskets for a few friends if you wanted to keep the cost down.

Boo Basket Ideas For Your Best Friend

For a friend, I would make it all about a cosy night in.

Think:

• Candle
• Favourite snacks
• Chocolate
• A bottle of something nice
• A book
• Face mask
• Cosy socks
• Tea or coffee

You could also add something sentimental like a photo or a little note. Sometimes the inexpensive personal things are actually the bits people remember.

Boo Basket Ideas For Mum

A boo basket for mum could be a little more pampering.

Try adding:

• A candle
• Hand cream
• Chocolates
• Jewellery
• Skincare
• A scarf
• A book
• Autumn home decor

Essentially, things she probably wouldn't buy for herself but would really enjoy receiving.

You Don't Have To Spend A Fortune

This is probably worth saying because social media has a habit of turning everything into a competitive sport.

Your boo basket does not need to be enormous.

It doesn't need twenty gifts.

And you definitely don't need to spend hundreds of pounds.

Choose one main present and then add a few inexpensive treats around it.

A candle, chocolate, cosy socks and a handwritten note can make a really thoughtful little basket.

At the other end of the scale, if it is for a birthday, anniversary or someone you really want to spoil, you can add jewellery, beauty gifts and homeware.

The idea works at pretty much any budget.

Make It Look Full Without Buying Loads

There is also a bit of gift basket trickery involved here.

If your basket is looking slightly empty, don't immediately buy another six presents.

• Use tissue paper or shredded paper underneath everything.
• Put tall things at the back.
• Angle products slightly rather than lining them up like they are on a supermarket shelf.
• Roll up some fluffy socks and use them to fill gaps.
• Add individually wrapped chocolates between larger gifts.
• And if you have fairy lights, weave them through everything.

Suddenly your five or six presents look like an enormous hamper.

Make It Personal

The nicest boo baskets are not necessarily the biggest or most expensive ones. They are the ones that make the recipient think, "Oh, they really know me." That is the beauty of making one yourself.

• So if they hate makeup, don't put makeup in there just because every boo basket on Pinterest has it.
• If they're obsessed with books, add a new novel.
• If they love coffee, add their favourite coffee and a mug.
• If they have a serious sweet tooth, fill half the basket with chocolate.
• If they're not into Halloween at all, make it more of an autumn basket with pumpkins, candles and cosy things.

Why I Think Boo Baskets Are Such A Lovely Idea

I think there is something particularly nice about giving little unexpected gifts at this time of year. Summer is over, Christmas still feels quite a long way away and the evenings suddenly get colder and darker. A basket full of little treats feels like such a cheerful way to embrace the season.

Perhaps it is because I am a mum, but I also really like gifts that create traditions. I can imagine making different versions of these as the children get older, changing the contents depending on whatever they are into that year.

Although with four children, I may have to be careful what traditions I start. Once you do something once in our house, apparently you are contractually obliged to repeat it every year forever. Still, a basket filled with candles, beauty treats, jewellery, little lights and pumpkins? I could definitely live with that one.

If you're thinking of putting together boo baskets for her this Halloween, my biggest tip is to forget about trying to make it perfect. Pick a few things she genuinely loves, add something cosy, something fun and one little surprise.

And if you happen to make one for yourself at the same time, I absolutely won't judge.

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