"We are all cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." -Ray Bradbury

Making your own food hamper is not hard work, once you know how to do it and whats involved. It's very creative, adds a personal touch to your gift giving and can be a lot of fun! So, without any further delay, let's get started.

Firstly, you'll need to decide what type of container you prefer to use. Whether you like the traditional wicker baskets or want something a bit different like a galvanized bucket or a wire mesh basket, the choices are only limited to your own imagination. Once you have decided on a container, you're ready to fill it up with loads of goodies. Before you start, lay a layer of clean wood wool inside your container for the food items to rest on. As you fill your hamper remember that you should pack it tightly using more wood wool, so you avoid any movement that can result in damages.

What types of foods do you put in a food hamper? That depends on who is the recipient and knowing what foods they love. This is where the personal touch comes into place. You'll need to think about who is receiving this tasty bundle of joy and what foods will get them excited. This is a very important step that will make the difference between a mediocre gift basket and a great tasting food hamper that brings such excitement that they won't stop talking about it.

The best way you can do this is to make a list of all the foods they like. Another way is to do a theme hamper of the foods they like. Some possible ideas that have proven quite popular are Italian, Chinese, Chocolate, Sweets or Gourmet.

Whatever you decide, always try to put foods together that compliment each other. If you decide to put a tasty cheese in your hamper, compliment it with some nice savoury biscuits and possibly a pate.

To finish off your hamper, you should wrap it, using clear cellophane and decorate with a wired cloth ribbon and bow.

A tip to remember, when choosing savory foods, add a little dessert. It doesn't have to be something exotic, but a nice Sticky Toffee Pudding, Homemade Brownies or even some Chocolate Covered Strawberries can really go down well.