It also can be nice to include something related with it to perk it up if you have some other small items. Include a haircut or massage or tanning gift certificate with some of the cosmetics for a little different beauty package.

Like venzmama, we include an inventory tag. We try to wrap the baskets so it creates a nice display and you can see most of the items. But then we make festive contents list printed on 8-1/12 x 11 paper that is attached to the basket like a giant gift tag. We use fun fonts and print the basket lists on brightly colored paper with the Theme name and class at the top.

Note - the final printing of the tags has to be done as one of the last steps since stuff continues to arrive and sometimes leftovers from one basket get shuffled to another.

We also found it's good to save the tags (on the computer) so if you do have significant last-minute additions and want to add them to the basket and reprint the tag - it's easy.

I'd be careful about building GIANT baskets - it's better to break it down into smaller manageable baskets.

At our last auction, contributions to the "candle" basket were amazing. I kid you not -there had to have been at least 100 candles in there. It looked impressive, but who really needs that many candles?? We ended up re-packaging it into 4 baskets that were all decent size. I can't prove it, but I have to believe we made more money auctioning 4 smaller baskets than one giant one.

We've seen the same thing in the past with nail polish, bath & body. Just think about what YOU would buy. It's fun to get a nice assortment - but would you really want 50 bottles of nail polish?

As far as filler (if that's what you meant by additive), we've used shredded paper, crumpled paper, or easter grass (on sale cheap right now!).

Inevitably someone in your group will have a real knack for wrapping the baskets and it's a fairly popular activity for volunteers. It tends to all work out.

You could either put like items together and call it "Buffed and Polished" or "Glam Girl" or you could put a variety of items together for "Pamper Me". If you want people to be able to see what's in the basket, cover a piece of cardboard with material and attach the smaller items with double-sided tape. We list all the items included so even if they can't be seen well, the buyer gets a good idea of what's included. :cool:

I need some help. We are planning a gift basket raffle at our carnival and received quite a bit of cosmetics (nail polish, eye shadow, lipstick). I need ideas on how to arrange these baskets, how much to put in each basket and what additives do I need to put in there and how much to put in each basket. Most of these nail polishes are by Sally Hansen, if that helps.

hehehe find an auctioneer that will donate their time/service and run the auction the day of......you still have time to find one and there are tons of small auctions every day all over cities