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If you've ever been involved with a charity silent auction, you know gift baskets are a given. They tin can range anywhere from $50 to $500 in value, depending on the quality and exclusivity of the items, and are popular for a few reasons:

• The contents are relatively simple to procure. It may exist less intimidating for new donors, smaller businesses and individuals to sponsor or contribute to a basket rather than large-ticket items.
• Yous can bundle smaller donations into one package greater than the sum of its parts. This is especially true for baskets that are nicely decorated and displayed.
• Putting out a diversity of themed baskets ensures the auction will appeal to about all bidders. At that place's something for everyone, at all spending capacities.

Concluding year nosotros curated a list of certain to make a splash with donors. The post generated a huge response from our readers - so much then, we went back to the drawing board for even more ideas!

Without further ado, hither are 31 brand new ideas for unique, buzzworthy silent auction baskets, plus gratuitous resources and downloads to assist with the procurement process.

Category: Nutrient & Drink

1. A Spot of Tea. Combine a pretty tea pot with plenty of tea (bagged and loose leaf) in a variety of flavors: fruit, herbal and blackness. Include a tea steeper, honey, crackers, cookies, biscotti, truffles and a tea towel. Bandbox upwards the package with fresh decorations to complement the colour of the pot and teas, like lavender flowers, lemons or peppermint sprigs. (Pictured: Allison B.)
2. Chocolate Celebration. Who doesn't honey chocolate? Curate an assortment of gourmet chocolates, caramels and chocolate-covered fruits, nuts and java beans from around the world (cheque this guide for off-white-trade artisan chocolate). Add together antioxidant-rich hot cocoa powder and a chocolate fondue set (complete with skewers and melting chocolate) for expert mensurate. Finally, you might include a cocoa-manufacturing plant tour or tasting to top off an all-effectually luxurious handbasket.
3. Thanks to Beer. Arts and crafts beer is hugely pop right now, and any basket stocked with high-quality, full-flavored global beers is certain to be a hitting.

   Up the ante in a live auction with a trip for 2 to tour the best craft breweries in San Diego. (Pictured: slowmotiongolfswing.com)

4. Gluttonous's Delight. The perfect basket to bring out the chef in whatsoever donor. Parcel small kitchen appliances (like an electric mixer and toaster oven) with olive oil, a wide variety of spices, and must-accept utensils (like whisks, rolling pins, measuring spoons and cups). You tin can likewise throw in a gift bill of fare to high-cease gourmet cookware retailer, like Williams and Sonoma or West Elm. Nowadays the handbasket in a tiresome cooker or large pot.

   Upgrade this basket to a alive auction item by including a hands-on culinary workshop and 3-nighttime stay at Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa. Or, if your location allows, endeavour coordinating a "harvest experience"! Have winning bidders join a farm family unit for an unforgettable day combining crops and enjoying a 18-carat farm-to-tabular array meal.

   

   Category: Home

5. Here Comes Babe. Chances are loftier that someone in your audience knows, or is, a new mom. A handbasket packed with baby essentials will come in handy endless times. Include blankets, a baby monitor, tiny hangars, laundry detergent prophylactic for sensitive skin, wet wipes, bibs, books, toys etc. Y'all might also include one or two baby outfits for decoration, merely keep in mind baby clothes tend to be outgrown quickly.
6. Garden in a Box. Include gardening gloves (similar these seen-on-telly Garden Genie gloves with earthworks "claws"), pots, seeds, succulents, a spade and other tools. This cute basket idea (pictured right) comes wrapped in a long green hose. (Pictured: blogs.lowellsun.com)
7. One-stop Wrap Store. This gift wrap workstation is perfect for crafty donors who love giving the perfect gift. Fill up this basket with rolls of wrapping paper of all different patterns and textures, plus bows, gift bags, gift tags, tissue paper, colorful tape and scissors.
8. Let Your Candles Shine. Your donors will be hosting their own wax and soy candle-making parties in no fourth dimension. Include a candle making kit with wax and wax warmer (or pouring pot), candle holders, wicks, color chips and educational activity books, plus matches or lighters and a set up of popular essential oils (like lavender, fresh cotton, sandalwood, vanilla and yuzu) for fragrance.
9. Electronic Gizmos & Gadgets. You know the drill. Smartphones, laptops, smart watches, wireless speakers (like the Amazon Echo), cordless bluetooth ear buds and even portable USB chargers are essentially guaranteed to ignite bidding. Brand a high-tech donation go even further with a gift card to Best Purchase or Amazon.
10. Spoil Fido & Fluffy. Most pet owners are obsessed with their "fur babies", and then a basket dedicated to pets can ignite bidding. Gather a wide selection of toys, treats, grooming supplies and donated services (similar a free checkup at the vet or 3 nights of doggy boarding). You can also include DVDs of favorite pet flicks similar Marley and Me, Homeward Spring, 101 Dalmatians and Cloak-and-dagger Life of Pets. (Pictured: All Well-nigh Gifts & Baskets)
11. 4th of July. Everything yous need to gloat Independence Mean solar day, our favorite summer holiday! You might include food (similar a side of AAA beefiness or bison cutting and wrapped for the freezer); guaranteed front row seats and parking at the local fireworks display; catered cookout; ruby, white and bluish apparel; even a private party in a historic building or new charcoal-broil grill. For a unique Experience, add a hands-on sailing circuit on the famous America's Cup yacht, 'Stars & Stripes.'
    

    Category: Services

12. Pigment for a Cause. Facilitate a arts and crafts or paint room for aspiring artists with an easel, apron, canvases, oil and acrylic paints, watercolor, brushes, and palettes. You can as well include a private grouping painting lesson, like a pigment-and-sip bundle for 12.
13. Auto Detailing. Appeal to auto enthusiasts with a complete car care package. Assemble drinking glass windshield wipes, microfiber towels, car wash mitts, spot sprays, automobile wax and air fresheners. Spruce up the packet with gift cards for fuel and a document for interior and exterior motorcar detailing by mitt, which tin can easily surpass hundreds of dollars in retail value. (Pictured: Bonnie D.)
14. Shutterbug Session. Donors regard few things as preciously as memories. Combine a donated family unit portrait session with photo frames and appealing photographic camera - like waterproof, fish-eye lens, instant or fifty-fifty DSLR.
15. Cool, Calm and Collected. For leap fundraisers, try offering air-conditioning installation in your silent auction. (Since services tin can be hit-or-miss, it's better to put niche services like home repair in the silent auction rather than live.) Spice up the certificate display with fans, cooling towels and unique water ice cube trays (like this mold of Easter Island heads).
16. Warm and Cozy. The aforementioned service provider might also do furnace installation, which tin be worth hundreds of dollars. Paired with bivouac gear, fleece-lined jackets and thick blankets or quilts, this makes 1 cozy handbasket in a fall fundraiser. (If the service provider offers donors the option to cull one or the other, combine both themes in ane lot!)

    Category: Recreation

17. Date Night. "Engagement night" packages are arguably the well-nigh pop and commonly used basket in silent auctions. Nearly every applicant volition be interested in enjoying a night on the town with gift certificates to a five-star restaurant, tickets to a movie or play, taxi vouchers and fifty-fifty a limo if you can procure it. Yous tin can also skip the movies and include a fun activity, like go-karts, climbing or beach cruiser bike rentals.
18. At-habitation Salon. Women are known to bid more in the silent sale, so it'southward smart to provide beauty-centric items like an at-home hair salon setup. Combine a plush bathrobe and fluffy slippers with loftier-end shampoos, conditioners, gels, pilus spray, combs, clips, accessories and more than. You tin also include key hair appliances, like hair dryers and ceramic straighteners, and a document for a salon service, like a cut and color. (Pictured: Memli N.)
19. Makeup Maven. If you don't regularly use cosmetics, you might not know only how pricey an eyeshadow palette tin can exist - they range from $1 at the drugstore to upwards of $300 for designer brands. Get the high end goods with luxury brushes, numberless, palettes and nail polish, plus a certificate for a makeover and tutorial with a makeup artist.
20. Dude Crate. On the flip side, curate a basket that will appeal to the men in the crowd (and their meaning others) to fill out whatsoever den. Gather items like fine cigars, whiskey, savory snacks, darts, a poker table with poker chips and certificate for a round of golf, and display in a crate.

    While women may be more active in the silent auction, men are the more than impulsive spenders - which is dandy news for your lesser line.

21. The Not bad Outdoors. Outdoor wear and sporting goods make the perfect handbasket for intrepid bidders. Highly sought after brands include Black Diamond, Marmot, Canada Goose and Arc'teryx. Stuff a tent or sturdy cooler with lanterns, a sleeping bag, tabletop charcoal grill, climbing shoes, a telescope (for stargazing) and binoculars (for birdwatching). (Pictured: JCA of Jacksonville)
22. All-Admission Pass. Combine tickets to different local attractions (theme parks, zoos, museums and more) for groups of 2 or four. You can adhere the tickets to related items, like stuffed animals for the aquarium, a telescope for the planetarium, or ballons for theme parks.
23. (State) Music Lover'due south. A basket for any music lover includes iTunes gift cards, high-cease earbuds or headphones, local concert tickets and/or a gift card to Ticketmaster. Go along in mind country music is having a moment right now!  You might create a basket defended to country crooners using boots, flannel shirts, hats and records of vintage and current land artists.
    Hands flip this basket into the dark's most-talked about alive auction item by including tickets to the Country Music Awards, plus lodging and airfare to Nashville for two. (One of Winspire's almost popular Experiences, the CMAs sells out every year, so reserve your package today!)
24. Sing Your Heart Out. Sticking with the music theme, combine a high quality karaoke machine with microphones, a mic stand and throat lozenges (to soothe overworked vocal chords, of course!). Up the ante with donated vocalisation lessons and/or the opportunity to professionally tape a song in studio.
25. All Dolled Up. One lucky bidder is almost to get the parent of a very happy child. Combine American Girl Dolls, Barbies and more with accompanying books, movies, accessories and doll houses - and keep in mind American Girl Dolls retail for $115 apiece.For a college-end item, give donors the opportunity to create lifelong memories with an American Girl Shopping Spree at select locations around the U.S. (For a preview, enjoy this video of Conan O'Brien visiting the American Daughter Store in Los Angeles.)
26. Swooning for Ballooning. Ditch the go-karts and send your donors on a thrilling hot air balloon ride! Dress upward the hot air balloon ride vouchers with wine and cheese, all in a gorgeous mini hot air ballon handbasket made from papier-mâché (instructions here).
    

    Category: Travel

    
    We know travel is a #i all-time seller at clemency auctions - after all, who doesn't love a vacation? Travel-themed baskets are a fun way to bring the globe to your donors' doorstep.

    Include food, jewelry, habiliment, travel books, artwork and other symbols to tastefully represent life in a popular tourist destination. Large cities offer the about cloth to draw from, so hither'southward a few of our favorites.

27. New York Minute. Give a bite of the Big Apple with items unique to New York, New York. Include a gift certificate for thin slice 'za, bagels, cheesecake, art prints of the skyline, Yankees memorabilia, Statue of Liberty figurines, subway maps, famous movies about New York and tickets to encounter your nearest Broadway production.
    
    Bump up NYC-in-a-basket to the live auction with a trip for 2 to see Broadway nail hitting Hamilton. Donors become not just cherry-red-hot tickets to this record-setting show, they'll also get the inside scoop with a private meet and greet and backstage tour with ii cast members. Check out rave reviews hither.
28. An American / A Canadian in Paris. Transport bidders to the Urban center of Lights with a Parisian-themed basket: call back Paris-themed books, pillows, red wine, cheese, French lotions and shampoos (like 50'Occitane en Provence), chocolate pastries, vintage journals, and Eiffel Belfry decor. (Pictured: Sarah H.)
    Upgrade the Parisian bundle to a alive auction showstopper with an opulent escape to Paris; the trip includes deluxe lodging and airfare for 2.
29. Tokyo Tonight. This bustling mega-metropolis makes a unique handbasket for any silent auction audition. Consider including vibrant teas and teapots, snacks, sake, ceramic dishes, certificates to a high-end Japanese restaurant, and a bonsai tree with instructions for care.Add together a unique incentive with a private sushi-making form.
    
30. Windy Metropolis Wins. Capture the cultural milieu of Chicago with sports memorabilia, Garrett'southward popcorn, art prints and skyline souvenirs, a copy of Dejection Brothers plus a voucher for frozen deep dish pizzas shipped to your donors' doors (this native recommends Lou Malnati'due south). Upward the dues in the live auction past sending your donors to watch the championship Chicago Cubs from the storied rooftops of Wrigley Field (cheque out reviews hither).
31. Weekend Staycation. Try coming upwardly with icons that capture your local community: think regional cuisine, sports teams, attractions and natural landmarks. Then procure a couple nights' stay within driving distance, similar a romance packet at a luxury resort or seaside cottage getaway.

That's it! We promise this list gave you ideas and, to a higher place all, encouraged you to think outside the box to surprise and please your supporters. For even more ideas, check out our last post:

Please whorl through our full Pinterest board, Artistic Sale Items, below, and follow @WinspireMe.

Free Resources: Silent Auction Handbook

Silent auctions, while straightforward, require plenty of time and expertise to put together successfully. These Costless pocket-sized guides are brimming full of tips to maximize every facet of your silent auction: procurement, set-up, displays and more (plus bonus guides on sponsorship and live auctions!).

Your turn - What baskets have you tried that almost e'er generate plenty of interest, and which ones oasis't worked out? Help out thousands of readers each month with a comment below!

Silent Auction Ideas

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