The sight of a generously-endowed and beautifully-arranged food gift basket brings to mind images of

The sight of a generously-endowed and beautifully-arranged food gift basket brings to mind images of joyful parties, delectable treats, good friends, and festive times. A food gift basket is a truly thoughtful gift that will be appreciated by its recipients, no matter what the occasion.

One of the most important elements of a well-made gift basket is the arrangement itself.

Careful attention to the right details will make the gift recipient's mouth water while their heart simultaneously fills up with feeling of good will toward you, the giver.

Another essential element, of course, is the choice of the foods themselves. Giving the wrong food is of course a no-no, especially if the recipient is allergic to certain foods or for whatever reason just avoids them. But, by the same token, the difference between a so-so food choice and a great one will determine whether you are set apart in the recipient's mind as a truly great gift-giver.

If you are looking for ideas for making or buying a custom food gift basket, here are 5 ideas that will get you onto the right track:

1. Find an attractive, inexpensive basket at a local hobby store or garage sale: Start by getting your hands on a basket or other type of container such as a tray or planter.

You may already have some around the house. Or, check your local hobby store or garage sale.

2. Buy or make your own filler materials: Great filler materials for gift baskets are shredded paper (brown paper or the newspaper comics work great) and excelsior (which is shredded natural wood, like you see inside Easter baskets).

3. Match your food choice to their personality and eating preferences: Your choice of food or a food theme is one of the most important decisions you will make in assembling your food gift basket. Make sure to take into account any allergies and dislikes the recipients have - and of course avoid those foods. At the same time, if they are known to be lovers of a certain type of ethnic food, BBQ, etc., make that your theme!

4. For a gift that will last for a long time, choose non-perishable foods: It goes without saying that unless you plan to give your basket right away, you will need to fill it with foods that are non-perishable. For example, for an hors d'oeuvres-themed basket, try olive oil, artichoke spread, olives, and crackers. Or, for a pasta-themed basket, fill it with 2-3 types of dry pasta, jars of pasta sauce, sauce packages, and dry spices like oregano and basil.

5. Or, for a fresh treat, fill it with fruits or baked goods: On the other hand, if you plan to give the gift right away, you can also choose to fill it with fresh fruits or baked goods like cookies, scones, or muffins. (Note: cupcakes are not a good choice, however, because the basket wrapping will smear the frosting). Bonus: for extra-special packaging of fresh fruits, see if you can obtain crates or fruit baskets from your store's produce section manager. They just may oblige you, if you ask!

Try these 5 ideas for a custom food gift basket that your recipients will love.