To Lisa Breidenstein ~

315 baskets?!?! WOW!! Is your auction open to the community or just your school?

I'd love to hear more about it if you wouldn't mind e-mailing me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thanks@
Tracy

we are looking to do something like this and these ideas are so GREAT...thanks for sharing!

Thanks everyone..these are great ideas!!

We've done many of the baskets already mentioned--here are a few others (sorry if I missed seeing any of these in the other posts):

*Legos
*Hot Wheels
*Country Kitchen (roosters, cows, etc...)
*Red, White and Blue (doesn't have to be just
patriotic things)
*Barbie
*Golf
*Car care
*Ornaments/tree trimming

I don't think these were mentioned:

*Family Game Night Basket(all types of board or card games)

*PTO Mystery Basket (we put in donations of all types that either didn't fit into a particular category or we had an excess of)

*Bear Basket

*State Basket (Our 4th graders always do these. They are required for their classes to write to different companies or tourist areas throughout Indiana asking for donations. We have had things like free passes to local caverns and overnight stays at historic inns. We then divide everything by region and make up several different baskets.)

This year I think we are going to do a box tops for education basket.

[ 08-17-2005, 09:03 PM: Message edited by: Melissa Constantine ]

We had great success with our theme basket auction! We had each classroom do a basket and then opened it up to families and the community. We has 315 baskets valued between $75.00 and 125.00. I was so much fun! Here are some of our themes:

1. Arts and Crafts: Paint, Markers, Crayons, Scissors, Easel, Construction Paper, Craft Kits...

2. Movie Night: Popcorn, DVD's, Gift Cards to Blockbuster, Big Pillows....

3. Baking Basket: Cookie Cutters, Cookie Sheets, Pot Holders, Cookbooks, Rolling Pin, Measuring Cups...

4. Day at the Pool: Floats, Sunscreen, Flip Flops, Pool Toys, Beach Towels...

5, Pasta Basket: Various Pastas, Pasta Bowl, Colander, Pasta Sauces, Gift Card to Italian Rest....

6. Ice Cream Basket: Ice Cream Toppings, Bowls, Gift Catd to Ice Cream Parlor...

7. Christmas: Ornaments, Christmas Cards, Wrapping Paper, Decorations....

8. Wrapping Basket: Tape, Scissors, Wrapping Paper, Cards, Bows, Ribbon...

9. Coffee: Coffee Pot, Coffee, Mugs, Coffee Grinder, Tim Horton Gift Card, Mug Mats, Mug Warmer....

10. Lottery Basket: Lots of Lottery Tickets and we made it into a tree- These were brought in by the staff.

11. Dog Basket: Dog Biscuits, Bones, Dog Bed, Dog Toys, Leash, Collar, Gift Card to Pet Store...

12. Stationary Basket: Stamps, Journal, Note Cards, Cards, Pens....

13. Game Basket: Board Games, Card Games, Puzzles....

14. Harry Potter Basket: Anything Harry Pottter
We had books, hat, bookmarkers, toys, puzzles, mug,,

15. Disney Basket: Anything Disney
Games, Movies, Toys...

16. Gardening Basket:
Shovel, WheelBarrow, Seeds, Bulbs, Watering Can, Kneeling Pad, Hat, Garden Book, Pots, Gift Certificate to a Garden Center...

17. Tools:
Hammer, Screws, Drill, Safety Goggles, Wrench, Socket Set, How to Books....

18. School Supplies:
Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, Crayons, Markers, Scissors, Colored Pencils...

19. Book Basket:
Any kind of Childrens Books, Book Markers, Gift Card to Book Store...

20. Book Basket:
Any kind of Adult Book, Gift Certificate to Book Store, Reading Lamp- Staff did this basket.

21. Pamper Me Basket :
Bath Products, Tub Pillow, Relaxing Music, Gift Certificate to Nail Manicure or Message....

22. Sports Basket: Sports Tickets, Water Bottles, Bat, Ball, Hats, Golf Balls, Tees, Folding Chair...

23. Candle Basket: Various Candles, Lighter, Candle Holders...

24. Snack Attack: Chips, Nuts, Bowls, Gift Certificates for Pizza, Candy....

25. Chocolate Lovers Basket:
Any kind of chocolate candy, hot chocolate, Gift Certificates to Candy Shop....

We found parents really liked to get gift cards- Many classes we made 2 or 4 baskets per class. We supplied each student with a letter (class specific and with additional ideas) and we also had a landry basket in each room for collection. We had 2 weeks to bring in items- teachers would call when their baskets were full!

I had a team of 8 people who came in and we made 103 in one day- we packed the baskets, cellophaned with a shrink wrap gun, and added bows!

We then continued to make additional baskets with items from school families and the community!
We were able to make over $24,000.00 on our theme basket event! Good Luck!