Create a Movie Night Gift Basket filled with all their favorite things for a special date night. This DIY romantic gift basket comes together in about 20 minutes with a basket, crinkle paper, a movie, treats and a big bow, and the fun part is opening it up and seeing everything inside.
Do you find it hard to make time for a romantic evening when you have been married for a while, or when the kids are small and there just isn’t time? It is important to carve out quiet, quality time with your partner and get creative.
My anniversary falls on Valentine’s Day, and after dating seven years before we got married, it has always been a special day. Add teens and grown kids, a busy family schedule and running a business, and a date night takes planning. We always try to plan this holiday alone, and I try to come up with something creative and fun while staying on a budget. This basket sets the mood.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🎁 Makes: 1 gift basket
- ❤️ Best For: Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and date nights at home
- 🛍️ Where to Shop: the dollar store, plus a few favorites from home
- 🎬 Theme: a romantic movie night for two
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, with no special crafting skills
Quick Answer
Pick a basket with a handle and fill the bottom with tissue paper and colored crinkle shred. Tie your tallest item, like a bottle of sparkling cider, to the handle, then tape the movie, candles, treats and other themed items around it so the labels show. Tuck candy into the gaps, wrap the basket in cellophane or shrink wrap gathered above the handle, and finish with a big wired ribbon bow.
Jump to:
- Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Gift Basket Works
- Why You’ll Love This Idea
- What You’ll Need
- Theme Ideas & Swaps
- How to Make a Movie Night Gift Basket
- Gift Basket Tips & Tricks
- Date Night Ideas to Go With It
- Gift Basket FAQs
- Bake and Share More Valentine Treats
- Other Recommended Valentine’s Ideas
- DIY Movie Night Gift Basket
Why This Gift Basket Works
Click to see the tricks behind it
- A handle gives it structure. The tallest item anchors to it, so everything else has something to lean on.
- Enough stuffing lifts the items up. A full bed of paper keeps small things from sinking out of sight.
- Tallest in back, favorite in front. The same rule as a grocery display: you see everything at once.
- Double sided tape is the secret. Hidden tape keeps the arrangement from shifting when the basket is carried.
- Candy fills the gaps and makes a small budget look abundant.
- Cellophane gathered above the handle keeps the surprise contained and makes it look professionally wrapped.
- One theme ties it together. Every item says movie night, so it reads as a plan, not a pile of gifts.
Why You’ll Love This Idea
- Budget friendly. I shopped for several things at my Dollar Tree and had fun putting it together.
- Personal. You fill it with their favorites, which beats anything off a shelf.
- Twenty minutes from empty basket to bow.
- The date is built in. Open the basket, start the movie, and the evening plans itself.
- Works for any occasion, from anniversaries to a just because night in.
- The same method makes any basket, like my DIY tea gift basket.
What You’ll Need
The basics for any gift basket, plus the movie night fillers.
- A Gift Basket with a Handle. The base that holds everything together.
- Tissue Paper or Shredded Newspaper for the bottom layer, and Colored Crinkle Shred on top. I used red, pink and white, but use your favorites.
- An Anchor Item tall enough to tie to the handle, like a bottle of sparkling cider or a tall box of candy. We drink cider, so that is what I used.
- The Movie. A romantic favorite like P.S. I love you Movie.
- Themed Items: candles, music, a game, popcorn and snacks.
- Assorted Candies to sprinkle around the items.
- Cellophane or Shrink Wrap, plus a Heat Gun if you go the shrink wrap route.
- Wired Ribbon for the bow, and double sided tape.
The full supply list and steps are in the card below.
Theme Ideas & Swaps
- Popcorn bar: a popcorn bowl, kernels and a few seasoning shakers.
- Dessert night: add a box of Valentine’s Day sugar cookies or mini brownie bites.
- Tea lover’s version: swap the cider for loose leaf tea and a pair of mugs, plus a few tea bombs.
- Coffee date: a bag of beans and the makings for a caramel brulee latte.
- Wrap the items or leave them open: wrapping each one keeps the surprise going.
- Holiday baskets: the same steps work for Christmas, with some Christmas teas tucked in.
How to Make a Movie Night Gift Basket
- Pick your container. Choose a basket with a handle to hold everything together.
- Add some stuffing. Fill the bottom with tissue paper or shredded newspaper and add crinkle shred on top, enough that nothing gets lost and you can see every item.
- Place the tallest item first. Anchor a tall bottle or box to the handle with tape or ribbon.
- Use double sided tape. Arrange the other items around the tall one and tape them in place, making sure the pretty labels show.
- Put your favorite item in front. Then sprinkle candy around the basket for filler.
- Wrap it in cellophane. Cut a piece that wraps the basket and comes up about 12 inches higher, gather it above the handle, and tape the sides closed. For a fan effect, fold a second strip of cellophane 12 to 15 inches wide accordion style, pinch it in the middle, tie it in front and fan it out. If you are using shrink wrap, slip the basket into the bag, hold the top above the handle, and use the heat gun for a smooth finish.
- Tie it with a bow. Make a bow from wired ribbon at the base of the handle, then drape the ends and hot glue or tape them to the sides.
Gift Basket Tips & Tricks
- Shop the dollar store first for baskets, crinkle paper, cellophane and candy.
- Build in the box you’ll carry it in so nothing shifts when you move it.
- Keep labels facing out; half the fun is reading what is inside.
- Use more stuffing than you think. A deep base makes the basket look full.
- Tape inconspicuously so the arrangement stays put without showing.
- Add a handwritten note with the date night plan for the personal touch.
Date Night Ideas to Go With It
Make the night about more than the basket. Start with a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board or a classic charcuterie board, then save room for red velvet crinkle cookies, red velvet cheesecake brownies, Valentine cake cookies, Oreo pops or strawberry cheesecake in a jar.
The next morning, red velvet pancakes keep the celebration going, and chocolate cupcakes make a sweet surprise. Planning for friends instead? Try a Galentine’s Day tea party, and find even more in my Valentine’s Day ideas.
Gift Basket FAQs
A romantic movie, popcorn and snacks, candy, a bottle of sparkling cider or wine, candles, and anything else that sets the mood. Fill in with your partner’s favorites so it feels personal.
Use plenty of paper stuffing, anchor the tallest item to the handle, and hold the rest in place with double sided tape tucked out of sight.
Cut a rectangle big enough to wrap the basket with about 12 inches to spare above it, bring it up the front and back, gather it above the handle, tie it, and tape the sides closed. Shrink wrap and a heat gun give the smoothest finish.
The dollar store is my go to for baskets, crinkle shred, cellophane, ribbon and candy, which leaves more of the budget for the gifts themselves.
It’s up to you. Leaving items open shows everything off, while wrapping them keeps the surprise going as each one is opened.
Any of them: tea lovers, coffee dates, holidays, new neighbors or a baker’s basket. The steps stay the same; only the fillers change.
Bake and Share More Valentine Treats
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite times to bake and share. If you love having everything in one place, I created the Bake • Share • Love Valentine eBook, which includes 14 Valentine-inspired recipes you can save or print and bake anytime. It also comes with printable Valentine gift tags, making it easy to turn homemade treats into meaningful gifts.
Read Here For More Valentine’s Day Ideas and Recipes
DIY Movie Night Gift Basket
Equipment
- Scissors
Ingredients
- Gift Basket with Handle
- Colored Crinkle Shred
- Ribbon
- Anchor Item to tie to handle
- Assorted theme items
- Candies to drizzle around items
- Cellophane or Shrink Wrap
- Tissue Paper
Instructions
- Take your basket and fill with shredded newspaper or tissue paper. Add colored crinkle shred on top.
- Take your tall item and tie it to the handle. Wine, sparkling cider, box of candy, etc.
- Tape the other themed items next to it, but make sure you can see any pretty labels or items.
- Add assorted candies to the items in front.
- Take your cellophane and wrap it up on the front and back of the basket and tie it just above the handle. Take the sides and carefully tape so it is closed. If using shrink wrap, place the basket inside the bag and hold the top of it above the handle. Use the heat gun to remove all extra air and get a smooth finish.
- Make a bow out of wired ribbon and tie at the base of the handle. Drape the ends and glue to sides of basket.
Michelle says
I always feel like whenever I put gift baskets together, they never work quite right. I may have to give it another shot after your explanations. I bet my husband would love a basket like this! #client
Candi Elm says
Thanks for stopping by Michelle, I can’t wait to surprise him with it.
Jennifer at Making Our Life Matter says
What great ideas for a Valentine Day’s gift basket! There are some awesome ideas to make the day extra special!
Candi Elm says
Thanks Jennifer, This one really had me thinking.
Mistee Dawn says
That is such a cute and fun basket. I bet my hubby would really like one like this.
Candi Elm says
Thanks for visiting the blog, I hope you have a great Valentines Day.
Chelc | Inside the Fox Den says
What a good idea! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday, hope to see you again next week!
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