Do you have an upcoming silent auction event? Silent auction baskets are a great way to fundraise for schools, churches, and organizations. My daughter’s school is raising money for a charity organization and was looking for volunteers to donate themed baskets for the upcoming silent auction.

In the past, I’ve done themes like movie night, bonfire night, and a taco night. This year, the event is taking place in February, which is still in the heart of Winter in Minnesota. I decided to embrace that as the theme for this year’s basket.

What You Need

• Basket

• Tissue paper

• White crinkle paper

• Hot cocoa

• Marshmallows

• Pancake mix

• Snowman making kit

• Assortment of winter books

Step 1:

Start by bunching up some tissue paper in the bottom of a basket. This creates a heavier base and elevates the items so people can see them better when they are on display. Baskets can be expensive brand new, so I always start by looking at a local Goodwill or other thrift store. There’s usually a great selection of baskets for under $5. Good for your budget and the environment!

Step 2:

Arrange your basket with all your goodies! Try to add some height and layer in the items. Don’t be afraid to rearrange until you like how everything looks. I ordered most of the items for the basket on Amazon. All of the books are available there or you can shop a local bookstore, too. The pancake mix and cocoa are easy grabs on a grocery run. I choose local brands we have here in Minnesota. Snowman kits can be ordered online or I’ve seen a selection at Target or Walmart, too.

Step 3:

Add in additional tissue paper and sprinkle on some white crinkle paper to give it a snow effect! Consider wrapping the basket in some cellphone wrap. Dollar Tree is a great place to pick up a basket-ready size. In this case, our school does the cellophane wrapping, so I didn’t need to worry about it.

Now, sit back and enjoy raising some money for a good cause!

Make this basket!

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