Homemade gift basket idea

When picking out the perfect present, do you have a creative talent, a sentimental streak, a funny side or a practical bent? Will this holiday reveal your true range in the art of gift exchange? Before you break out the wrapping paper, take our quiz and discover what your secret inner gift-giver might inspire you to do!

1. When your best friend opens the gift you've wrapped with TLC and hand-curled ribbon, you prefer it when she ...

a) rips the paper off with enthusiasm and tears open the box with squeals of utter dee-light!

b) saves the curly-cue ribbons to tack to her bulletin board.

c) gets a kick out of the crazy card you picked out just for her.

d) peels the tape off carefully and unfolds the paper with all due respect. You're all about recycling.

2. Your grandma has everything and asks for nothing--but you want to give her a little something, so you ...

a) buy plain white pillowcases and hand-embroider your grandma's monogram on the borders.

b) put together a scrapbook with pictures of you, Gram and the fam.

c) buy her a bobblehead for her car. You know it'll make her chuckle every time she sees it.

d) get her something simple, like a scented sachet for her sweater drawer or a pretty hair clip.

3. Your boyfriend's buddy hints to you that your BF just got you something very cool. You decide to ...

a) pull out all the stops, including your recipe for--what else?--batches of your signature chocolate-chip cookies.

b) scour flea markets to find vintage PEZ containers he so wants to fill out his collection.

c) head straight to Spencer's. You want him to have a holly, jolly LOL holiday.

d) blow all your savings on that graphing calculator he needs for math class.

4. When your mom (finally!) comes through with that extra-special gift you've been hinting about and drooling over practically forever, you feel ...

a) thrilled and bubbly.

b) warm and fuzzy.

c) silly and giddy.

d) pleased and thankful.

5. Your dad is impossible to buy for. But this year, you have the perfect present. You're getting him ...

a) a T-shirt bearing your original artwork. You found a place that transfers black-and-white sketches onto tees.

b) a framed 8-by-10 of yours truly--your school pic is surprisingly great.

c) a vintage Farrah Fawcett poster--it'll be a riot!

d) a brand-new drill because his old one just died.

6. When you were in second grade, your favorite Valentine was ...

a) a homemade card from your BFF with heart stickers and glitter glue.

b) a little surprise note your room hid in your lunchbox that read, "I luv U."

c) the Rugrats card your elementary-school crush gave you. It pictured little Tommy with a scrunched-up face like he was passing gas, and it said, "You bring out the best in me!"

d) the mini bag of Hershey's Kisses your teacher gave you.

7. Your BFF is throwing a New Year's Eve party, and you want to make a contribution, so you bring ...

a) a "Happy New Year" banner with all your favorite '03 pix and slogans.

b) your CD collection of 2003's most slammin' hits.

c) noisemakers, confetti and some truly funky party hats.

d) a 2-liter of her favorite soda and a mega bag of chips.

SCORING

Mostly A's

CREATIVE CHICA

When it comes to giving gifts, you've got a fabulous flair for creativity. You love to pour your heart and your art into making gifts with a personal punch.

Are you ready to take it up a notch? Maybe you're getting in a rut cranking out handpainted mugs. Sure, you love the "oohs" and "ahs," but why not try something totally new for a big ta-da! How about intricately beaded jewelry or a hand-knitted cable scarf? Hark! There's a whole world of make-it-yourself madness out there. Time to venture into new crafty territory.

Mostly B's

SENTIMENTAL SWEETIE

You like to pluck emotional chords with your gifts. Whether you express your feelings through words or actions, you give it your all. You're very into the sensitive, sugary stuff that sentiments are made of. That's admirable because your gifts always bear meaning.

Why not reveal the creative side of your true-blue self? You can burn a mixed CD for your BFF, or use video-editing software to make your mom a home-movie montage (complete with background music and slo-mo segments). Oh, and how about framing a fave photo of you and your BF? That should make his equally sentimental heart jingle all the way into next year!

Mostly C's

FUNNY GIRL

Your sense of humor is part of your gift, whether it's subtle wit or pie-in-the-face prankish charm. Sharing your frivolous side is part of making your moments so very merry.

One word of caution: Tread lightly with swing-loaded pop-ups and whoopee cushions! Not everyone appreciates over-the-top gags. Is your BFF a future photog? Give her a gift basket filled with disposable cameras, a funky photo album end acid-free markers. Take a goofy snapshot of yourself first--she'll get a laugh when she has the film developed. Does she adore horses? Rummage used book stores to find paperbacks In The Black Stallion or Thoroughbred series, stack them and wrap them in raffia (hey, it's hay!).

Mostly D's

PRAGMATIC GAL

Your idea of giving gifts is simply practical and practically simple. You show you care with one perfectly picked present. But why not add a new twist to your straight-o side?

Instead of giving Mom a set of potholders, give her a day of pampering. Wrap up a bottle of bath salts and a handmade gift certificate for a day--you'll cook and do the laundry while she soaks. So simple, yet so sweet! And while we're talking sweet--consider getting your cuz a subscription to her fave mag (wink, wink). It's gotta be on every practical girl's shopping list this year. Ho, ho, ho!