Some people may argue that gift cards or gift certificates to someone’s favorite restaurant, clothing store or electronics store is a copout when it comes to Christmas gifts. It’s often argued that giving a gift card or certificate is a no-thought, lackluster, spur of the moment way of solving the annoying “what to give” dilemma. Get these thoughts out of your head, everyone. This is so not true.
If a family member, friend or business associate enjoys Italian food, find a gift certificate to an Italian restaurant. If the recipient enjoys movies, get them a gift card to Netflix or the local cinema. If the person enjoys downloading music, encourage them to purchase (and not pirate!) the music with an iTunes gift card. If the person is starting a new job in the beginning of 2012, help them get new office attire with a gift card to a clothing store. Do these things sound thoughtless to you? No way. Knowing a little about the recipient will help direct you to the store or service you should purchase a gift card for.
Often times it’s picking the right gift card to give, so you don’t look like you didn’t put any thought into it, which is perceived as being the hardest part. After talking to some co-workers, it seems that actually wrapping the gift cards is the hardest part – especially if you’re giving more than one. Sure there are greeting cards designed specifically for putting a gift card in, but what if you want someone to have something to actually open? What if you don’t just want to shove the card into a Christmas card and call it a day? Congratulations, you now have your newest Christmas shopping dilemma.
No worries though! Here are XX unique ways to wrap up those gift cards or certificates:
1.) If you’ve opted to give a gift card to a fast food restaurant, or a chain restaurant that the recipient frequents for lunch – wrap it in a brown lunch bag. Tie some ribbon around it, add a bow, or decorate with holiday stickers for an entire food/lunch theme!
2.) Maybe you’re giving a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant that requires a suit and tie. Wrap it in a cloth napkin with a bow, or teach yourself to fold the napkin in a special and unique way. It’ll show you actually put thought into the present!
3.) Starbucks gift cards are a popular gift to receive in my household. Put the gift card in a personalized mug and then put a bow on top.
4.) Giving a gift card to a clothing store? Get adventurous. Slip the gift card into the pocket of a new shirt or new pair of pants to encourage the recipient to complete the ensemble you’ve thoughtfully started.
5.) If you’re giving a gift card to a cinema to a movie buff, find an empty popcorn container and packing peanuts. Tear the packing peanuts into smaller bits; spray paint them white and yellow to make them look like popcorn. Then hide the gift card in the popcorn container with the makeshift popcorn on top.
6.) Purchase a cheap, inexpensive wallet, and slip the gift cards into the billfold section!
7.) If you’re giving a gift card to a CD store, or an iTunes gift card, put it in a cassette box.
8.) Gift cards to bookstores you can have a lot of fun with. Tape the card to the inside cover of a secondhand classic book. If you have an old book lying around (or can purchase for really cheap at a yard sale), carve out the pages so there’s a space to lay the gift card among the pages!
9.) Take an old Crayola Crayons box; wrap it in a brown paper bag. Now you’re free to decorate it any way you see fit!
Remember, it’s the thought that counts!
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