I give gift cards year-round, for all sorts of occasions. Here are my creative tips for gift card giving:

 

• Last Christmas, I made a New Year’s gift basket for my sister Em and brother in law Jeff. I included a $25 Fandango gift card and a $25 Red Robin gift card (their fave restaurant), along with popcorn and cocoa. It was kind of like an “dinner and a movie” kit.

• Pick up a gift card holder at your favorite store or make it yourself with a bit of wrapping paper. And for extra fun, hide it somewhere on the Christmas tree!

• Or you can hide the gift card in a fuzzy pair of slippers, mittens, hat, the choices are endless. So when someone opens it, they’ll find a special surprise!

• Go with a theme. For example, one year I gave one of my friends a kit of her favorite Starbucks coffees and a mug and included a Starbucks gift card with it. You could also make a chef’s kit, with a Williams Sonoma gift card. The ideas are endless!

• Instead of just giving a gift card, attach it to a fun gift, like a book, dvd, box of candy, etc.

• Here is a great trick to play on someone. Wrap up the biggest box you can find and put the gift card in the very bottom. They will think they are getting a huge gift, but not understand why the box is so light until they open it!

• Container Store has so many cute packaging items to wrap up your gift cards.

• If you are looking for a bonus gift with your gift card, Target sells holiday LEGO sets with their gift cards. For as little as $5, you can give a LEGO set and a gift card! (These sell out fast though, so you have to be quick!)