While trolling for gift card ideas, I came across the cutest of all ideas on the BatemanBuzz blog. I knew the second I saw it that I could convert this idea into a favorite gift card holder.

Great Idea For…

This idea is great for birthday, coach’s gift, Father’s Day and any time you want to reward (or say thank you to) someone who is into sports.

Here’s How

• Get a mason jar (I got mine at Walmart), but you could just reach into your cupboard
• Fill jar with gum balls, malt balls, foil wrapped chocolate balls, etc.
• Get a ball-themed gift card like Footlocker, Sports Authority, 24-Hour Fitness, Champs, MLB, Golfsmith, etc.
• Get crafty. Spray paint lid, tie with ribbon. String our “Have a Ball” Gift Card tag on the jar.

So cute. So Easy. What a ball!

Shop digital downloads to make your gift carding easier!

I love the idea of giving an Ancestry.com Gift Membership this holiday season. I started doing genealogy about a year ago. And though I don’t have much time to devote to the activity, I feel compelled to nurture my family tree whenever I can.

Who would enjoy this gift?

Give an Ancestry.com Gift Membership to:

• An Individual. Great idea for someone interested in family, in need of a new hobby, or who likes to use the computer.
• A Teenager. Kids are better at computers than adults, and genealogy can be interesting and addictive. It’s better than video games! An activity like this could bring the whole family together.
• A Family. This would make a great family gift from you or from your entire family. (“From our extended family to yours”)
• Blended Family. All of our families are blended in one way or another. Start researching the family tree and see how alike we all are.
• Newlyweds. What a fun way for the new couple to merge tree branches and start a family tree of their own.
• New Parents. Researching our family tree took on new meaning when I put my children at the beginning. This would make a great baby shower gift.
• Someone in Mourning. Researching family lines might help him deal with the future by connecting to the past.

This gift would also be a wonderful sentiment on Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Grandparents Day.

Make the Gift Membership Fun

My ideas for making a genealogy gift membership more personal:

• Christmas Tree. Attach the gift membership to a mini-Christmas tree. Tie it on with a bow or make it into an ornament.
• Tree for the yard. Attach the gift membership to a tree that is ready to plant. They can grow both trees at the same time.
• Garden tools. They can use both tools for cultivating.
• Seed packet. Smaller than a tree, easier to mail. Deliver a gift membership for growing a family tree plus seeds to grow a real tree or plant.
• Family picture. Doing genealogy is about connecting families and finding out who you are. Deliver a gift membership with a picture of your family or their family. Or find a picture frame that says, “Family.” (I’ve seen several).
• Miracle Grow. Using Ancestry.com is like putting Miracle Grow in your garden. With the tools on this site, growing your family has never been faster, easier, or produced better results.
• Book on Genealogy. Deliver the membership with a book or a list of websites to help the recipient get started.
• Time. Volunteer to help with the effort. Doing genealogy together is like solving a mystery or putting together a puzzle. You’ll have fun as a team.

Through a series of events this past year, family has become increasingly important to me. And not just my own family. I’m compelled to bridge the gap with my in-laws, step relations, and distant relatives. We may not see each other daily. but we are all part of the same family tree. Ancestry.com is helping me see that–both literally and figuratively.

8 Days until Father’s Day

iCard Gift Card invited me to be a Guest Blogger on their site and to suggest creative ways to personalize an iCard Gift Card for Father’s Day.

What is an iCard Gift Card?

iCard Gift Card is a quick and easy way to send an electronic gift card. Although you can make a gift card suggestion (e.g. a gift card to Gap, H&M, Macy’s, etc.), the iCard Gift Card actually lets the recipient decide which gift card he wants. There are other cards on the market that do the same — such as GiftCardMall’s Choice Card and Tango Card. What I like about iCard Gift Card is that you can recommend a branded card (which makes it easier to personalize), you can write a custom message, and you can upload a photo.

My suggestions

Visit the iCard Gift Card blog to see some of my suggestions. And don’t overthink the picture option. You don’t have to be a photographer. Pix already on your phone will work great. For example, I have a picture of my kids in 3-D glasses from a movie we saw last summer. Add that picture to an iCard Gift Card with a note about going to the movies, and you’re good to go.

Coupon Code: FREEFD

Good through June 13th.

Check out Tiny Prints this weekend to order dad a FREE customizable Father’s Day card. They have many cute cards to choose from, but I suggest you take the time to enter custom text and upload a photo he’ll love as well. If you want to include a gift, you have the option to embed a Tango gift card as well. (The gift card isn’t free–just the greeting card.)

Use the code FREEFD at checkout.

E-mail sign-up.

Be sure to sign up on our e-mail list to receive special deals and coupon codes like this one. We promise not to give or sell your e-mail address to anybody. Just sign up and help us spread the word that Gift Card Girlfriend is here to save you time AND MONEY when buying gifts.

If you’re not familiar with Tiny Prints, then you need to check them out.

Tiny Prints is a one stop shop with a great selection of customizable Father’s Day Cards. What I really like is that in addition to creating individual cards with photos and custom text, you can also embed a Tango gift card. Do it all in a matter of seconds and have Tiny Prints mail the card and gift card directly to you or the recipient.

Coupon Code: GC99

From now until June 6th, Tiny Prints is running a special promotion offering customized Father’s Day cards as low as $.99. Just use the code GC99 at checkout.

Fathers’ Day is Sunday, June 19th, 2011

- 17 Days until Father’s Day
- 10 Days to order online for on-time delivery

Hazardous Hammock

My husband has been wanting a hammock for the backyard since we moved into our house. I avoided getting one for years because I worried having one would create a safety hazard in at least three ways: 1. He’d fall asleep in the hammock instead of life guarding the pool. 2. The kids would fight over the hammock, spin it into a tourniquet, or dump each other out. 3. I’d see dad napping in the hammock whilst I’d be surrounded by the needs of our little tykes and would dump HIM out of the hammock myself. Visions of mishaps prevented me from making the purchase for several years. But the kids are older now and we can all relax around the pool without threat of toddlers jumping in unannounced or me losing my marbles over a perceived lack of help.

The Perfect Hammock for Father’s Day

So I’m thinking of getting Paul the long coveted hammock this year for Father’s Day. But which one does he REALLY want? I have no idea because I shook my head every time the subject came up. I could guess–tree hammock, hammock stand, rope style, nylon fabric, pillow or no–but I’d likely be wrong.

Hammock Gift Card

Instead of the actual hammock, I’ll get him a gift card to a store that carries a good selection of hammocks. I’ll deliver it with the Sunday paper and an ice cold beverage. We may never see him again.

Some gift card choices include:

• Bass Pro Shops because they have a good outdoor selection.
• DicksSportingGoods.com because they have sports equipment too.
• Amazon.com because they have hundreds of hammocks to choose from.

More Father’s Day Ideas

Check out the other Father’s Day Gift Card Ideas on my site. Get inspired or shop the “Get it Done” deals to have the perfect Father’s Day gift card vignette delivered in plenty of time for Father’s Day.