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.

Mother’s Day is next Sunday and I have an idea that you can pull together quickly.

Get mom a gift card to Banana Republic and attach it to a fresh bunch of bananas. You can get creative and draw faces on the “nanas” or include the fixin’s for a banana split. Make homemade banana bread, banana pancakes, or banana cream pie even.

Running out of time?

Get a Banana Republic e-Gift Card instead. Electronic gift cards can be sent to your e-mail address (or mom’s) and are customizable with pictures and message.

Plus mom can use a Banana Republic Gift Card at ALL Gap, Inc. stores–including Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, Banana Republic, or Piperlime. She just might go bananas with all those options!

Is it worth the effort? Let me know.

Though giving a gift card is sometimes viewed as too easy and showing a lack of effort, giving this gift card may be the exception.

I just read Eric Taub’s article on Home Depot’s new video gift card and I’m a little skeptical. Apparently this gift card enables the giver to upload a video or record one on the Home Depot website via web cam. Upon receipt of the gift card, the recipient enters a code online to watch the video. There are other tricks you can perform via web cam as well. Seems like a decent way to personalize a gift card.

But the reason I’m anxious about the idea is that technology, when not working as promised, can be frustrating. I imagine toiling over a video only to discover the file size is too big. (Been there.) Or sending someone the video gift card only to find that he or she doesn’t have the right browser, plug-in, or web cam to see the video. (Hello Aunt Vera.) My efforts to be creative could result in a phone call to tech support instead. Am I wrong?

If you have experience with the Home Depot Video Gift Card, give me the details. Who did you give it to…and how old or tech savvy is that person? Is the effort worth it?