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.

You’re standing in the check-out line and suddenly remember you need to buy a gift. Below are quick ways to grab a gift card, turn it into a thoughtful gift, and be on your way.

JoAnn Fabric and Craft

If you’re getting a gift card for a crafty gal or a seamstress, then this project is easier than a no-sew fleece blanket. Get a gift card to Jo-Ann and deliver it with:

1. Tote. A shopping tote to fill when she returns to the store.
2. Inspiration. An idea book or magazine she can flip through for inspiration.
3. Savings. The In-Store Class Schedule, the current circular with upcoming coupons, and a stack of “Sew with Jo-Ann” creativity starters.
4. Common supplies. The items every crafter goes through quicker than a kid with a candy bar. Think Aleene’s Tacky Glue, glue dots, double-sided tape, foam brushes, etc.
5. New Products! The gadgets and new designs you want to try but aren’t sure you should. Think cheetah print Duck Tape, Wilton Sugar Sheets, or Smooch Spritz.
6. Your Favorite Product. Gift her with a product that you’d love to share with her. It can be as simple as a jewelry clasp that’s easy to open, a sewing needle that’s easy to thread, or a scrapbook embellishment that makes the pages pop.

These items are so inexpensive, you could throw them all in the shopping bag with the Jo-Ann gift card and have a perfectly thoughtful gift–put together in a jiffy!

Teachers Love JoAnn Gift Cards

In addition to the friends and family you know who like to shop at craft stores, a JoAnn gift card is also a great idea for Teacher Appreciation. JoAnn even gives discounts to teachers. Tie a JoAnn gift card to a box of tissues, whiteboard markers, or other class staple and you’re all set.
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My first grader painted this terracotta pot at school and delivered it to me with a sweet card and a packet of seeds.

I swapped out the seeds for a flower-themed gift card.

Download e-Gift Card

The Visa Gift Card pictured has a flower bouquet on the front. But with Mother’s Day only hours away, I suggest you download this flower-themed gift card from Amazon.com instead.

It’s electronic so you can purchase, download, and print today.

More “Plantable” Gift Cards

Other gift cards to “plant” include:

• A local nursery or the home improvement store (with nursery)
• Fashion Bug Flower Gift Card
• JC Penney Flowers Gift Card
• Blooming Tulip GiftCard from Target

Check out our “Mother’s Day” section for more ideas today!

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!

Gift Card Girlfriend is getting a makeover!

In addition to sharing our creative gift card ideas, we’re converting each gift card vignette to a “Get it Done” shopping option as well. We’ll scour the net to find everything you need to make a gift card more personal. All you have to do is click the pieces and buy. (The convenient gift card–just got easier to give!)

Mother’s Day First

The site redesign will launch officially in a few weeks, but for now – check out the Mother’s Day section. You’ll find great ideas to kickstart your own creativity plus “Get it Done” deals to buy today. Below is one of my favorites!

Feet Retreat

Get Inspired: Stamp the kids’ feet or take a picture of their piggy toes and put it in a keepsake frame. Add a pedicure gift card and a note that reads, “From our feet to yours!” Or pair the gift card with a pedicure accessory or lotion like the ones shown in our “Get it Done” deal below:

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• SpaFinder GC
  Amazon.com
• Flip Flop Pedi Set
  Amazon.com
• “I Love You” lotion
  Amazon.com

I’m often asked the question–why not just give cash?

Simple Answer

If you give me cash, I’ll spend it on gas and groceries before the week is out. I’m a mom on a budget. I don’t often indulge in pretties for myself because the kids need new shoes, braces, cleats, field-trip money, and so forth. I’m not complaining because we have it good compared to so many others. I’m just saying that cash will get mindlessly absorbed into the family finances but a gift card will be mine to mindfully spend on myself–without feeling guilty. And that is a gift.

If You Do Give Cash…

Many of my gift card suggestions can dress up a monetary gift as well. Several of the All Occassion ideas translate nicely. For example, put a roll of cash around a pizza cutter and deliver ”Pizza Dough” that will surely get eaten.