Pro Tip: Follow up within a few days to set the exact time your certificate will be redeemed. Your recipient may be too embarrassed to remind you to make good on your gift.Personalized StationaryUse your computer to make a supply of "borrowed-from" or address labels, notepaper, thank-you notes, or stationery. You can use Microsoft Word to make your own custom stationery!

Most computers come loaded with some kind of print shop software that will do nearly all the work for you. Office supply stores sell the plain stock printable supplies to use in your printer.

Apparently, I'm not alone in thinking that money is OK. Sales of Hallmark greeting cards designed to hold cash have increased by nearly 200 percent in the past few years. Banks will trade wrinkled, dirty old money for newly printed, crisp bills for no fee. If you're clever you'll figure out how to fold those bills into fun origami shapes (go online and search "origami money" for instructions). Tuck them into tiny ring boxes or other appropriately sized containers.

You can always personalize cold cash with a warm note. A few Xs and Os -- the universal symbols of kisses and hugs -- will make the gift even more valuable.