I've always thoroughly enjoyed buying and giving gifts to the people I love. I like to browse through catalogs and online stores and come up with great ideas for gifts. When I am browsing, I always have a list of gift-giving occasions and gift recipients nearby. That way, when I run across the perfect gift - whether it's jewelry, electronics, handbags, or toys - I can jot down the item on my list next to the person's name. I try to do my shopping ahead of time, and have a special closet in my home to store gifts until I'm ready to wrap them.

When it comes time to wrap the gifts, I really try to go the extra mile. As they say, it's the thought that counts, and I try to express my thoughtfulness in both the gifts I select and the ways in which I package them. For example, when I recently gave a DVD player to my son, I put it in a larger box along with a bag of microwavable popcorn, a box of his favorite candy, and a new DVD that I knew he'd love.

Likewise, when I give household items, I try to get creative. If I'm giving a set of mixing bowls to a bride-to-be, for example, I'll attach rubber spatulas to the ribbon on the outside of the box. If I'm giving a coffeemaker, I make sure to tuck a bag of freshly ground premium coffee into the box. I recently gave a recipe book as a hostess thank you gift, and tied cookie cutters to the ribbons. When I wrapped the cordless telephone that a close friend wanted for her birthday, I made sure to include an address book with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of her friends and family in the package. I also took the liberty of programming the new telephone's speed dial with her husband's work number, her kids' cell phone numbers, and - of course - my telephone number.

My mother was always superstitious about giving knives, saying that if you gift knives, they can cut the recipient. So, like my mother, if I ever give knives as a gift, I always ask the recipient for a penny in return.

The only limit to creative gift packaging is your own imagination. So, the next time you wrap a gift, go that extra step by using accessories or packaging that highlight the theme of your gift. Your thoughtfulness is certain to bring an extra smile of delight from your recipient.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Gifts and Collectibles Website and Majon's Gifts and Collectibles directory.

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