Custom Prepaid Gift Cards lend a personal touch to something everyone wants (money!), but can sometimes seem like a cold and distant gift. These prepaid cards come in Visa and MasterCard versions and are available in amounts between $20.00 and $200.00. What makes them different is the ability to choose the picture on the card, with your recipient’s name and even a brief message embossed right into the plastic.

There are hundreds of ready-made card designs you can choose from online, and this can be a timesaver. But when only your own picture will do, a bit of extra effort can produce that absolutely perfect gift.
Here’s how to do it.

1. Choose your photo.
a. It must be a big photo, at least 850 x 540. The photo must be in .jpg .png or .gif format, and reside somewhere on your computer.

b. Be sure to use a clear photo. Trying to scale one up from a small image will make it blurry. Images taken with a phone or blown up from a thumbnail may print fuzzy.

c. Try to pick a subject that will not be obstructed by the printing on the card. You’ll be able to preview your work and check this.

d. Last but not least, know the path (on your computer) to your photo.

2. Go to the upload page, choose the Create a Card tab, and upload your photo.

3. Once your photo is uploaded, you can see it previewed in the outline of the gift card.

Now you can position your photo by clicking and dragging, or clicking in a corner to resize it larger or smaller. There is also an Image Guidelines section underneath the photo where you can “nudge” it a small distance at a time.

4. Once you are satisfied with your design, click the I Am Done button.

Now you’ll get to customize the card with the recipient’s name and a short embossed message. It’s only 16 characters or so, so you may have to squeeze a little. There will be a preview copy of the card so you can check your work before going on.

5. When you’re finished with your photo, click through to the next page where you get to specify names, choose options and write a personal message.

And you’ve created your card! Now you’ll head to checkout and finish ordering.

A Custom Gift Card takes 1 to 3 business days to make, and then it is sent to your recipient by postal mail. Figure 1 to 2 weeks until the gift card arrives. This isn’t much to ask for a “custom masterpiece” and may not be a problem.

But suppose you need the gift faster than that? Suppose it would be polite, necessary, or even in the best interests of your health not to wait that long? In that case, go to Lastminute-gifts.com and send a Gift Announcement with a custom message. You can tell your recipient exactly what’s coming or leave it a surprise. However you choose to announce your gift, you have let them know that a gift is on the way and you haven’t forgotten.

You might also want to consider a Virtual Gift Card.

A VirtualGift is a virtual prepaid Visa Card. You can use it like a Visa card to order online or by phone. You can’t use it in stores because there’s no physical card to “swipe” through card readers; however, the Virtual Card is available in hours instead of a week or two.
If your recipient does lots of phone or online shopping this could be the perfect last-minute gift.

Turning a VirtualGift Card into a last-minute gift is easy. During the ordering process, you’ll get to choose a suitable eCard for your recipient. The necessary information needed to use the Virtual Card is included along with your greeting.

VirtualGifts arrive quickly, but not instantly. Orders go through manual processing so eCards are only sent during business hours.

According to Giftcards.com, “Orders placed after 5pm eastern time on Sunday through 5pm eastern time on Friday are typically processed within 24 hours. Orders placed after 5pm eastern time on Friday through 5pm eastern time on Sunday could take 48-72 hours for processing.”

So if the occasion demands a gift right now, head for Lastminute-Gifts.com and get a Gift Announcement. You can tell your recipient what’s coming or keep it a surprise… the point is, you’ve let them know a gift is on the way and that they are in your thoughts.

You might also want to consider Custom Prepaid Gift Cards.