Give the person who has everything something meaningful and unique. Give a gift of family and memories.

Grandparents often have all they want or need in the way of things. Their homes are furnished to bursting and they don’t want more stuff. However, there is one thing that most grandparents can’t get enough of: their grandchildren. Below are some gift ideas incorporating what grandparents love best, their grandbabies.

Photo Gifts

Grandparents love photos of their darlings. Photo gifts are always popular. Why not use one of the many inexpensive publishing services that are now available to create a book-bound album of the grandchildren. If you are creative, make a scrapbook.

Most photo-printing sites offer an array of personalized products from puzzles to coffee mugs, from sweatshirts to laser-printed crystal cubes, or from pillowcases to calendars.

Are the grandparents comfortable with technology? Buy them a digital photo frame. Today’s photo frames accept most digital media. Every day the grandparents can look at a slideshow of their little ones. As the children grow, you simply provide grandpa or grandma with a new memory card of photos.

If you are crafty, you might make a photo ornament for their tree. Start a new family tradition and give them a new ornament every year.

Does Grandma love to play Scrabble? Make her a Scrabble Memory Collage Easel with photos of the grandchildren and words that describe the kids (huggable, sweet, mischievous, dare-devil).

Instead of giving Grandpa his 23rd pocket watch, give him a pocket watch that doesn’t keep track of the time. Modify the pocket watch to make a portable Mini-Memory Collage.

Another crafty project is to decoupage a household or decorative item with images of your children. Create a one of a kind vase, jewelry box, napkin holder, tissue box, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Alternatives to Photo Gifts

Have your children make their handprints or footprints on a piece of paper. Write their names and the date on it and put it in a nice frame. If your children are older, have them paint a plaque and put their handprints on it.

Buy a kit to make a handprint plaque or footprint plaque; or make your own out of paper mache.

Take a profile photo of your child and use it to make a Victorian silhouette. Mount and frame the silhouette as a lovely reminder for Grandma’s wall.

Buy a flowerpot or vase. Write, stamp, or stencil the names and birth dates of family members on the sides of the container. Fill the container with a pretty arrangement of flowers that incorporates the birth flowers of every family member.

Consumables and Activities

Buy tickets for a play. Let your child’s first experience at the theater be with their grandparents. Most major cities have children’s theaters. Buy tickets for a play that both the child and the grandparents will enjoy, such as Charlotte’s Web or A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. Take photos and save the ticket stubs. Have them framed as a special gift.

Give a gift card to a restaurant; perhaps a fancier restaurant than your child is used to. When your child goes on his date with grandpa and grandma, dress them up fancy and give them a purse or a wallet with money for a tip. Make it a special occasion. Take photos before they leave and ask grandma to grab a copy of the menu. Use the memorabilia to make a collage or photo page commemorating the event.

Buy all the ingredients for a simple cake or cookie recipe and make a gift basket with the ingredients. Attach a copy of the recipe. When grandma and the grandkids make the cookies take plenty of photos. Use the photos and the recipe to make a special memory gift next Christmas.

For more unique ideas for Christmas gifts read Have a Junk Store Christmas.