Online stores have some fabulous ideas that you won't find in the shops. A very popular gift is the recipient's family tree, but with a twist....it comes in the form of a Christmas tree. This can be passed on and updated as necessary.

Jewellery is another good one. The choices here are limitless. If the person has particular religious beliefs, a locket with a message saying merry Christmas from heaven is a nice idea. A bracelet that you can add charms to will always be well received, as charms these days cover birthdays, christenings, births of babies and everything else in between, so you can see how adding the charms through the years will make not just a keepsake but also a family heirloom.

An engraved ring is also a great idea. Depending on the style and tastes, the engraving can be on the outside or inside. Just the date and love from..... will make it unique and very special.

If the person you want to give the special gift to has an unusual or exotic surname, you could get them a plaque/picture which tells them the meaning of their name and its origins. Its amazing how many of these names have completely different meanings from what you think they are.

If the keepsake is for a babys first Christmas, the parents will love a Christmas tree ornament embellished with the date and their babys name. If they go on to have more children, you can repeat the process for each one. These treasured ornaments will adorn the tree long after those children have grown up and moved away.

A wooden toy such as a rocking horse is passed down through generations. It doesn't have to be a great big one, even a smaller, ornamental one with a small plaque displaying who it was first given to and which Christmas.

Any of these gifts will become true treasured possessions and the recipient will be eternally grateful that you cared enough to go to so much effort and thought in choosing their gift.