Don't worry. With a little creativity you can put together amazing gifts that he'll never forget.



? For the Artistic Type. He loves art. Instead of getting him yet another art book or framed photograph (and he's out of wall space anyway), why not go for some art supplies? Let him try his hand at painting, or sculpting, or drawing! Putting together a gift basket full of supplies might ignite an otherwise hidden creative spark. You never know, you just might have the next Picasso on your hands.

If you want to go a step further, you could even sign him up for a class at the local community college. Talk about a surprise!

? For the Health Nut. Indulge him this year with a tasty, organic gift basket. These can be filled with anything from fresh, organic fruit to rich organic coffees or chocolates. Sure, you could go for just another pair of running socks, but this is so much more fun! You can fill the basket with things he normally wouldn't buy for himself anyway, which makes it that much more special.

If your dad travels often, why not put together a portable fitness kit for him? These are great to take on the road, allowing him to do several resistance exercises from the comfort of his hotel room (or RV, for that matter). From yoga to jump rope, he'll have it all right at his fingertips. You can put all the little items in a portable canvas bag and he'll be able to grab it and go.

? For Pure Decadence. Ever want to buy something just for the sheer fun of it? Or give a gift that you know the person would never get for themselves? Well, decadence gifts are right up this alley.

First off, you need to get creative. Why not do a bit of research and find out what kinds of games your dad used to play when he was younger? You can hunt them down one by one and make a fun gift basket full of old toys. Or, instead of doing games specifically, you could hunt up memorabilia from when he was younger (?40's, ?50's, etc.). Lots of companies make fun reproductions that are sure to bring a smile to his face.

If you're thinking luxury, why not plan a trip for him? Depending on your budget and his interests, you could send him off anywhere from Vegas to Paris. Make all the arrangements so he doesn't have to worry about a thing. If Paris seems a bit of a stretch, why not set something up at a Bed and Breakfast a short drive away?

? For the Time Honored Gift. These are the gifts that are the solid standbys. Books, jewelry, games. The tried and true gifts that never let you down.

So, we're thinking out of the box here (and ignoring the alluring call of the plain-jane gift card ?). What about a pair of really unique cufflinks (they even make them out of Scrabble tiles?who knew?)

Or, if you've got some time on your hands, why not buy a really beautiful, unique photo album and fill it with pictures of his life, from the time he was born up until the present. These can be really powerful gifts if you have the time to put them together. Or, if the thought of doing an entire album is too daunting, why not buy a nice big frame and do a collage?

? For a Technology Gift. If your dad is at all into music, he's probably got an iPod of some sort. (If he doesn't, great gift idea here! Do him a favor and put some of his favorite songs on there so he can start enjoying it right away.) If he does already have one, why not get him some cool accessories to go with it? You can get an alarm clock that uses the iPod to wake him up to his favorite song, or a watertight boombox he can use outside or on the lake.

Hopefully some of these ideas have sparked your creativity enough to get you going on a great gift idea. Good luck, and happy hunting!