So you received a gift card at a work party, from a friend, or for something you returned that wasn’t exactly what you needed.  Now what?

You want music for your drive to work or school or new running tunes but the gift card is for a store that only sells clothing.  Sell your unused gift cards to Plastic Jungle for an Amazon.com gift card and you can unlock any beat you choose.

More than anything, your daughter wants an e-reader, specifically a Kindle, so she can fly overseas and read her favorite books without having to pay for additional carry-on luggage.  Exchange unwanted gift cards for an Amazon.com gift card to get her a Kindle at a discount and maybe even buy her an e-book or two for the flight.

Regardless of what types of unwanted gift cards are congesting your wallet, getting confused with your store credit cards, or are being considered for re-gifting, take control of the things that were given to you and use them for good.

As we close in on summer vacation, most kids are probably dragging their feet and glumly looking ahead to starting school again. One way to help soften the blow? Have fun with creative locker decorating!

Most lockers are boring utilitarian pieces of drab, cold metal. Oh, but what a terrific blank canvas! With just a little thought and creativity, you can transform your locker into a personalized, organized, spectacular space.

MIRROR
A mirror is a must-have. In between classes, you’ll want to reapply your lip gloss, freshen up your ‘do and check for any food stuck in your pearly whites. Check out this Locker Mirror and Zipper Pouch from PBTeen. With 10 different designs to choose from, you’re bound to find one to match your style. Available for $19.50 with free shipping – use a discounted PBTeen gift card from Plastic Jungle and get it for less!

MAGNETIC WALLPAPER

Magnetic wallpaper is one of the easiest, quickest ways to go from blah to aah! This stuff is ingenious! It sticks to any metal surface and cuts easily with scissors. There are so many different designs and brands out there – here’s a cool guitar wallpaper for the student rock star.

This MagnaCard magnetic wallpaper, along with 9 other designs can be found on Amazon.com. Need instant cash for this purchase? Trade in your unused gift cards to Plastic Jungle! We’ll buy ‘em at up to 92% of their value in exchange for an Amazon.com Gift Card.

LOCKER RUG

Want to add glamour and flair? LockerLookz makes these fabulous locker rugs, available in 5 super shaggy bright colors. They are non-skid so they won’t slip and slide around your locker.

LOCKER CHANDELIER

How about a little extra bling? Check out this Magnetic Locker Chandelier with LED lights! It’s battery operated (batteries included) and flashes in seven bright colors.

LOCKER MAGNETS

Metal lockers are screaming for magnets! Check out these sports magnets at Amazon.com:

LOCKER SHELF

In addition to creative décor, turn your locker into a practical space with locker shelves. Most lockers have ample height, so a locker shelf can easily double or triple your storage space. This Janus Locker Shelf from The Container Store is extra sturdy and each shelf can hold up to 15 pounds. The two adjustable shelves provide great storage for all your books and school supplies. Buy a discounted gift card to The Container Store at Plastic Jungle to really stretch that back-to-school dollar!

DRY ERASE BOARDS

Need to make note of a special homework assignment? Meeting a friend after school? Is it your BFF’s birthday? Dry erase boards are the perfect place for jotting down notes and reminders. This contemporary magnetic dry erase board from OfficeMax has a superior magnetic surface, resists stains and includes one magnet, 1 dry erase marker and mounting strips. Buy a discounted OfficeMax gift card from Plastic Jungle and watch your school supplies savings multiply.

AIR FRESHENER

And last but not least, don’t forget an air freshener. Sweaty gym socks, old lunch bags and who-knows-what-else can easily make your locker a stinky space.

As the #1 requested present, gift cards are popular, practical and… anti-climactic?

No way, especially if you get creative with the presentation. Rather than just sticking a gift card in an envelope (ho-hum), turn yawns into squeals of delight with these unique ideas:

1. Attach the gift card to a large candy bar, and then wrap the candy bar – YUM!

2. Put the gift card inside a homemade duct tape wallet. Don’t know how to make one? Click here for easy instructions. If you want to get really fancy, use designer duct tape!

3. Place the gift card in a picture frame

4. Put the gift card inside a business card case. This Wellspring Flip Case from Amazon.com is darling and is less than $5.

5.  Place the gift card inside socks, gloves or slippers. Check out these fun and colorful toe socks from Urban Boundaries for $3.99!

6. Hide the gift card inside a Magic Puzzle Box

7. Set the gift card inside a terra cotta pot with crinkle cut paper

8. Put an iTunes gift card inside a blank CD case

9. Hide the gift card inside a box of playing cards

10. Use a Barnes & Noble gift card as a bookmark in a book

11. Kids (and kids at heart) love bubble wrap! Wrap a gift card inside layers and layers of bubble wrap

12. Surprise! Set a gift card inside a Jack-in-the-Box

13. Food lover? Place a gift card inside an oven mitt

14. Cute and cuddly – Plush animals with gift card holders.

15. Add a gift card to a Chinese take-out container filled with fortune cookies.

These just crack the surface…do YOU have any other creative ideas to share? When you buy discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle as gifts, how do you package and present them?

With just a little thought and a small budget, you can add personality to your gift card presentation. You’ll have fun doing it and your recipient will have even more fun opening it.

We’ve come a long way, baby.

The modern-day gift card actually started as a paper gift certificate. But with the invention of color copiers and printers, gift certificates were easily counterfeited.

Enter Blockbuster Entertainment.

In 1994, they became the creators of the first plastic gift card. Neiman Marcus, Mobil Oil and Kmart soon followed. By 2012, the gift card industry is expected to hit the $100 billion mark!

Why are gift cards so popular?

Easy to buy: hundreds of merchants to choose from

Easy to ship: no clunky packages with extra postage

All occasions: birthdays, holidays, teacher’s gifts – you name it!

Sure thing: recipient can choose anything they want from their fave store

Check out these fun gift card facts:

• The gift card is the #1 most-requested gift (clothing is #2)
• Gift cards are the 2^nd most given gift in the U.S.
• Men spend more on gift cards than women
• 98% of teens have bought or received a gift card
• Average gift card value is $35
• Average amount spent on a card is $53
• 54.9% of adults say they like to receive a gift card as a gift
• The most popular gift cards are to stores, followed by restaurants

And did you know?

• There’s approximately $30 billion in unused gift cards
• The average household sits on $300 in unused gift cards

So what do you do with all your unused gift cards? Sell them to Plastic Jungle, of course!

Cash in your unwanted gift cards for up to 92% of the verified balance. You can also exchange your unredeemed or partially used gift cards for purchasing power at stores like Amazon.com, or donate them for the benefit of your favorite nonprofit organization. We pay for shipping, and all transactions are guaranteed!

You can also BUY gift cards from Plastic Jungle – at up to a 35% discount! And we offer free shipping and guaranteed transactions on those, too!

But don’t just take our word for it – check out our stellar review on Top Ten Reviews, where Plastic Jungle took the #1 spot for the best online gift card exchange!

References: Deloitte & Touche, TowerGroup, Big Research, findfreegiftcards.com, nextwave.org.