An inspiring, hand-made card shows you really care. The "Making Greeting Cards" website in the resources offers a list of quotes that can help to inspire your memorial card design. The website "Making Cards Magazine" has a list of online outlets that supply materials especially suited to card making. If you don't have time or feel you aren't talented enough, many stores and local artists offer hand-made designs. Consider giving the card with flowers or a gift check to a charity in honor of the deceased.
A basket filled with fresh fruit, flowers and small creative gifts is another creative option. The basket may be ordered online or assembled at home by gathering whatever unique and appropriate items come to mind. The level of inspiration and creativity for this gift is very open-ended. In terms of design, the overall theme and color scheme are important to keep in mind.
Engraved garden stones and wall plaques are becoming more popular as memorial gifts. So are engraved wooden items, jewelry and metal picture frames. Engraved text may include a personal testimony, poetry or religious verses. An engraved memorial picture frame may include a group photo of the entire family together.
Scrapbooking has become very popular and there are classes you can sign up for that show how to make "memory books" and "heritage scrapbooks" using computer templates, old photos, personal letters and memorabilia. It's important to keep in mind that scrapbooks should emphasize the happy times.