Welcome! If you’re hunting for unique Christmas ideas, you’re in the right place. Let’s put your computer to work to create sentimental, budget-friendly and truly one-of-a-kind gifts this year.
The secret ingredient isn’t the AI—it’s the specific memory, quirk or intention you put into the prompt. The AI just does the heavy lifting!
Note: If you are completely new to AI and need help choosing a tool, start with my post: How to Get Started with AI. You’ll also see it in action, so you can try it for yourself!
Who in your life deserves a unique, meaningful gift this Christmas?
A few years ago, I had fun upcycling an old book cover as a backing for my line drawings (on printed paper – from the same old book) of Billy the cat. I cut out my drawings, pasted them onto the book cover, sealed it, painted an old wooden canvas frame white, and voila…
Holiday fun for me and a one-of-a-kind piece of art for the wall!
Today, we can use AI to brainstorm ideas (and if we’re not arty, AI can create a drawing from a photo for us). Christmas time is great for gifting something meaningful —perhaps a depiction of your friend’s pet? – in this way.
Before we get started…
The Quick Prompt Recipe Refresher
To ensure success with the prompts below, always structure your request using the three elements of the “Prompt Recipe”:
The Role: Tell the AI who it is (e.g., expert chef, renowned poet).
The Task: Tell the AI exactly what to do (e.g., create a recipe, write a poem).
The Constraints: Define the limits (e.g., must exclude onion, must be four lines long, must feature a specific family memory).
Now, let’s get gifting!
Category 1: Creative & Sentimental Gifts
These ideas leverage AI’s ability to handle words, images, and music for gifts with real emotional impact.
1. The Family Legacy Poem or Song
Turn a cherished family memory into a short song with music or a beautiful poem. This is the perfect, personalised gift to print and frame—or to play aloud at Christmas lunch!
Tools:
For lyrics/poems: Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini (all have free versions)
Act as a [Role: Renowned poet or Nostalgic songwriter]. Write a short, four-line lyric about [Specific family memory, e.g., The time we went camping at Red Rock Beach]. The tone must be [Tone: Humorous, Heartfelt or Reflective] and suitable for [Recipient: My mother, My older brother, etc.].
Taking it further with Suno: Once you have your lyrics, head to Suno and paste them in with a style description (e.g., “acoustic folk, warm and nostalgic” or “upbeat pop, cheerful”). Suno will generate a complete song with instruments and melody in about a minute. You can download the MP3 file to share.
Real example: I’ve experimented with AI-generated music myself. For my niece, I made tracks called As Is (Song for Bianca) (she had shared with me that she “mostly goes to school ‘as is’ (no makeup)”) and Ten Thousand Likes. In this video short, I used Runway to transform a Suno-generated image of colourful shells on a beach. Following my prompt, the AI animated the waves, lifted the shells skyward and transformed them into hearts. I then looped the hearts back into shells on the beach by reversing the video in InShot.
These tracks all started as simple poems or thoughts about life, place and memory, just like the family songs you might create!
Pro tip: For your writing, ask the AI to suggest fonts and layout ideas for printing, or use Canva’s free templates to create a beautiful, framed piece. For songs, download and share the Suno music file directly. If you’d like to publish the song commercially, you’ll need Suno’s Pro version (around $15/month); download each track as a WAVE file, and use a distributor like DistroKid.
2. Turn a Loved Photo into Art
Transform a cherished photograph into a line drawing, watercolour painting or vintage poster-style artwork you can print and frame. Consider sourcing a nice frame from the op shop, or remove an old canvas from the wood frame – you can paint it; make it unique!
Tools:
Ask Copilot any AI with image generation to create a “continuous line drawing” or “minimalist line art” version. Microsoft Designer (free with Microsoft account) or Canva can also help with creating art.
Trending Art Styles to Try:
Watercolor wash – soft and romantic
Continuous line drawing – modern and minimalist
Vintage travel poster style – bold and nostalgic (think 1950s)
Ink sketch with watercolor touches – classic and elegant
Gouache illustration – matte and painterly
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a professional illustrator. Transform this photo into a [Style: continuous line drawing, watercolor painting, vintage 1950s travel poster]. The composition should emphasise [Element: the subjects' faces, the landscape, the joyful mood]. Use a [Colour palette: warm earth tones, cool blues and greys, black and white only].
Below is a photo taken in November 2025, rendered by Copilot as a vintage poster:
Pro tip: Print your artwork on quality cardstock or canvas through a local print shop or online service like Kmart, Photobookshop or Officeworks Photo Centre. Frame it for a truly special gift.
3. The Grandparent’s Storybook
Create a short, personalised children’s story starring a grandchild and a grandparent. You can read this aloud, print it as a booklet, or even illustrate it with the photo-to-art technique above!
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a whimsical children's book author. Create a short story where [Grandchild's name] and [Grandparent's name] go on an adventure to [Location: Find a hidden cave, Build a sandcastle, Explore the vegetable garden, etc.]. The story must be exactly [Number: 5-8] paragraphs long and include a gentle lesson about [Theme: Patience, Kindness, Curiosity, etc.].
Pro tip: Ask the AI to break the story into page-by-page sections, then print and staple it into a simple booklet. Your grandchild can even illustrate it themselves!
4. The “Why We Love You” Ode
Craft a funny, heartfelt thank-you speech or “toast” for a partner, sibling, or friend. Perfect for slipping into a card or reading aloud at Christmas lunch.
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a witty best friend. Write a thank-you speech (less than 100 words) for [Recipient's Name]. It must mention their quirks: [Quirk 1] and [Quirk 2]. End it with a genuine compliment about [Specific Quality: Their kindness, Their cooking, Their patience with the family, etc.]. Balance humour and sincerity.
These ideas help you transform second-hand finds or family memories into something completely new and special.
Category 2: Handmade with AI Guidance
5. The Op-Shop Upcycling Project
Find a treasure at your local op shop—an old book, vintage cutlery, a plain picture frame or mismatched teacups—and let AI guide you through transforming it into something beautiful and useful.
Tools: Any AI chat tool (Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini)
Why this works: AI can provide step-by-step instructions tailored to what you already have at home, making upcycling accessible even if you don’t have a workshop full of tools.
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a creative upcycling expert. I found [Item: an old hardcover book, vintage silver-plated spoons, a plain wooden picture frame] at an op shop. Give me step-by-step instructions to transform it into [Goal: a decorative shelf, a set of garden markers, a vintage-style jewelry organiser]. I only have access to basic tools: [List: scissors, glue, sandpaper, acrylic paint, etc.]. Each step must be beginner friendly.
Project Ideas to Get You Started:
Old books → Hidden storage boxes or decorative shelves
Vintage spoons → Garden plant markers or wall hooks
Plain frames → Vintage-style jewelry displays
Mismatched teacups → Candle holders or succulent planters
Pro tip: Take before and after photos of your project! The transformation story makes the gift even more meaningful.
6. The Family History Audio Documentary
Use Google’s free NotebookLM tool to transform written family stories, old letters or interview transcripts into a polished, podcast-style audio documentary. This is an incredibly meaningful gift for parents or grandparents.
Tools: NotebookLM (free from Google)
How it works: Upload documents containing family stories, and NotebookLM generates a conversational podcast discussing the content. It’s like having two friendly hosts narrate your family history.
Your Prompt Recipe Tip: Prepare your source material first—type up stories, scan old letters, or transcribe recorded interviews.
Step-by-Step:
Go to notebooklm.google.com and create a free account
Create a new notebook and upload your family stories as documents (text, PDFs or Google Docs)
Click “Generate Audio Overview”
Download the resulting podcast (usually 10-20 minutes)
Share it as a digital gift or burn it to a CD for those who prefer physical media
Pro tip: Include 3-5 different family stories for the best results. The AI hosts will discuss connections and themes across the stories, creating a rich narrative.
Category 3: Practical & Time-Saving Gifts
These ideas solve organisational or creative holiday problems, making them great for busy parents or anyone who dreads repetitive tasks.
7. The Custom Gift Tag Messages
Don’t write the same boring message ten times. Use AI to generate unique, non-generic messages for gift tags that actually sound like you.
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a witty greeting card writer. Generate 10 unique gift tag messages (under 15 words each). Messages must be suitable for [Recipient Type: Teenagers, Neighbours, Coworkers, or Extended family members] and should feel [Tone: Warm and genuine, Playfully cheeky, or Simply heartfelt]. Avoid clichés like "Wishing you joy" or "Happy Holidays."
Pro tip: Print these on cardstock, punch a hole in the corner, and attach with twine or ribbon.
8. Personalised Recipe Card Art
Turn a vague memory of a favourite, decades-old family dish into a structured, printable recipe with exact measurements. This is perfect for dishes that were never written down or are getting lost to time.
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a culinary historian and expert baker. Reconstruct [Relative's Name]'s famous [Dish Name, e.g., Lamington Cake, Beef Stew, ANZAC Biscuits] based on my vague memory: [Vague Details: Used lots of brown sugar, always served with custard, had ginger and was very spicy, etc.]. Output must be in standard recipe format with estimated measurements, cooking temperature, and timing.
Pro tip: Once you have the recipe, test it! Then print it on a nice card with a photo of the relative who used to make it. Frame it or present it in a small recipe box.
Category 4: Forward-Looking Gifts
These show how AI can help structure self-improvement goals for the New Year—perfect motivation for January!
9. A Custom 30-Day Learning Plan
Gift a structured, achievable plan to learn a new skill over the summer break. This works beautifully for teenagers, partners or friends who’ve mentioned wanting to learn something new.
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as an expert instructor. Create a 30-day learning curriculum to teach [Skill, e.g., Basic guitar chords, How to bake sourdough, Watercolor painting basics, Conversational Italian]. The lessons must take less than [Time, e.g., 30 minutes] a day and rely only on free online resources (YouTube videos, free apps, library books). Include specific video recommendations and practice exercises for each day.
Pro tip: Save to a thumbnail drive or print this out and present it in a folder along with one small, related item (guitar pick, batter spoon, set of watercolours, etc.).
10. The “Open When…” Letter Collection
Create a set of 5-10 personalised letters for different moments in someone’s life. Each envelope is labelled with a specific scenario: “Open when you need a laugh,” “Open when you miss home,” “Open when you need courage,” etc. This is an incredibly touching gift for anyone facing a transition—teenagers leaving home, friends moving away or partners going through a challenging time.
Tools: Any AI chat tool (Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini)
Tip: Set a clear emotional tone for each letter and include specific memories or inside jokes where relevant.
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a loving [Relationship: parent, best friend, sibling, partner]. Write a short letter (150-200 words) for [Recipient's name] to open when [Scenario: they need encouragement, they're feeling homesick, they accomplish something big, they need a laugh]. Include a reference to [Specific shared memory or inside joke]. The tone should be [Tone: Warm and reassuring, Humorous and light-hearted, Proud and inspiring].
Suggested “Open When…” Scenarios:
Open when you need a laugh
Open when you miss home
Open when you need courage
Open when you’re feeling proud of yourself
Open when you need a reminder of who you are
Open when it’s been a hard day
Open when you want to remember this Christmas
Pro tip: Print each letter on nice stationery, fold it and place in individual envelopes labelled with the scenario. Present them in a small decorative box or tie them together with ribbon. The recipient can tuck them away and open them throughout the year when they need that specific message.
Bonus: The “Year in Review” Summary
The Christmas letter is often left to the last minute. Get AI to write the first draft of your family’s annual update, then (importantly!) personalise it with your own voice.
Fill-in-the-Blank Prompt:
Act as a warm and engaging family friend. Draft the first paragraph of a family Christmas update letter. Summarise these three events: [Event 1], [Event 2], [Event 3]. The tone must be [Tone: Humble but proud, Witty and self-deprecating, or Warm and informative]. Avoid corporate language and keep it conversational, as if I'm chatting with a friend over coffee.
Ready to Go Beyond the Prompt?
These quick ideas only scratch the surface of what smart prompting can do. AI can help you create meaningful, personalised gifts without the overwhelm—but the magic comes from your specific memories, intentions and creative touches.
Remember: The best AI-powered gifts combine technology with your personal knowledge of the recipient. A poem means more when it references a real memory. An upcycled frame is special because you chose it with them in mind. A learning plan shows you’ve listened to their dreams.
If you’re facing a grant deadline, need a website overhaul, or require a complex document edited for clarity and impact, you need more than just a good prompt—you need an expert editor and prompt engineer to refine that output. That’s where I come in.
Ascension Editing 