Sorry ~ Gift certificates show absolutely no immagination and prove that you do not care enough to put some real thought into the gift. They are so impersonal I want to puke.  They literally say "you are only worth $X dollars" (depending on the denomination of the gift certificate).

My new girlfriend commented on a couple of pictures of roses I took last summer (won a blue ribbon at the county fair with one).  I had them enlarged to 16"x20", matted and put in frames that exactly matched the decor of her bedroom (how cool was THAT???). 

I will combine them with a bottle of her favourite wine, a nice pair of wine glasses and there you have it; Romantic, thoughtful and personal without going overboard. 

She gets to open up several gifts and has a permenant reminder of our first Christmas (not to mention showcasing my obvious photgraphic tallent).