A new twist on gift cards that is really gaining in popularity? Electronic gift cards, says Breyault.

One problem with e-gift cards? Recipients don't always realize what they are. "A lot of times people will receive it and won't even look at it -- they'll assume it's spam, says Mendelsohn.

"So you can pre-empt that by saying 'I wanted you to have this on your birthday, and I'm sending it, so watch out for it,'" she says.

Want to make sure that e-gift cards reach their destination?

Double-check those email addresses, says Mendelsohn. A typo or old address can mean your recipient never gets your e-gift card.

Follow up with a note to confirm it actually arrived and was for the correct amount, she says.

What you might not know: Remember all those protections the Credit CARD Act confers on your gift cards? They apply to e-gift cards, too, says Breyault.