There is something magic about a personalized gift that puts a smile on the recipient’s face. Maybe it’s the thought of you going that extra mile to make a present special, or maybe it’s that excitement of seeing the name permanently etched in. If you’re looking to go that extra mile this year to give a personalized present, you don’t have to go far because you can do it locally — but you have to get going now because it’s definitely not a last-minute buy.

Things Remembered at the Kitsap Mall has two options. You can buy one of the many items the store offers, from children’s to golf-theme knick-knacks and more practical things, or for a bigger engraving fee you can bring your own present. The store’s selection ranges from doorknockers and albums to pen sets and key chains. They can engrave a variety of metals, stone or glass objects, and if you’d like to use your own, you will probably need to bring it in first to find out if it’s doable.

Things Remembered uses a diamond-tip needle that physically makes the grooves in the object, with a choice of various fonts. Engraving takes 24-48 hours, but during this busy time, consider giving yourself a week or so. Call the shop at 360-698-7448, or see www.thingsremembered.com.

For your golf lover, until Dec. 10 you can personalize Titleist balls for free, when you purchase at least a dozen at participating golf shops, in black, blue, red or green ink. McCormick Woods in Port Orchard says the balls that can be personalized include the NXT, NXT Tour, Pro V1, Pro V1X and DT Solo. Other local participating shops include Alexander’s Discount Golf Shop in Belfair, RocketGolf in Bremerton, and Madrona Links in Gig Harbor.

For a personalized gift with an artistic flair, spend an evening or a few weekend hours at one of the local pottery studios. Buy one of the zillions of molds — picture frames, plates, ornaments, figurines, vases — and for a fee, you can use the space and supplies to paint your own piece of art, and add a name to it yourself. The studios can get your pieces glazed and fired too, and help you with expertise — and since art is in the eye of the beholder, you can truly unleash your creative fantasies and get rid of some stress while at it. Men beware: Painting is not just for the ladies; you’ll enjoy it just as much.

Helen’s Ceramics in Port Orchard recommends finishing the piece by Dec. 15-20 for firing, Dancing Brush Ceramics Painting Studio in Poulsbo says the optimum time is no later than 10 days before Christmas, and Art & Soul Pottery Painting and Coffee Lounge in Gig Harbor recommends not waiting past eight days before Christmas.

And if your creative talent is of the writing rather than painting variety, why not round up all your would-be gift recipients and turn them into characters of a short story. Heck, make it a short novel if your friends are that colorful. You can send them all to the Middle Ages or Middle Earth — or to a faraway planet — and watch them chuckle as they recognize themselves as the elf, queen, starship captain or whatever you’ve turned them into. True, sounds like a lot of work, but no one is expecting a Shakespearian piece of brilliancy, so if you’ve always wanted to write, have some fun.