The present invention includes a gift card custom messaging system for creating gift card accounts on a database that includes custom messages created by the purchaser for display on receipts of purchase transactions made by the gift card recipient to convey custom messaging information that can include a greeting, celebratory phrase or a commercial message that can include company logos and electronically sounds and animations and also includes the monetary balance remaining on the gift card to allow the recipient to more easily track the balance. The present invention further includes a variety of gift card formats and receipt display methods that allow various methods of delivery to and use by the recipient.