Matryoshka Gift

• The underlying concept of the Russian matryoshka (nesting doll) can be applied in an exaggerated manner to your gag gift. Either find a set of already made nesting boxes (in which a slightly smaller one fits into each progressing box ending with a final tiny one) or make nesting boxes yourself out of thin card board. Gift wrap each progressive gift box like the main outer box. In the smallest center box, place either a small object such as a marble or a very small handwritten I.O.U.
  
  

Sunday Funnies

• Endless numbers of people have received gifts that were wrapped in the comics section of their local Sunday paper. On the other hand, few people have received comic-wrapped gifts with only more Sunday funnies inside. You can only imagine how surprised or dumbfounded your daughter-in-law will be when she realizes what's within the wad of comics you gave her. Another wad of comics!
  
  

Hey, That's Mine

• Gift wrap a box containing an item of yours such as underwear, a bra or another personal item. When you give the gift to your daughter-in-law, wait for her to open it. When she opens it and reveals the gift, pretend to have an "a-ha" moment and announce "So that's where I put that" and immediately snatch the personal item from her hands.
  
  

Coal?

• Wrap a box containing coal and attach a bow. Give the gift to your daughter-in-law. When she opens it and sees her bizarre present, say: "Oops! I must have mixed my gift up with Santa's."
  
  

Pop Goes the Gift

• Inflate a balloon to a reasonable gift box size and tape on some wads of crumpled paper or tissue to form a shape similar to a large box. Tape a small weighted object to the bottom of the balloon. Gift wrap the item in a complex manner that will be difficult to unwrap by hand (with lots of tape). When you give it to your daughter-in-law, she should struggle to get it open. Once she shows signs of struggling, offer a pair of scissors or a sharp knife to help her open it. What happens next is pretty obvious.
  
  

Coupons, Coupons

• Look for coupons from extremely old publications that are years beyond expired. Save up a collection of these outdated coupons and as a gag gift, gift wrap the entire pile of them. The look on your daughter-in-law's face will be priceless (no pun intended).
  
  

Scent-Free Perfume

• Take an empty bottle of an expensive brand of perfume and rinse out the bottle with warm water thoroughly. Fill the now cleaned out bottle with plain, pure water (the purer, the better). Reattach the top and wrap the gift up. Give your daughter-in-law the gift and leave. Call her in a week and ask how she liked the perfume. If she hasn't tried it yet, then encourage her to try it as soon as she gets the chance.
  
  

Real Sunglasses

• Buy your daughter-in-law a pair of stylish sunglasses. When you get home, paint the lens of the glasses with pure black paint (such as acrylic). Give her the glasses as a gift and mention that they're the "most effective sun glasses on the market."