GCA #19 - Gift giving made easy!!

Hello everyone!!! Since Christmas will be here before we know it, I thought the challenge for this week would be something with gift giving in mind. Once you make one of these nifty gift card holders you will see how quick, fun and adaptable they are to whatever the occasion might be!
I made these for convention in 2007 as my 3 D swap and even got a sample of one back from a fellow demo!I have picture of hers at the bottom. I also have a picture of one I made for a friend who will use these for her nieces & nephews this year.

Now on to the tutorial!!

Items you will need:



* Cardstock cut to 4 1/4" x 11" - scored at 4 1/2" and 1 3/4"

* One business/legal size envelope

* Cardstock cut to 3 1/4" x 4" for base of your greeting/sentiment panel

* Velcro sticky dot or other appropriate closure

* Glue dots or sticky strip

* Any type of embellishments, punches or ribbon of your choice

Step 1:

Score your cut cardstock piece at the above measurements. Crease with bone folder. If you wish to scallop the front flap tab, now would be the time, as well as, if you wish to stamp on the gift holder itself. On my sample I used the Lots of Dots jumbo wheel stamped in Summer Sun on the inside and outside of the holder.

Step 2:



Using either the double slot punch from SU! or a handheld punch, make holes/openings for your ribbon, as I did in my sample. In the other two samples, a Felt Fusion flower was used and a chipboard tag. Feel free to decorate as you wish. If you decide to punch holes for ribbon, MAKE SURE you go up far enough so you still have space to place you velcro sticky dot. I used a whole one on these, but you can even cut them in half. The small magnets would work here as well.



Step 3:

Seal your envelope and fold in half. On the outside ends, use an edge punch, deco scissors or just trim off with your paper trimmer to have the openings for the sentiment panel and the gift card. Another option is to just trim off the edges and use circle punches to create openings in the middle of the envelope edges.

Step 4:


Using glue dots or sticky strip, place a piece on the front and back of the envelope in about the middle of the envelope. You don't want the glue dot too high or it makes it harder for the holder to open easily. Center your envelope in the middle inside panel, JUST ABOVE the fold up flap score line. If you put your envelope right on the score line, it will be bulky and difficult to fold. I do not recommend using SNAIL or mono on here as there is too much movement with this and it will not hold. Now add a glue dot to the middle of the folded envelope to keep them together.

That is the basic work of the gift card holder. Read on for embellishing it!

Step 5:

Using the piece of cardstock of 3 1/4" x 4" as your base, layer and decorate as you like. Remember if you add a tab to the top, do not put it up too high or the top flap will not close! On my sample here I used the Sweet Shapes set and just added a round tab punch at the top. This would be perfect for a birthday gift card holder. This piece goes in one of the envelope pouches and your gift card goes in the other.

Step 6:

Embellish the front/outside as you like. On my sample here I used the stamps from Sweet Shapes and did a collage effect. For some added bling I put rhinestone/pearl stickers on the flower centers.

That's it! How easy is that to make?

To be entered in the challenge drawing, make a card using the different dimensions, and limitations, for your card , upload it either to your blog, or to an online gallery and post a link to your card to this blog entry as a comment by December 5, 2008 at 12 midnight. I will choose the winner through a random number generator and post the next day.

Even if you can't make the drawing deadline, PLEASE feel free to participate in the challenge and upload your creations at any time. I would love to see it!If you upload your card on SCS, or Paper Craft Planet, please put GCA19(NO SPACE IN BETWEEN GCA AND 19) in the keyword section. That way everyone can look at all of the creations at once! If you've been waiting to join in the fun, jump on in and have some fun!!

Happy Stamping!!!

~~~Ann~~~