STRING OF LIGHTS GIFT CARD HOLDER

Yesterday, December 10, was the Christmas Edition of my Stamp-In Club. This gift card holder was one of the projects the girls worked on.

At this time of the year, aren't we all looking for cute ideas for gift card holders? The stamps in the Making Christmas Bright set (page 7 in the Holiday Catalog) gives us lots of options to create and makes a really darling gift card holder with just a bit of work.

The String of Lights Gift Card Holder, wearing its belly band:

The naked gift card holder, sans belly band:

The inside of the gift card holder is fairly straightforward 

with a little creativity in the multi-colored letters in the word "Bright", 

to echo the colors used in the Christmas lights 

on the outside of the holder as well as on the belly band:

The belly band in all its glory:

Just a photo to show the belly band in the act of being removed:

Interested in making one of these quick gift card holders? Read on!

SUPPLIES:

Whisper White cardstock

Gold Foil Cardstock

Making Christmas Bright stamp set (page 7 in the Holiday Catalog)

Pacific Point ink

Real Red ink

Garden Green ink

Crushed Curry ink

Stampin' Write Markers in:  Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point, Real Red and Crushed Curry

Black ink

Tear & Tape (page 213 in the Annual Catalog)

Simply Scored (page 208 in the Annual Catalog)

1" Circle Punch 

Christmas Bulb Builder Punch (page 6 in the Holiday Catalog)

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Basic Rhinestones

DIRECTIONS:

You will be using a strip of Whisper White cardstock that measures 4" x 7 3/4". With the Simply Scored, score at 2 1/2" and then again at 5 1/8". Crease on the score lines.

Work first on the part where you scored at 2 1/2". When folded up, this won't quite touch the next score line. There will be about a 1/8" gap. Refer to the sample. Take the 1" Circle Punch and, going in a little more than halfway, punch in the center of the end. This will help the recipient to get the card out of the holder.

With the piece still lying flat, and beneath the circle you just punched, stamp "May your Christmas be" in black ink. Then, using the brush end of the Stampin' Write Markers, color each of the letters in the word "Bright" a different color. REMEMBER: When working with markers, the ink dries quickly, so HUFF on the stamp before stamping it below the black words.

Add Tear & Tape along the sides with the tape going right along the edge so there is room enough for a gift card to slide in. Press the sides together.

Now you are going to work on the front of the gift card holder. In black ink, stamp the row of Christmas lights four times, being sure to stagger each line a bit so they aren't perfect rows of soldiers. Use the same Stampin' Write Markers to color in the strings of lights.

TO  MAKE THE BELLY BAND:

Take a 1" x 8 1/2" strip of Whisper White cardstock and wrap it around the gift card holder. Wrap it tightly, but not too tightly. You want to be able to remove and replace it easily enough but yet to stay in place on the gift card holder. Make creases where necessary.

Flatten the strip out. Centered across the top of the long portion of the strip, stamp the line for the bulbs in black ink. DON'T ROCK THIS STAMP AT ALL. ASK ME HOW I KNOW THAT.

Stamp each of the lightbulbs in a row in the colors according to the sample on Whisper White cardstock. Once your bulbs are stamped, use the Christmas Bulb Builder Punch to punch each of them out.

Take a strip of gold foil paper and punch out four of the bulb toppers. Adhere the toppers to the bulbs.

With a Mini Stampin' Dimensional on the back of each bulb, hang them hither thither on the black line.

Add a Basic Rhinestone to either side of the string of lights.

Adhere the two ends of the belly band together and slip it onto the gift card holder.

Go to your favorite store and purchase a gift card to slip inside for a lucky recipient.

There! Now, wasn't that fun?

Gifty

Smiles.