Gift Card Holder Instructions

When I posted the Gingerbread Gift Card Holder last week I got a comment asking for directions.  Here's what I came up with.  I wanted to do this on a nice sunny day to get good pictures but decided that wasn't going to happen.  So, sorry about the quality of the pictures, but at least I'm getting this done.  I hope you'll find it helpful.

 Finished Gift Card Holder:

 Use the Simply Scored tool to score a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of cardstock at 3", 5 1/2" and 8"

 The middle fold should be a mountain fold and the two others should be valley folds.  In other words, the middle score line should be folded opposite of the outer two.

 Use Sticky Strip to adhere the middle pieces together.  Only put Sticky Strip on three sides.   Do not put it on the folded edge.  I tried to get a picture of this, but the red Sticky Strip did not show up on the Real Red cardstock.

 Use the Word Window punch to cut two notches along the folded edge of the middle piece (the two pieces that were just stuck together).  Go in less than half the width of the punch or the edges will start curling back.

 Use the 1 1/4" circle punch to cut a half circle in the center of the folded edge of the middle section.  This will join the notches made by the Word Window and make it easier to get the gift card in and out (now you see why I said not to put Sticky Strip along that edge).

 Finish the front of the card.  It needs to be a relatively simple design since the belly band will go over it.  It's basically more of a background.  Here I stamped ornaments from the Ornaments Keepsakes stamp set with the Illuminate Glimmer Stampin' Pad.  I stamped two ornaments from the same set, cut them out with my Big Shot and the Holiday Ornaments framelits and then attached them near the bottom.  I stamped Merry Christmas with Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched it with the Word Window Punch and layered it on a piece punched with the Modern Label Punch.  This was placed where the belly band will go so that it gets covered.  It's there so the card isn't so plain when the belly band is removed.

 Finish the inside.  I randomly stamped an ornament (again from Ornament Keepsakes) on the first three panels.  Then on the last panel I put a layer of Whisper White and stamped a sentiment from More Merry Messages.

 Cut a strip of cardstock (in this case Whisper White) 7" x 1".  Wrap it around the card.  Do not make it too tight because it has to slip on and off the card.   Glue the ends together on the front side.  Cover the seam with a decorative element.  And you're done.  Did you notice the silver top on the ornaments?  I colored them with the Silver Stampin' Dazzle marker.

I hope you'll use these instructions to create your own Gift Card Holder.  If you do, leave a link in the comments so I can go see it.  If you don't have a blog or somewhere else online to post it, e-mail a picture of it to me and I'll post it.  Can't wait to see what you create!

P.S. Don't forget about the Late Night Stampers Treasure Hunt.  Prize is $150 in Stampin' Up merchandise provided by Sherrill Graff.  Updated list of participating demos is here.