DIY Gift Card Holder
November 14, 2011 at 10:09 PM 16 comments
DIY Gift Card Holder/Ornament
Tutorial and BOGO Offer
We decided to bring our blog to you along with a special Black Friday BOGO offer! First, a fun tutorial the way we present them on the blog; and next, an unbeatable offer exclusively from Modesty Matters!
Sometimes finding the perfect gift for that special someone can be difficult. One thing that never gets old or goes out of style is gift cards. I know what you’re thinking….boring. Right? Not when you add some of your personalized handiwork to the presentation. You can make a very simple, yet touching (because you took the time to make it yourself with them in mind – scroll down to the bottom to see other great options) gift card holder that can double as an ornament or be re-used by the recipient to present a similar gift to another person. These are great for Christmas, Chanukah, birthdays, a thank you, a teacher appreciation gift, rewards – pretty much any occasion that calls for a gift. The options are limitless. Choose colors appropriate for the celebration, or the recipient’s favorite color.
Materials:
- 1-8½ X 11″ piece of felt for the main color
- 1-8½ X 11″ piece of felt for the accent color
- Embroidery Floss
- Embroidery Hand Sewing Needle
- 6-8 inches of ⅜” Grosgrain ribbon
- Liquid Seam Sealant or a Lighter
- Sharp Scissors
- Pins
Instructions:
Cut two 3″ X 4″ rectangles from the main color.
Cut ½” wide strip the length of the piece of felt (using the longer side) from the accent color.
Place the strip vertically centered on one of the rectangles. Align the top edge of your rectangle with the top edge of the accent strip. Pin this piece in place. Trim off the excess.
Thread your embroidery needle with about 18 inches of all 6 strands of embroidery floss. (Embroidery floss is actually 6 strands of thread twisted together to make a thicker piece.) Knot off the end. Coming in from the under side, tack the middle of this vertical strip in place with a single stitch. Leave this as is – without knotting off the single stitch – while you place the left-over piece of felt from before.
Carefully make a knot with the left-over piece of felt. (Avoid pulling or tugging too hard on the felt as it may separate.) Place this knotted piece in the center horizontally and pin it in place (optional). I simply eyeballed the area that would be covered by this strip.
Back to the embroidery needle and thread: Creating a French Knot
Choose a random place to come up from the under side. Once you’ve pulled the thread through, hold the thread with your free hand, and use the needle to pull the floss, near the felt, towards you. Wrap the needle three times with the floss.
Now take the needle and insert it into the felt immediately next to the place where it came out of the felt. Use your free hand to keep the wrapped thread touching the felt as you pull the needle back through.
Pull the needle and the length of thread all of the way through while holding the wrapped thread. Gently pull until taught.
This is basically what your knot should look like from the top side.
Now, choose a few other random places to repeat this process until you are happy with the decoration you have created.
Now, we’re ready to secure the front piece that we’ve pinned and decorated to the back piece. Layer the two rectangles and re-insert the pins through all layers.
Back to the embroidery needle and thread: Creating a Blanket Stitch
The blanket stitch is often used to bind the edge of a piece of fabric that will not unravel, in a decorative fashion.
This time, separate the strands of embroidery floss so that you are only using two strands for this set of stitches. Knot off the end, and then insert the needle from the back side of the front rectangle about ¼ inch from the edge.
Pull the thread through to the knot and then insert the needle ¼ inch away vertically through both layers of felt.
Do not pull this all the way through. Leave a small loop. Take the needle and come up from the back side through that open loop and tighten.
Then, repeat this process all of the way around the piece.
Inserting the Grosgrain Ribbon: Before you reach the corner, seal the ends of your ribbon with either a quick pass of a lighter (which melts the fibers together) or with liquid seam sealant. Pin the ribbon between the layers, and incorporate it into your blanket stitch as just another layer to pierce with the needle.
REMEMBER TO ONLY STITCH THE DECORATIVE LAYER (not through both layers) ALONG THE TOP. (We need that opening in order to insert the gift card.)
Knot it off at the end, and try to conceal this knot between the layers.
You did it! Good work!
You CAN Sew!
Would you like more gift-giving ideas?
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Do you ever struggle with what to get that special someone, or how to wrap it? Are you unsure of how to show them that you care without spending a small fortune? The solution is here! “You CAN Sew: Gifts for Him” and “You CAN Sew: Gifts for Her” offers many simple, do-able suggestions for handmade gifts from the heart. All you need is a sewing machine, thread, scissors, and some fabric, one or both of these reusable DVD sets, and you are on your way! These step-by-step DVD sets alone are also great gifts for loved ones who enjoy working with their hands.
“You CAN Sew: Gifts for Him” includes the following titles:
- The Grill Apron
- The Grill Mitt
- A Handsome Gift Bag
- A Handy Nail Apron
- Leisure Pants (with a pocket)
“You CAN Sew: Gifts for Her” includes the following titles:
- The Decorative Pillowcase
- Drawer Sachet
- Flattering Kitchen Apron
- Drawstring Satchel
- Gusseted Gift Bag with French Seams
When you really care about someone, you want them to feel loved. Showing them by using your skills to create something, with just them in mind, is a great place to begin. Just knowing that they were worth your time and energy is sure to please even the pickiest of folks! Get ready for the heartfelt, ear-to-ear grins you’ll be getting because You CAN Sew!
Warmly,
Jen & Dee
Start taking advantage of this special offer now!
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Entry filed under: DIY, Girls, Girly / For Girls, Handmade, Home Life, Patterns, Sewing, Simple.
1.
Jacinda @ Growing Home | November 16, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Cute! I think I might make a matching key fob using your tutorial too. 🙂
2.
marissa | November 18, 2011 at 2:51 AM
this is so stinking cute! I’d love you to add this to my link party over at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com
3.
modestmomma | November 21, 2011 at 9:17 AM
Count me in! =)
4.
Heather @At The Picket Fence | November 18, 2011 at 8:15 PM
So cute! Love the thought of making your own custom gift card holder. Great idea. Thank you for sharing this with us at Inspiration Friday.
Heather
5.
Good Girl Gone Green | November 20, 2011 at 12:53 AM
How cute!:)
6.
Kaysi @ Keeping It Simple | November 20, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Cute!!
7.
hollyll | November 21, 2011 at 4:21 AM
That is so cute. What a great idea!
Holly
504 Main
8.
Marilyn | November 21, 2011 at 5:46 AM
Sooo creative.. I absolutely love this.. I am officially your newest follwer.. I have a linky party happening for Christmas ornaments and I will LOVE for you to please share this lovely feature with me and my friends please : )) http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com/2011/11/special-christmas-soiree1st-feature.html –lovely blog you have here.. Wishing you a great start to your week.. TY
9.
modestmomma | November 21, 2011 at 9:16 AM
Thank you, Marilyn! I am definitely coming right over! =)
10.
Jamie | November 21, 2011 at 7:45 AM
What a cute gift card holder. Thanks for the tutorial. I love your blog.
Would love to see you DIY Home Sweet home.
Jamie
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
P.S. I have another giveaway going on right now. Would love you to stop by and check it out.
P.P.S. I have a linky every Monday. Would love for you to stop by and link up.
11.
modestmomma | November 21, 2011 at 9:15 AM
Grabbed your button! I am so there!
12.
modestmomma | November 21, 2011 at 9:15 AM
Thank you so much for all of your kind comments! You’ve really made my day! =)
13.
Creative Deviations « Modesty Matters' Blog | November 21, 2011 at 12:29 PM
[…] I have some fun creative deviations for you from last week’s project where we made the DIY Felt Gift Card Holder / Ornament that resembled a wrapped gift. Just look what else you can do using some felt, embroidery floss, […]
14.
Marie | November 21, 2011 at 11:24 PM
Super cute! Thanks for linking up with us and hope you join us again this Wednesday! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Marie
mylilpinkpocket.blogspot.com
15.
perfect gift ideas | November 25, 2011 at 6:37 AM
A good way to give away the gift card to the recipient. It shows that we do put in some thought into the gift and giving them something practical at the same time.
16.
Alida | December 1, 2011 at 1:31 AM
Thank you so much for sharing this lovely gift card holder on Thingamajig Thursday. I hope to see you again this week.
Alida
PS – I’m your newest follower.