The Kraft Journal: Gift Card Holder Tutorial

Over at The Kraft Journal it's time for our weekly Kraft Outlet product tutorial. However, before I get started with it, I'd like to apologize in advance for the less than perfect lighting in the following photographs. I just recently moved my craft space and have not yet worked out the lighting.

Despite the poor lighting issues, today I'm going to show you how to quickly create a "no frills" gift card holder (perfect for those last minute gifts)... this gift card holder can also easily be embellished to create a more elaborate card as well.

No-Frills Gift Card Holder with Belly Band

With that said, to create today's "no frills" gift card holder you'll need the following supplies:

Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock cut to 4 1/4 x 11 inches
Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock cut to 1 1/4 x 7  inches
Twill Tying Tape 
Patterned Paper cut to 2 3/4 x 4 inches
Stamp Set(s) of choice (I used Papertrey Ink "2008 Holiday Tag Collection" and Hero Arts "Merry Christmas Tree" set)
Adhesive
Ink

You'll also need the following tools:

Stampin Up Large Window Punch
1" Circle Punch
1 3/4 Circle Punch (to cut out stamped tag)
Scoreboard/Scoring Tool

Start the project by inking all edges of cardstock and patterned paper, which is much easier than waiting until the card was completed like I did here!

Score the 4 1/4 x 11 inch cardstock at 3", 5 1/2" and 8".

Fold into an "M".

On the third panel from the left apply adhesive as shown above. (This will create the pocket for the gift card)

Fold the cardstock together to adhere the adhesive creating a "T". The center panel will be the pocket of for the gift card. The top of the "T" will be the front and back of the card.

Working on the center of the card, use the Word Window punch to cut along the top (leaving a small section on each end that is not cut) that will create the opening to the gift card pocket as shown below.

Using your 1 inch circle punch, cut a half circle from the center of the gift card holder pocket slot to create a tab.

The gift card pocket should look like this...

and the gift card slides into the pocket as shown below.

Embellish gift card as desired or continue to follow the instructions below to recreate this gift card holder with belly band shown in this tutorial.

Stamp a sentiment on the front of the gift card holder pocket.

Adhere patterned paper to card front and use the 1 1/4 x 7 inch strip of Kraft cardstock to create belly band.

Fold band of cardstock around outside of card.

Turn card over and use adhesive to adhere band around card.

Wrap Twill Tying Tape around belly band, tie into bow or knot and trim edges.

Stamp tag onto scrap piece of Kraft cardstock and punch out with 1 3/4 inch hole punch.

Adhere to belly band under knot of bow.

While there are a lot of photographs with this tutorial it actually is a project that comes together very quickly and again, there are many options for adding embellishments to really make your gift card holder unique.

Remember, there is still time to enter our challenge this week over at The Kraft Journal. For all the details and to link your project click on our Current Challenge link located on the upper righthand of the Kraft Journal sidebar!

Happy Krafting!