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Crafting at Home + Creative Recycling: GIFT CARD HOLDERS

Get ideas and instructions for fun crafts you can do at home with supplies you already have!

Gift Card Holders

So often, stores seem to be out of gift card holders even when gift cards are in stock. With this craft, you can easily make your own with just a few scraps of gift wrap! All you will need for this project is wrapping paper (or decorative craft paper or cardstock), something to close the holder (such as ribbon, decorative tape, twine, a festive sticker, etc.), a ruler, and scissors.

Original project inspiration and directions:
DIY Origami Gift Card Holder
Origami Gift Card Holders
DIY Gift Card Holders (with Printable Template!)

Creating the Folds

Measure out your main square of paper. If you are using gift wrap with markings on the back, utilize these to save time! The square should be 9"x9" for a standard gift card.

Cut out the measured square. Save any small scraps of paper for wrapping paper bows to decorate the finished holder or other gifts!

Starting with the blank or back side facing you, fold the square in half to create a vertical crease. If your paper has a design with a designated top (such as these trees), be sure it is running side-to-side for this and subsequent folding steps.

Open the paper back up and fold the left side in to the center. The edge of the paper should line up with the center crease.

Repeat the previous step with the right side, again matching the edge of the paper to the initial center crease.

Open the paper back up again and fold in each of the corners to make right triangles as shown. The vertical sides of the triangles should line up with the vertical creases made in the two previous steps.

Keeping the four corners folded in, fold the two sides back to center along the creases already made.

Turn the paper over and fold the bottom portion up. Bring it up just far enough that the previous folds create three triangles within a rectangle as shown.

Fold the top portion down as in the last step, again creating three triangles within a rectangle. The top portion should overlap the bottom portion just a bit.

Putting It Together

Tuck the bottom rectangle into the folds of the top one as shown.

NOTE: The next few steps are optional and serve to fix the problem of using paper that doesn't look pretty on the back (such as wrapping paper with grid lines as used in this example). If you are happy with your holder as-is, skip ahead to the step labeled "TO FINISH"

To cover the visible back side of the paper, cut another square measuring 4"x4". You can use the same wrapping/decorative paper or something to contrast what you have already used.

Fold the square in half to make a horizontal crease.

Insert the top half of the square into the top pocket of your gift card holder.

Insert the bottom half into the bottom pocket of the holder to completely cover the visible back side of the original paper square.

TO FINISH: Close the holder and press down one more time on all of the folds.

Insert the gift card with space for an optional note or gift receipt in the top pocket.

Fold the holder closed and secure with a ribbon, twine, sticker, or other closure.

It's done! Make more holders one at a time on an as-needed basis or set yourself up with a small stack for future use. Use up your paper scraps or save some smooth pieces of gift wrap from being discarded after a gift exchange!