Jennifer Schaerer
I admit that I’ve definitely been a slow adopter of gift cards as a gift. To me, it’s always seemed so impersonal and sort of a cop-out to grab one at the cashier station and then just hand it over to the recipient. Convenient? Of course. But personal? Not so much.
If you’re with me on that, let me tell you about something extra wonderful in our newest special issue 225 Cards & Gifts: an entire feature on wrapping a gift card in some clever paper crafting love! There are 26 original ideas to make a gift card into something that shows you care, and I know I’ll be using every one of these ideas in some way.
I especially love this one by Anabelle O’Malley, because it’s a gift for now (mmmm…tasty treats!) and a gift card for later:
Isn’t this fresh design just perfect for honoring mom on Mother’s Day?
These tins are so versatile, too – just look at what Nichole Heady of Papertrey Ink did with a similar tin:
After the gift card is removed, the box becomes a comfy resting place for special pieces of jewelry!
Nichole and her eye for all things gorgeous even took this project to the loveliest of levels by adding a card, a bracelet and a poem:
And guess what? Since it’s a special week around here, we’ve got some of these tins from Papertrey Ink to give away! Leave me a comment by midnight MDT this Thursday, April 23 letting me know what gift card you give most often. Five random (and lucky!) winners will each get a window tin and a large hinged tin to gussy up a few gift cards themselves! And a copy of 225 Cards & Gifts!
And make sure you head over to Moxie Fab World today! Cath is giving away gorgeous flowers, ribbons and trims from nine different manufacturers!
Jennifer
P.S. Speaking of celebrations, tomorrow is Administrative Professionals Day and we’ll be honoring our own Editorial Assistant Brenda Peterson with an extra dose of Paper Crafts love. She is the glue that holds things together around here.
We’re giving her an extra cheer, too, for losing 67 pounds and being healthier than she’s ever been. We couldn’t be more proud of her!
I make gift cards for my sister’s wine store!! Usually they say “for you…” or “thank-you.”
What a wonderful giveaway. I like to give movie theatre gift cards. I gave each of my kids a $50 gift card to a favorite movie theatre and they thank me every time they use it. I made them a pocket out of a toilet paper tube for the movie gift card to slip into and they were both very impressed.
Thanks again, ms.cheryl
These tins would indeed make great giftcard holders! So cute. I give Cracker Barrel cards to my folks for special occasions. They love to eat there!
Hmmm – I don’t do a lot of gift cards, and which ones usually depends on the person (and the occasion.) When the boys were in school, I would usually give book store gift cards to their teacher’s as an end of the school year thank you. Now that my oldest is out of the house and about to be married, the gift cards are usually practical – like Target or Kohl’s – or indulgences (meals out) that he can’t afford to treat himself to. Thanks for asking.
These tins are great! I often give Starbucks, Barnes and Noble and Target gift cards.
Gift cards are pretty evenly split between Starbucks, I Tunes & Cold Stone Creamery. We do give a lot of Baskin & Robbin gift certificates, though…they make great gifts for kids prizes, etc.
I send birthday cards and thank you cards the most! I would like to get more into gift card holders! Thanks so much for the opportunity!!!
I give Restaurant gift cards like Chili’s or Red Lobser to family so they can go out & enjoy themselves!
I love that I have found this site- lot’s of inspiration here!
The old standby, Target gift card, everyone luvs it!
I like to give (and receive!) gift cards for spa treatments. Who doesn’t like a little pampering?
Oh I couldn’t agree more about feeling a lack of personality in giving a gift card! But these tins add some more life and fanfare to the gift card that I just want an excuse to make one! Thanks for the ideas!
I like giving several small gift cards “for the little things” , like starbucks, a movie, pier one, local scrapbooking store
I probably give Macy’s Department store gift cards fairly often too, you can almost always find SOMETHING there to buy 
Love all the ideas!! Thanks,
The gift card I receive most is either to the bookstore or to the craft store – heaven!
Oh I have loved Nichole’s special tin ever since she made it – just beautiful! Thanks for the reminder of how to make a gift card more special:) I give i-tunes gift cards the most, as my sons and their friends just love it when they get those – it’s like free music to your ears:)
i’d like to buy the world a scoop! Of Ice Cream that is, cause ice cream makes the world So much brighter so I give Coldstone gift cards! Maybe that’s why I always get so many email reminders of upcoming birthdays…giggle giggle
I just found your website via the Maya Road website! Love it! You show case cute projects! I wish I knew about it when you were giving away the KC &co stuff!!wow!! This tin is so cute too! I live far from family so for holidays I always send gift cards cuz mailing stuff is so expensive. I find a nice or fun resturaunt in the area they live and give that. They can have a good night on the town and forget about any worries(or dishes) at home.
I love the jewelry box. So pretty. The gift cards I gave most are from Target because I love shooping there myself and I think others would too.
loved both the tin cans. I always give my handmade cards on mother’s day and christmas.
We don’t called it ‘gift card’ here, we called it “gift voucher”. I usually gave gift vouchers from big departmental store, they have everything!
Hi..yes, these are adorable projects u display. I feel like you do about gift cards, but they do seem to be a necessity in our lives. I feel the need to give many at the holidays especially and this is how I do it. I can usually get Starbucks or Itune cards in quantity at Costco. So…I am one of those who loves giving…so I give these in handmade cards usually to: The Dog Groomer, The Postman, The guy who cuts my lawn, The Dry Cleaner (she is so nice to me and my hubby). I no longer give to teachers this way as my kids are now in college, but I used to give them there as well. Sometimes I would stop at Godiva and attach the cards to a tiny( I MEAN TINY) box of chocolate. So…trust me when I say I need those tins lol…tyvvm for the chance, Yes I follow here. Cher
That is a great idea..thanks for sharing!! I give the WalMart gift card most often to family..it’s convenient and they love it!! iTunes is the other one for my niece..every year..she loves it!!
I love those tins. So cute!! I am random with my gift card giving. It so depends on who the recipient is. I’ve done everything from Walmart to Blockbuster to specific mall cards. Thanks for the chance to win! These would spruce up my gift card giving for sure!!
Wow, great projects! I love to give giftcards! Especially since my girls are getting older and don’t like the clothes I pick out for them. I would have to say that I give Starbucks giftcards out the most though. Perfect for teachers!
Love that tin. Nicole is such a talented girl, it’s always a joy to see what she creates.
Most gift cards I buy are for the boy’s in my son’s class so most of the time it’s a gift card for a toy store.
Eveline.
Wow fabulous stuff! My fav food to make and give as gifts is homemade turtles, the kids and I do this every Christmas.
OOOHHH! Great giveaway, I have to say that my favorite treats to give away are cookies… YUMMY!
well, it would depend who I am giving the gift card to..my daughters always want one to Victoria Secret, my husband, Lowes, my mother, Christoper Banks….what a very cute way to dress up that gift card! Thanks for the ideas.
Love those tins, thanks for a chance to win!! Hands down, my go-to gift card is Target, which I always give to my kids’ teachers. I always make a little papercrafted something to go with it, but I know they also appreciate some cold hard cash at a store that has everything. This way, they get something personal AND something practical.
I’ve always felt the same way about gift cards! usually if I give one it’s to a teenager that wants something in particular. Usually music or some clothing.
Those tins are so cute!! The go to gift card I usually choose if I don’t know the recipient too well is a Target gift card. You can’t go wrong there!
I actually avoid giving gift cards, but when I do it is usually for a book store or a small independent shop that I would like to support and that I know the recipient loves!
I really hate giving gift cards too, but it seems that’s all anyone wants anymore. So normally I give Target or Starbucks! Both very useful!
I love to give and receive Starbucks, Target and Barnes and Noble gift cards! Congrats to Brenda! Those tins are so cute! Thanks for a chance to win!
I love this project! I give a lot of Barnes and Noble gift cards.
I so love this project…I give a lot of gift cards, especially to nieces and nephews, as they are difficult to buy for. I go to the local mall and buy a mall card…they can go to any store and buy whatever their little heart desires.
id say wal-mart. those tins are so cute!
ususally Barnes and Noble! Thx for the chance to win!
i Tunes and Starbucks! It just seems like EVERYONE can use those nowadays!
What cute little gift boxes! My favorite gift card to give away these days is for a restauant: Macaroni Grill, PF Changs, etc. It seems like it’s harder and harder to afford the luxury of eating out, and everyone loves to receive a restaurant gift card, including me!
Alicia
I love to give Panera Bread gift certificates to all the teachers, bus drivers, etc. They love it and it is very affordable.
What a beautiful project! It’s gorgeous!
I give movie gift cards as most of my friends love going to the movies esp for free!
Thanks and have a great day!
i think itunes, target, and starbucks are my most frequent gift card gifts.
and nichole’s tin is just gorgeous – of course.
Starbucks gift cards are what we give the most. We have a Duetto card – a credit card and Starbucks card in one – so every time we charge on our credit card, 1% of it ‘turns into’ Starbucks bucks! I can’t remember the last time we paid for anything at Starbucks! It’s FANTASTIC! =) Thanks for a chance to win!
I give Target gift cards most often, with Barnes & Noble a close second. I am totally copying the idea to give the card in a little box with candy. You guys are so inspiring!
The gift cards I give are usually very tailored to the person getting them. However, when in doubt, iTunes, XBox LIVE, and fast-food cards are great for teens, and chain restaurants and book stores are great places to get cards for people out-of-town.
I mostly give Target gift cards because people can usually find something they need/want there!
The gift card I give away most is one to the Hardware Store (Like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Menards usually). My son and daughter in law are proficient at using those to update their home, and for them it’s fun to get this type card to help defray the costs of new fix-it projects!
You know, I love to receive them, but I don’t really *give* many gift cards… When I do, they’re probably to a home improvement store of some kind — for those hard-to-buy-for men in my life!
I would have to say Target & Justice! Nichole’s tin is beautiful!!