If you live in America, more and more you have an abundance of gift cards laying around. I've found that if I ask for one or two in stores they usually just give them to me (unloaded, of course). In Europe we buy our phone chips and get these cards. So why not use them to craft? Here's a quick how to:
Select your cards. As you see below, it doesn't matter if there is a hole since you may cover with paper. The other option is to gesso or paint the surface. If you do this be sure to lightly sand the card so it will have some grip to hold your paint. Then decorate. The following is how to do it with a paper covering.
I laid my card down on the back side of my paper to mark cutting lines. Don't assume all cards are exactly the same size unless you check them. Some have funny shapes and edges.
Cut papers and round corners if you want. I did this with my smallest corner rounder and found it did not exactly match up. Try it and see on one before you cut a lot of papers. You might be better to hand cut around the corners after you glue in place or not cut them at all.
I inked my card edge before gluing paper to it. Then I inked the papers on it too. I discovered that ink pad ink is slow to dry on plastic so be careful not to smudge your paper with it (I did, experience, the great teacher). Inking edges is optional. Put the papers on your card and see how it looks.
Front side. This is the fun part, decorating the front and back. Be sure to leave room for your quote. Move everything around like a puzzle until you get the layout you like before gluing. Also, leave a bit of room in the upper left corner for a hole to bind it together with a ring or ribbon (or twine, embroidery floss, lace, seam binding, etc.)
Back side with your name and pertinent details you want to include. Here is evidence of some smudging I did (not on purpose). When that happens never fret, just work with it. I drew the little vine to cover the spot.
There wasn't that easy peasy? And so cute, what a fun mini-book. If you make one I'd sure like to see what you do.
Blessings, Coleen in Ukraine
9 comments:
Looks easy enough and the results are so cute.
Good idea. I am an American and often lament all the waste we create with our comsumer ways. I have gotten a little carried away with my "up-cycling" ( taking junk that you would normally throw away and making a crafty pretty out of it). Love what you did, and love your blog.
Cheers,
Leah
I love reusing things in a project to make an entirely new "something" -- this is so pretty. It could also be good for using as a section divider in small journal or the cover of a small journal. Hmmm, more ideas are brewing. :-)
Blessings!
Cute idea!
Hola Coleen! Soy Miembro de tu blog. Vine a visitar tu sitio nuevamente. Tu creacion esta muy buena. Tu blog es una bendicion. Me llevo tu "Abortion Ticker". Pronto vuelvo visitarte. Dios te bendiga! Un abrazo, Celeste.
What a cute idea!
These are really cute. I like your crafting ideas.
tiger1i1y from swapbot (blog swap)
creative idea for recycling gift card, perhaps I'll try it sometime.
-iggygirl (check out my blog #3)
www.artbyingridglaw.com
Colleen, you are a woman of many talents and creative ideas. This idea is really cute.
Your blog is really beautiful and informative. Nice job!
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