How to Make a Personalized Gift Card

This is a project that I really like and I've done many times as gifts to friends and family. It’s easy to do and looks great. You can personalize it for someone by trying to choose a drawing or color that they like. Alternatively, you can also choose the drawing according to the occasion: is it for a birthday, a wedding, christmas …

• Cutting board
• Canson paper / Cardboard paper
• Normal white paper
• An assortment of paper of different colors or drawings 
• Adhesive tape / scotch tape
• An assortment of pretty and colored masking tape
• Thick double sided tape (about 2mm thick)
• Cutter / X-acto knife (with a sharp blade) 
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• A pencil
• A marker (metallic or glitter)
• A straight edge / ruler
• Magnets 2-3mm thick (optional) I usually use repurposed magnets from computer hard drives, as they are the perfect thickness

You will need paper of different colors for the inside of the drawing. You can either choose shades of matching colors or choose contrasting colors for guaranteed results !

If you choose similar colors you will need to trace around the drawing to make the shape stand out.

On the Canson paper, draw two rectangles of the size you want your final card to be. For instance I choose to make a 15 x 10.5 cm card. Cut the rectangles using scissors. 

Then, cut a slightly smaller rectangle on the paper you want to use as a background (14 x 9.7cm in my case).

On a white piece of paper draw a simple shape that you like.

You have to find a shape that is not too simple so that the design is interesting, but not too complex so that you can cut it. 

Then, overlay one Canson paper rectangle, the background paper and your drawing. Tape them together with non permanent adhesive tape.

Trace over the line with your cutter. If the blade is not sharp, you risk tearing the paper. Take your time for this step because it’s the hardest one.

Try to cut through the three layers of paper, but if you can’t, you can come back to the same spot more than once to make sure the three pieces are cut all the way.

Hooray ! You are over the hardest step !

You can now glue the Canson paper to the background paper. 

Cut 2cm bands of all the papers you wish to use for decoration.Then, fold 5mm of each band, like shown in the picture. 

On a mock piece of paper, redraw the shape that you choose. Then choose how you want to arrange the bands inside your drawing. You have to mirror the design you want at the end !

Place the card facing down, on the drawing you just did. Use the lines to place the decorative bands. Tape the bands with the short part of the fold facing up. For the best result I advise you to alternate colors on a rotating pattern.

:)

Once you have taped all the bands, you can turn the card and look at the results. You are almost done !

Using a marker trace around the edge of your drawing to make the design pop. I like to use metallic markers, but you can also use glitter markers or any other kind of marker.

Place thick double sided tape all around the back of the tape. Try to put the tape as close to the edge as you can but make sure it doesn’t go over the edge. This will ensure that you have a clean result at the end. Then, using the other side of the double sided tape, glue the other rectangle of Canson paper.

You can glue magnets here if you want to be able to stick the card to the fridge or a radiator.

It’s a nice way to use repurposed magnets from old computer hard drives.

You can use all sorts of markers and tapes to decorate the card. I like metallic markers and glitter tape. Don’t forget to decorate the back too !

You can use it as a letter to send someone or as a gift, but don’t forget to write something nice on the back ! And you can also use it as decoration for your home.