{warning: image heavy post, but great hybrid ideas}

Remember when you were a child looking forward to that big box with pretty wrapping paper and a big bow on top. As we grow up our interests change and size is not as important, teens and adults have a very different view of Christmas. Some teens would rather get a bit of money to do whatever they like. For some adults the gifts are not even important anymore, it is the thought that counts. So, with that in mind, how to wrap money? or a gift card? or a thoughtful message? I have two new templates that might give you some ideas not only for this Christmas, but for gift giving in general.

These templates are easy to put together but are not the most intuitive thing in the world. So, lets have a quick step by step for each:

Gift Card holder Step by Step

Step 1. Clip your favourite paper to the template base. You can also add elements and word art. Remember the template is only for the outside design.

Step 2. Print your card holder into matte paper. I suggest you select one of your favourite papers and print on the back of the design, but it is no problem if you decide to leave it white.

Step 3. Cut the design, and score with a scoring tool or blunt knife to make folding easier.

There are four folds in the design, you will fold all of them "outward" except the third one which you should fold "inwards".

Step 4. Now add adhesive to the fold like in this image. Don't add adhesive to the whole fold, just around it, the area without adhesive is where your gift card is going to go.

Step 5. Once the little flap for the gift card is glued together, turn it around and make a little cut in the middle of it, just enough for you to slide your card in.

Step 6. Your gift card holder is ready. Now you have the option "round the corners" if you have a corner rounder punch:

and decorate it with real embellishments, I kept mine simple, closing it with a clip from Fancy Pants and adding Making Memories alpha stickers. Here is my finished little gift card holder created with the Simple Pleasures kit:

Get the whole concept? It is hard to see on the photos. You can also close it with a ribbon or a sticker, give as it is or put it in an envelope. There is so much room to be creative with these templates.

Paper Wallet Step by Step

On to the next one, the paper wallet template turned out soo much better than I imagined. I love it and already made a couple for my kids to play with. It is quick and easy to put together.

Step 1. Very similar to the Card holder, clip your favourite papers to the template shapes. I have kept it simple but each of the parts is a different shape so you can have different papers if you want.

Step 2. Print and cut out the design. You can print both sides or leave the inside white.

Step 3. Score with a scoring tool or blunt knife to make folding easier.

Step 4. Add adhesive to the "flaps" and close your paper wallet like this:

Step 5. Your wallet is ready. You can embellish it or use as it is. I have decided to round the corners on mine, and use Velcro to open and close the tab.

Velcro is easy to find on craft stores that sell sewing and quilting materials. The ones I bought are self adhesive dots that I cut in half to fit my little wallet.

On this project I used my Leaves paper pack and added some fun cardstock alphabet stickers from Love Elsie.  Here is my finished wallet ready for some money ;)

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Here is what guest CT Melinda did with these templates and designs by Microferk, Saxon Holt and Jan Hosford (from scrapbook-elements.com):

Great isn't it? Who wouldn't like to get one of those for Christmas??? I think even the kids would love it!

Cathy also played with the templates, look at her gorgeous creations, one card holder and two wallets:

Cathy used my Leaves paper pack, the imagination alpha and the Love Fall collab with Lili as well as those adorable doodles by Nancy Kubo. I just looove that she put some photos in the wallet for her daughter Sofia and the button is just the perfect touch, so cute!

That's a LOT of photos for one post, hope it inspires you, I had a lot of fun with it :)

xoxo