Winter Snow themed Gift Card Holder and Pattern ex

This will be my last swap for a while as I am expecting a(nother) baby boy mid-December! So join while you can!!

Many people will be giving gift cards in the upcoming weeks and months. So let make gift card holders (GCH)! And so your partner can reproduce it, include a pattern and/or instructions or a link to it online. Because everyone celebrates in a different way, I've deliberately made this for generic themed GCHs. Please use mainly white, blue and silver and include at least one snow related element like a snowman, snowflake, winter scene etc. If you wish, you can PM your partner to see if a more holiday related theme would be appropriate. No holiday sentiments otherwise. Something like Warm Winter Wishes or Thank You would be appropriate but some like myself don't celebrate any winter holidays at all so keep it generic. You actually don't have to put any wording on it at all if you prefer! Or attach a sentiment on a tag so it can be removed if your partner wishes but make sure it won't ruin the look.

You can make any style holder you like. I'm always looking for ideas so if you send me a photo of what you make, I'll Post them all on my blog and enter you to win a prize! Rednie@sympatico.ca Subject Line MUST be Swap-Bot GCH Contest or it will be too hard to look them up when the swap is over. Deadline to enter Dec5. The more interesting and unique the style of the base (not the decorating), the more entries you will get!

I've seen ones that are a small box, others more like an envelope with an insert that pulls out with the GC secured to the insert. Some are more like a wrap or even a pillow box. It can be a card with a pocket, a patterned paper origami folded holder, bookmark made with two layers so the GC slips inside or a fabric pouch or bag! Just be absolutely sure that the GC is secure so it won't fall out (include a glue dot if necessary) and that it fits a standard card which is the same size as a credit card. Make it pretty so it seems like a gift on its own! Many GCH use small tabs to hold the GC in. Just be sure it is secured somehow.

I've actually traced and copied GCHs from stores to make some of mine. Some times they will just give you one or if purchasing something at the store anyways, buy the card then use it for your purchase immediately (might be 2 transactions) and keep the holder! I also like the GCH templates from MyTimeMadeEasy.com. Just keep in mind that this is international so you might want to go flatter if you get an international partner and shipping cost is an issue. Another source of ideas: Papertrey Ink just released a GCH die so you could buy the die or copy the style and/or decorating that the design team recently featured. Papertreyink.com and search in the forum. I'll try to provide a direct link soon. Etsy is also a treasure trove of inspiration.

*Please use at least 1 layer on top of the base and 2 embellishments on the main area of your GCH. Please use ALL quality items to make this GCH.

*Stickers, AS ACCENTS, should be limited to high quality scrapbooking or card making stickers, not the kind meant for kids or teacher’s reward stickers.

*If you use rubber stamping; please stamp cleanly, missed areas or double lines are not acceptable. No magazine cut outs or computer generated images please (unless they are impeccable quality and you can't tell they were printed on the computer).

*Please make a beautiful GCH you are proud of and would be thrilled to receive. Make sure your work is clean and precise. No glue should show and straight cuts need to be straight.

*Please don't be discouraged by my rules. I am only referring to general tidy practices, not tiny flaws. I've received a card so saturated with glue I could knock on it and get hollow noises! I've received a note book with edges that looked like they had been cut with a saw! I just expect tidy work!

*Please check your partner’s profile for dislikes and avoid those. For instance, do not use emerald green, any fluorescent or bright orange on mine because I hate those colours.

*Please have a 4.97+ rating to join and no 1's EVER or 3's in the last 6 months. I will accept explanations of course, PM me ahead of the sign up deadline. Newbies are welcome with WELL FILLED out profiles (About Me, Likes, Dislikes at least) and MUST PM me at least 3 days before the end of the swap to show good intentions. A newbie is someone with less than 5 completed and rated type 2 or 3 swaps. If you have an EXPLAINED 1 or 3, you have to PM 3 days ahead also or I will automatically ban you. If you see a flaker has joined, don't worry, I will weed them out. If you are really worried, give me a heads up! I’ve been flaked on so many times, I've stopped keeping track, so I get it!

Enjoy, Rebecca