Envelope Book Gift Card Holder

It's never too early to start looking for handmade holiday gift ideas, so I'm here today to share with you a clever Christmas gift idea you can make with cardstock. Handmade Christmas paper crafts are such a special way to give gifts, because the recipient knows it's made with love. 

Gather your supplies and let's make an envelope book gift card holder. This is a fun way to give a set of gift cards (fast food for college students, dates for your spouse etc.) Or tuck pictures and notes from the grandkids into the pockets for grandma. There are so many ways to use this little envelope book made of red and green envelopes.

This project uses an Echo Park Collection kit, and I've set up the tutorial so that you can use ANY Echo Park or Carta Bella kit as they all have the same basic items in them. 

Supplies:

• (4) A2 Envelopes in Christmas colors (red envelopes, green envelopes)
• 1 Sheet Encore Textured Cardstock in Snowy White
• Echo Park Collection Kit (or Carta Bella Kit) I used EP Christmas Delivery.
• Adhesive
• Foam Adhesive Squares

How to make an envelope book gift card holder

To get started we need to construct the base of the book using envelopes. Working with one pair of envelopes at a time, lay the envelopes side by side with the flaps facing each other.

Slide the flap on the right into the envelope on the left. Now the envelopes are connected, with a loose flap on the back, and you've created two pockets. Repeat for the second set of envelopes. Note: don't glue anything at this point. You can use all one color of envelopes or choose a variety like I did here with red and green envelopes.

You now have two set of envelopes that form two little books.

Close the books and you will have two loose flaps. Lay the books so the flaps are pointing towards each other. Slide the flap on the right into the envelope opening on the left (on top of the flap on the left). You should now have one book with a loose flap on the back. 

READ THIS WHOLE PARAGRAPH BEFORE YOU GLUE :) At this point, place a dab of glue BEHIND some of the envelope flaps to hold the book together, making sure you are NOT glueing the pockets you created closed. Glue should go behind envelope flaps. Make sure you understand before you place any glue down or you may glue your pockets closed (ask me how I know this).

Next you will embellish your pages. I've created cutting directions and sketches for each page so you can use ANY Echo Park Collection Kit. These collection kits come with cut apart cards, coordinating patterned papers and stickers. Just follow along with the sketches page by page and choose your own stickers and tags from whatever collection you have. DOWNLOAD SKETCHES HERE.

To finish off the back, adhere the last flap to the back of the book with adhesive. 

Once you've decorated your little envelope book, cut four tags for the pockets measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" each. Embellish these with stickers. 

Attach gift cards, photos, write love notes or anything else you'd like to gift to someone. 

Thanks for making this envelope book with me! Save the sketch and you can adapt this for any theme or occasion just by changing the paper kit you use. 

BONUS TIP: Like the look of the "roughed up" edges to the cardstock in my book. I just ran the edge of scissors along my cardstock to get that aged look. 

-Michelle

Here's another cute little mini album idea!