The trend in holiday gift giving is to avoid the accumulation of more “stuff.” To that end, the popularity of gift cards, gift certificates and good old-fashioned cash appears to be growing with each passing year.
But popular as the cards and cash may be, we can all probably come up with at least one horror story about a card or certificate that got tossed out with the torn-up tissue in the holiday hubbub.
This week’s project can help prevent such mishaps by providing a protective — and decorative — home for your cash and card gifts.
To make our card and cash holders, you’ll need plastic canvas, heavy embroidery floss or yarn, felt or fabric (optional), a heavy-duty needle, scissors and seasonal embellishments.
We found most of the embellishments shown in our photos in the scrapbooking sections at Craft Mart and JoAnn Fabrics in Marysville and Ben Franklin in Monroe.
Scrapbooking sections are great places to find adornments such as the dart board and elegant kitty, and while most cost between $1.50 and $2 each, be prepared for the occasional $5 and $6 price tag.
Personalize your holders by selecting embellishments that suit individual gift recipients, then display the finished (and filled) products as ornaments on the holiday tree or as an added festive touch to evergreen boughs, garlands or wreaths.
You can make both the flat and pocket versions without plastic canvas if you choose, but the stabilizing canvas will make the construction process go more smoothly, especially for the pocket version.
Flat version
To make a flat money or card holder, cut two pieces of plastic canvas about 1/2 inch (all around) larger than a bill or card.
Cover both pieces of the canvas completely with embroidery thread or yarn of choice, then (with wrong sides together) attach the two pieces together using a whip stitch on three sides. Leave one long side open and, using whip stitch, finish each edge separately.
To cut down on stitching, cut two pieces of felt or fabric to cover the plastic canvas, but cut them just a bit smaller than the canvas so that the outer row (on all four sides) of holes is uncovered. Use a regular diagonal stitch to attach the felt or fabric to the canvas, then attach the two pieces together and finish as above.
Add embellishments as desired, as well as two lengths of embroidery thread or yarn on each side of the open end to serve as a tie. Make a hanger by threading the needle, knotting the double strand at the end, running the needle through one corner of the holder (so that it will hang as you desire), then cutting the thread and knotting at the cut end.
Pocket version
To make a pocket for money or cards, cut two pieces of plastic canvas about 1/2 inch (all around) larger than a bill or card, then cut two pieces of canvas equal to the length of long side and two pieces equal to length of the short side of the main pieces. Your side pieces should be 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch wide.
Cover the side pieces with a regular diagonal stitch and set aside, then cover the main pieces with stitching or using felt or fabric as for the flat holders, and embellish as desired.
Attach the side pieces to one of the main pieces using a whip stitch around the edges on three sides (two short and one long side), then attach the final long side piece to the main piece along one long side only (using a whip stitch). Finish by covering all naked edges but leave the final side open.
Cut two lengths of yarn or embroidery thread for a tie closure, and attach one piece to the center of the side piece and one to the center of the main piece. Add a hanger following the same procedure as for the flat holders.
Contact Jonetta Coffin at jrocoffin@aol.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
