How to make a Christmas gift card holder ornament
Hello dear stitchy friends!
Here at Tangled Threads And Things HQ (aka my living room) we are in full festive mode, stitching and planning for Christmas. I really do think it's the most wonderful time of the year (did you sing that in your head?) We're not at the stage of playing Christmas songs... yet! But we are planning what we will be giving as gifts, and gift cards seems to be the something that's easy to give and lets the recipient choose exactly what they want and like. Of course, being stitchers, we have to be able to spruce up a gift card and make it look super festive and exciting - and that's exactly what we have done....
How sweet is this little fella? And how adorable is it that he can hold a gift card too!
All you have to do is pop the gift card in the little 'pocket' behind the stitching :)
We've added a ribbon loop so that you can hang the gift card holder on the Christmas tree... no more losing gift cards in the pile of presents or accidentally throwing them out with the gift wrap on Christmas morning.
So, how do you make a gift card holder ornament? Read on!
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We used the gift card holder designs from our Etsy shop, they are designed exactly for this purpose! There are four sweet little festive cuties in the set...the hardest part is deciding which one to stitch first! ;)
The charts are an instant pdf download and come with instructions on how to make them as gift card holders, but we thought a tutorial with pictures would be beneficial too!
So once you have stitched the design, here's what you'll need...
White fabric (a fat quarter will do!)
Sewing thread and sharp needle
Scissors
Ribbon (optional)
The process is really quite simple and doesn't take long at all. In fact, it takes more time to write it out than to actually make one! :)
First, separate the hoop. Take the inner ring and lay it on the white felt and carefully draw round the outside of the hoop. We used this disappearing ink pen so that there's no ink marks left on the finished piece. Cut out the circle.
Take the inner hoop and lay it on top of the stitched piece and draw a circle approx an inch and a half wider than the hoop all round the stitching, like this...
As you can see, it doesn't have to be accurate or neat!!! ;)
Do the same thing with the white fabric. We used a fabric that had white snowflakes printed on it, but you can use any fabric you like.
Cut round the circle you have drawn on the stitched piece and the white fabric.
Take the stitched piece and carefully fold over the top part so that there is approx two squares of aida showing above the reindeer's antlers (If using the other designs, leave two squares from the last highest stitch on the design). You can gently iron the edge, or use your fingers to make a crisp fold.
Next, on a hard surface such as a table or counter top, lay the inner ring, then the white (snowflake) fabric, the stitched piece, then finally the outer ring of the embroidery hoop on top.
Now it's time to position the design correctly before you start to tighten the screw.
Make sure the the edge of the stitching at the bottom lines up exactly with the hoop and that the screw at the top is level with the folded fabric.
Once you are happy that everything looks good, push the top ring down over the fabrics and then tighten the screw. You can adjust the fabric as you tighten the screw so that everything lays flat and neat.
Turn over the hoop, and then using a long length of sewing thread and a sharp sewing needle, sew a running stitch all round the white (snowflake) fabric. I use two strands of thread for this, so that the thread is less likely to break.
Once you have stitched all the way round, pull gently on the thread so that the fabric begins to gather and ruffle. Once the thread is as tight as it will go, secure with a double stitch (or a knot!)
Repeat the same process on the aida fabric.
If the aida fabric folds are a bit bulky, gently iron the back so that they lay flat.
Take the felt that you cut earlier and place on the back to hide all the ruffled fabric. Take your sewing needle and some white thread (use a thread that matches your felt if you are not using white felt - you don't want the stitches to be seen!) then stitch the felt to the aida and the white snowflake fabric. This bit of the process is a bit tricky, but just make it as neat as you can.....and if it's not terribly neat, don't worry, no-one will be looking at the back ;)
Now if you want, you can be finished here - it looks great! If you want to hang the gift card holder on the Christmas tree, or if like me you bought a hoop with a great big ugly screw at the top (how did I not notice this when I bought the hoop?!!) and want to disguise it, then just add a loop of ribbon through the space between the screw and the hoop, then add a small bow.
All that's left to do now is pop in the gift card! Simple :)
Isn't that a fantastic way to give a gift card...and cute too!
-Rhona
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