Tag Archives: gift card holder

Tutorial: Gift card pockets

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This is my first go at writing a tutorial. This is how to make gift card pockets. It’s a cute and easy project if you are starting to sew, it would make a great project for kids. You can use some of your scraps as well.

Materials:

  • 1 x Backing fabric piece 5 x 7.5 inches
  • 1 x Front piece 5x 7.5 inches (in the tutorial I use 6 different scrap pieces each between 1-1.5 inches)
  • 1 x Low loft batting 5 x 7.5 inches
  • Coordinated binding, you will need 10.5 inches (I use shop bought binding but you can make your own)
  • 1 x coordinated button
  • 1 x coordinated hair tie
  • Cotton

Tools:

  • Sewing Machine
  • Chalk pencil
  • Needle
  • Rotary cutting tool, Ruler, Cutting board

1. Cut all your fabric pieces out, iron pieces if necessary (I always do).IMG_0764

2. If using scraps, stitch the pieces together with a 1/4 in. seam. Once sewn, press the seams down (this is a great tutorial on techniques for pressing seams by SewMamaSew).IMG_0766

3. Put the back piece, batting and front piece together. Press with the iron.IMG_0777

4. Trim the edges to create a straight block of 5 x 7.5 inches.
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5. On one of the short edges of the block (5 inch side), stitch the binding onto the back of the block.IMG_0783

6. Once the binding has been stitched onto the back, cut the binding to the edge of the block. Turn the block over, fold the binding over the top of the block and stitch the front of the binding along the bottom edge.IMG_0785

7. Repeat on the other short edge of the block. Press the block.IMG_0787

8. Fold the block in half, right sides together. Press again. Sew along both edges. I start at the bottom and stitch towards the top as the bottom is thinner and easier place to start. Sew three stitches and then back-stitch, continue to the end, back-stitch 3-5 stitches.IMG_0789

9. Turn in the right way. Press again.IMG_0793 IMG_0795

10. Measure the pocket at the top to find the center (~2.25 in.) and mark with a chalk pencil – the width is now 4.5 inches (for the button position). Repeat the measurement on the binding on the back inside binding (for the hair tie placement). IMG_0797

11. Stitch the hair tie into the inside of the pocket. Stitch a few stitches on the top and bottom of the binding.IMG_0799

12. Hand-sew the button in place. This will complete the gift card pocket.IMG_0801 IMG_0803

Have fun with your color combinations – see these posts for ideas (Making gift cards a little more personal, Customer Order). Additionally, instead of binding you can use a zip.

Linking up with Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

WiP Wednesday: Odds & Ends

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This week I am working on small projects which I need to finish off to get more items for my Etsy Store.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

  1. Coffee Cups Sleeves for my Etsy store. Tops are done, now for the quilting, shaping and binding/piping.
    IMG_0768
  2. Gift Card holders for a custom order (1 black, 1 maroon/greens) and my store. I also started writing up a tutorial  (using the black pictures) on how to make them as they are a nice quick and simple project.
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  3. My Christmas stocking which I did not start/finish in time for Christmas. Fabric chosen, purchased and arrived.
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  4. Chair Bags for my store. I really need make some girlie ones as the ones listed at the moment are more boy friendly. Fabrics are chosen – these three will be appearing in my store soon.
    IMG_0774The SwatchIMG_6115

Making Gift cards a little more personal

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It’s coming to the end of the year, and I was thinking about what to give my two employees who are reporting to me. I wanted to keep it simple so I decided on gift cards, even though I am torn, since they are a little impersonal.

At the recent craft fair I participated in, a customer asked if I made gift card holders (pockets) that can be reused for storing business cards or credit cards. Of course I said yes. Yesterday, I posted that customers finished order.

That request/order inspired me to make the same pockets for my employees – what a great way to make it more personal. I have one male and one female employee, so for the male pocket I tried to make it male appropriate (the blue one below). Here are their two pockets filled with a gift card, which they will receive tomorrow 🙂

EmployeeGiftCardPockets

I wanted to highlight the top pocket in the picture above, as I am very thankful to one of my husband’s colleagues who provide me scraps from one of her quilts; this is what I made from those scraps.ReusableScrapsGiftCardPockets

I don’t really use a pattern and I just randomly piece the straps together, sometimes with a color in mind. I make the pockets with strips of 7 inch fabric pieces that can be from 1″-1.5″ wide. The final width of the block is 5″ (so  7″x5″ block). I lined them with left over corduroy scraps I had, from making the chair pockets and coffee cup sleeves. Finally, I add the binding on the two ends and sewed the sides together. They take between 20-30 minutes to make (including cutting time).

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts – Finish it up Friday