Make a Gift Pouch from a Greeting Card

This gift pouch, made from a greeting card, holds a small gift in style. Colorful greeting cards are available for many occasions, and many of them should not go in the regular paper recycling because of metallic foil, plastic, glue, and other matter. Try reusing one to wrap your next gift or gift card.

Steps

  1. Cut the card along the crease or just in front of it. You will use just the front "cover" of the card for this project.

  2. Measure the height of the card. Mark where you will score and fold it. One fold will create a short tab about 1/2" (1cm) long and the other fold will divide the remaining section into two equal parts.

    • You can put the short tab either on the top or the bottom, so take a look at the design on the card and decide how you'd like it to line up on the finished pouch.
  3. Score the card horizontally along the lines you just marked. You can use a nail or an empty ball-point pen to do this.

  4. Fold along the score lines, as shown. The short end will create a tab. Fold the tab towards the inside.

  5. Trace around the edge of a large, round object, such as a CD or the edge of a bowl or pot lid. Align the object so its edge is tangent to the edge of the card and so that the arc is centered. Do this to both ends of the folded tube.

  6. Using the same object, score curves at each end. Score on both sides. Do not draw or cut these curves. Line the round object up so that it just meets each corner of the tube.

    Cut all the layers of the card along the curves you just traced.
  8. Glue the open edge closed along the tab or use clear tape to close it.

  9. Insert a small gift by opening the tube as shown.

  10. Fold the ends in along the scored curves to hold the gift in place and finish the pouch.

  11. Done. Your recipient only needs to unfold one end of the pouch to retrieve the gift.

Tips

  • Mark lightly in pencil so that you can erase the marks if you need to. The marks in these photos were darkened for clarity.
  • It helps if the round object for drawing the outer edges is about three times as wide as the folded tube. It should create a shallow arc.
  • These pouches are best for small gifts.
  • Score all the folds firmly before folding them. Score along a ruler for the straight lines and around a round object for the curves.
  • The little curve for the opening notch can be drawn with a small coin.
  • Use a nail or the tip of an empty ball-point pen/refill for this.
  • Cutting a thumbnail-sized notch (in a shallow 'V' shape or a curve) in the end of each outside curve can help you or your recipient open the pouch.
  • Plan ahead a little bit, if you are making this pouch for a specific gift. Remember that you will be folding the card in half (minus a tab), then trimming and folding the ends in. Opening the pouch will also shorten it just a bit. If you're not sure, aim for something a little larger than you think you need.

Warnings

  • If you use a CD as a template, it's wise to use an old one that you don't need.
  • Take appropriate precautions with paper cutters and scissors.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper cutter (optional, but very helpful)
  • Scissors
  • Greeting card; choose a design suited to the occasion
  • Glue stick and/or clear tape
  • Round object (CD, bowl, etc.)
  • Small coin (optional)
  • Something to use to score the card: a knitting needle, a ballpoint pen that is out of ink, a nail, etc.

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