How To Make A Gift Card More Personal

You've bought a gift for a wedding shower and you want the tag to say a little more than "to" and "from". Grab a mailing tag or make one of your own. Its fun to make one of your own by tracing a garment tag or even just a rectangle onto an old cereal box. Cut out the shape and then trace that shape twice onto pretty scrapbook paper. Glue the paper onto the front and back of the tag using a glue stick. Before you start to decorate your tag, take some vellum or other paper. Even a clear shopping bag will do. (Ann Taylor Loft has nice clear bags) Using your gift tag as your guide, cut out enough to wrap around the tag and glue in the back. Then fold the bottom opening inward and glue. (I use a very thin line of YES or a glue runner) This will make a "slip in" envelope. Decorate the top of your envelope with a pretty paper trim you cut out or one already made. Paste your "to" and "from" emblem on the front.
Now the fun part--the tag itself.

Find a picture of the lovely couple or print one out. I used my couple's facebook profile picture and printed one onto photo paper just the size I wanted. Before I glued the pic, I added some lace on the bottom. Using a decorative trim cutter (this one is from Martha Stewart) I cut out some ivory paper and stamped it. (This stamp says" And they lived happily ever after." ) Then I glued the paper on the front of the tag. Next I glued the couple's picture. Finally I sewed ribbon onto the top along with a button.

Make Your Own Wrapping Paper

When I wrap a gift I search for paper that matches the card I have made. The other day it occurred to me that I could make my own wrapping paper. Why have I not thought of this before? Just take plain white paper (I used paper from a big flip chart I had left over from AWANA and Sunday School) Or even use newspaper (you'll see that gesso covers it all) Find a flat area--the kitchen table, the floor, the basement. Lay down wax paper to protect the surface. Next lay the paper you want to paint. Apply gesso mixed with a little water with a brush. Cover generously. Let dry overnight or for a few hours. Flip your paper and apply gesso and water to the other side of the paper. Let dry again.
Now comes the fun--Apply two colors of acylic paint one at a time. (I used gloss acrylic paint for a shine) Apply your darker color first. Cover the paper completely. Dry. Then apply your lighter color in streaks.
Before the lighter streaks dry, use the same color of lighter acrylic to stencil a pattern across your paper. The pattern will look as if it comes and goes.
Let your paper dry flat or hang to dry. Use the same paint for your card or cut some of the paper to use as the background for your card.