How To Make a Gift Card Holder // Simple Sewing Project
(Revised 1-22-2025)
When you give a gift card as a gift, why not make a unique, homemade gift card holder to put it in? They only take 10 minutes to make and it’s a project in that you can use up some of your fabric scraps.
These gift card holders are fun and simple to make and great for “last minute” gift giving. This is a good beginner sewing project.
They only take a minimal amount of fabric (two 5 x 7-inch pieces) and a few snaps. Adding some lightweight interfacing, you can make the gift cards a little more rigid, but this is optional.
GIFT CARD HOLDER MATERIALS & ITEMS NEEDED
- PDF fabric gift card holder PATTERN (Get it FREE HERE)
- 2 5 x 7-inch pieces of fabric (quilters cotton fabric works well)
- Iron-On interfacing
- scissors
- pins or wonder clips
- Iron/Ironing Board (WOOL PRESSING MAT)
- Sewing machine
- 2 sets of snaps (I like using Kam Snaps), but you can use sew-on snaps
- Optional label/tag
- 17 inches of ribbon for the tie method.
GIFT CARD HOLDER INSTRUCTIONS
1 – Using the free pattern, cut out 2. (1 lining/1 outer)
You can have them be different prints or the same.
2 – Cut out 1 interfacing (optional).
CUT IT ¼ INCH SMALLER
3 – Apply the interfacing to the WRONG SIDE of just one of the fabric pieces.
(bumpy side of interfacing down).
4 – Place the two pieces RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.
5 – If you are adding a tag or label, do that now.
Using the pattern, apply the tag where suggested. This is totally optional. It helps to baste the tag in place before sewing the outer seam.
*** If you want to learn how to make your own labels, check out my tutorial HERE.
6- How to add a tie to the gift card holder.
Measure 11 inches on the ribbon and fold the ribbon at that point.
Place the folded ribbon onto the fabric at the top center point.
Allow the ribbon to extend past the fabric about 1/4 inch.
Tack in place or clip in place with it sancwhiced between the front and back pieces of fabric. Proceed with the next step.
7 – Using a ¼ inch SEAM ALLOWANCE, start sewing at the indicated point, continue sewing around, and stop LEAVING A 1 ½ – 2 INCH OPENING.
Back stitching at the beginning and end of the seam.
8 – Clip corners and notch the curved edge.
9 – Turn RIGHT SIDES FACING OUT
Push out the corners with a “turning stick” or something with a blunt end.
10 – Tuck in the seam allowance from the opening you left.
Press all the edges well.
11 – Fold the bottom edge up 1 3/4 inches, and press.
Fold the top edge down so the height of the envelope is 2 ¼ inches. Press to make a crease.
12- Pin or clip the bottom section of the gift card holder in place and sew along one side, over the top, and down the other side using a top-stitch 1/8 inch from the edge.
Clip threads.
Gift Card Holder Snap Application
13- Poke Holes
Using the awl that comes with the kit, poke a hole in the top flap where indicated and mark the hole with a pencil where the second snap needs to be applied.
14 – Top Snap
Take one of the thumbtack-looking components and stick it through the hole you made at the top of the holder. (push through from outer fabric to inner)
15- Apply a female component.
Hold in place while you squeeze the two pieces together using the snap pliers.
16 – Repeat for the other snap.
Do the same thing with the other snap, but poke the thumbtack piece through the hole from the outer fabric to the inner. Use the male snap piece this time.
17 – Repeat for the other snap.
Do the same thing with the other snap but poke the thumbtack piece through the hole from the outer fabric to the inner. Use the male snap piece this time.
18 – Tad-ah, that’s it!
