Gift Card / Money Holder Project

I live in Seattle, so it's probably no surprise that one of my vices is Starbucks coffee. I try to limit myself to one caffeinated  beverage per day, so I have been purchasing Starbucks' Via coffee pouches. I love that I can quickly make one cup of coffee, but I hate all the packaging! In an effort to embrace the "reduce-reuse-recycle" philosophy, I have been holding onto the packages while I waited for some creative ideas to develop in my brain. Fortunately, I have a husband who puts up with my collection of toilet paper and paper towel rolls, empty jars, and assorted other "craft" items, because the creative process can take quite a while.

Since most of my extended family celebrates their birthdays between November and February (with another batch in June), and Christmas will be here before I know it, I decided to do some crafting with the packages. I have provided instructions for the most basic gift card/cash holder I made. As you can see, I came up with quite a few different designs for birthdays, Christmas, and all-occasions. I have left the inside sentiment blank in a few so I can customize the card as appropriate.

First, I will apologize for the poor photo quality. Unfortunately, I dropped my good camera, and it no longer works, so I've had to make do with a different camera. Even though the photos aren't top-quality, I think you will be able to follow along well enough to make some beautiful designs of you own!

This is what the Via package looks like if you purchase it from Costco. The packages purchased at regular grocery stores are more boxy.

STEP 1: To start, I wrapped the outside of the package, just as you would for any other gift.

In this example I allowed an extra 1-1/2 to 2 inches at the bottom and enough at the top to

completely cover the inside of the top fold.

Fold the sides of the paper into the center to create a "sleeve" for the gift card, making sure

to cover the brown sleeves already in the package.

STEP 2: If you want to cover the "Never be without a great cup of coffee" tagline on the inside

of the package, insert card stock or some other type of paper during this step. 

In some cases I have left the tag line and decorated the card holder with a coffee theme. 

Fold the bottom lip of the paper up (the extra 1-1/2 to 2 inches from STEP 1)

to cover the writing at the bottom of the package.

STEP 3: Fold your card in half at to create a crease.

Cut the paper straight across on the crease and fold under to finish the card sleeve. 

Repeat on the other side.

STEP 4: Finish wrapping the top flap of the package. 

Once finished, glue/paste/tape the remaining paper inserted during STEP 2.

It will look similar to the inside of a hard cover book.

The outside of the card will look something like the image, above.

STEP 5: Embellish any way your heart desires!

In my example, above, I have the card opening like a book because the wrapping paper

has "Let it Snow!" in the same orientation on the front.

FINISHED PRODUCT

Here are some photos of other cards I have made. Most of them were created using wrapping paper, card scraps, and old greeting cards. Again, my apologies for the poor photo quality.

These are the insides of a few of my Christmas cards.

 

The card to the left looks like one piece, but the flap opens for easy access to the gift boo

Children Are a Blessing!

Cameron & Austin
Seattle, 2011

How do I begin to express my thoughts and feelings about my children? I am simultaneously filled with joy, anger, pride, disappointment, hopes, and fears. But most of all, I am filled with a love that knows no boundaries. Being a parent means we love as God loves us - unconditionally.

When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I had few maternal longings, to the point where I wondered if I would ever want be a mom. My friends were getting married and having children, and I often felt out-of-sync with them. For a while, some of my friends and I drifted apart because we were on such different paths - theirs were lined with dirty diapers, runny noses and sleepless nights, and mine were filled with work and overtime. Sometimes, it seemed our conversations suffered because we were speaking such different languages. I failed to understand the triumphs a parent felt with each of their children's milestones. Really? Your baby is able to hold their head without bobbing it like a rocker listening to an 80's hair band? I didn't realize that was such a big deal. Oh, wow! He's starting to crawl - everywhere! Isn't that sweet? My contributions to our discussions were typically about the pressures of my job, or activities in which I was involved - in short, it was all about ME. Glazed eyes were typical on both sides of the conversation and those deep, "girl-talks" were rare.

Big brother, Cameron, listens to the heartbeat
of his new brother, Austin.

 In my late twenties, everything changed. I was married, and I was overwhelmed with the desire to be a mom. Our first son was born when I was almost thirty, and our second son was born three years later. People try to explain what it's like to be a parent, but you really have no idea until you become one, yourself. I finally understood why all of these milestones were so important, and why they were celebrated and documented - ad nauseam. I understood why a lioness would rage against anyone who dared threaten her offspring and how a mother bear could give her life to save her cubs. These instincts were so basic, so feral, that not sacrificing ourselves was never a thought.

Silly, silly boys! Cameron has "slime" dripping from his
fingers, while Austin is decorated with face paint.

Our sons have brought so much joy to our lives. We are not perfect parents, but our kids often make it seem like we are. Tim and I have worked hard to create relationships with our kids that are honest and respectful. They both know we are here to support them, even when they make mistakes. They come to us when they're struggling so we can work together to help them find ways to overcome their struggles. We try to stand back and let them advocate for themselves; to recognize what they need, then ask for it. Most of the disappointments I have felt are not because they have failed, but because I have done so. When I do fail, I remind them that I am learning to be a parent, and I ask for their forgiveness.

Brotherly love.

Parents have so many hopes and dreams for their children and these are offset by our fears of all of the obstacles that can cause them to fall, fail, hurt... or worse. When they are young, we encourage our children to climb to the top of the "big slide", yet, we stay close enough to catch them if they should fall. We cheer for them when they are successful, and dry their tears and bandage their hands and knees when they topple. Either way, we want them to try, again - to repeat their earlier success, or to experience success for the first time. This process is repeated over, and over, as they get older, except the consequences of their failures are bigger. Our hope is that they have learned through the years that success isn't a given. Sometimes, we learn more from our mistakes and failures than we do when success is easy, and those lessons often prevent us from making worse 

mistakes in the future. 

Austin & Cameron
Seattle Arboretum, 2011 

Each choice our boys have made, has brought them to where they are in their lives, right now. Determination, tenacity, problem-solving, creativity, honesty, and leadership are traits our boys have developed through their successes and their failures. We are proud of the young men they are becoming and we are confident they will be able handle any obstacle they might have to face in the future.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! Since we're just becoming acquainted, I will tell you a bit about myself...

Our Wedding Day

For 20 years I've been married to my wonderful husband, Tim, whom I met when I was 12 and he was 15. No, we didn't start dating at such a young age - we waited seven years. An age difference of three years isn't much when you're in your 40's, but during your teens it might as well be a 30-year difference. It may have taken seven years, but, when he asked me out, I didn't hesitate to say, "Yes"!

Tim circa 1978

The photo to the right is exactly how I remember Tim looking the first day he captured my attention. From the beginning, I had a HUGE crush on him. My middle school journal includes entries where I gush about his gorgeous eyes and how much I wanted to date him. I had no idea he felt the same way about me. 

Date Night!

Over the years we've been through all of the situations mentioned in our vows - for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer - and we've realized the vows we spoke are not just literal; they're also figurative. We have been through phases when our relationship is great and others when it is lousy. It has experienced crippling sickness and robust health. At times we have felt poor in spirit, and at other times our richness of spirit can't be contained!


I wouldn't want to share it with anyone else.