Found this gift card recycling idea on Pinterest and loved it. Though you need a binding system (don’t have one…can’t imagine how much binding you do in order to buy one), I do love the idea of it. But I would make this idea with a NEW gift card instead. (Just don’t bind through the magstripe).

Source: thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com via Jocelyn on Pinterest

Two Gifts in One

Not only does the recipient get a gift card, but they get a little notebook to use as well. It’s two gifts in one. Plus, the gift card will not easily get lost or be forgotten about in the wallet. They’ll probably be carrying it in their purse anyway.

Take It A Step Further

If you’re going to make this idea, then I would take it a step further with the following suggestions:

• Make it reloadable. Use a reloadable gift card so the recipient can use the gift card more than once.
• Make it a photobook instead. Bind the gift card with wallet-size photos of the kids. Perfect for Grandma.
• Add store coupons. Get new mom a gift card to Babies R Us and fill the booklet with every diaper coupon you can find.
• Add coupons of your own. Give a gift card to the movies and include a babysitting coupon inside.
• Multiple coupons. As long as you’re binding things, why not put dinner, movie, and dessert all in one handy date night notebook?
• Group Gift. Have everyone contribute a gift card to the “book.” Imagine leaving a baby or wedding shower with a prized book of gift cards!

Great for Teachers, Coaches, Graduates…Anybody

This would make a great gift card for teachers or coaches. Deliver a gift card to the office supply store (teacher) or sporting goods store (coach). Bind with a note of thanks from each of the kids.

Send graduate to school with a book he’ll for sure want to crack open. Help new moms and newlyweds by stuffing their wallet with gifts cards in this highly manageable system.

Now, where can I get a binding thingamajig?

Fun Valentine Gift idea from Michaels

Michaels posted this video on their Facebook page and I wanted to share it with you. Several little gifts are tied together with a ribbon, all stuffed neatly into a shipping tube. As the recipient pulls the ribbon, the presents are revealed, leading up to a big gift at the end. Jo’s finale is a crafty Valentine t-shirt, but I suggest topping things off with a gift card instead.

My Version

I love what Jo has done, but for my taste (and time constraints), I’d probably get a smaller tube and tie just two or three items en route to the gift card. You’d get the same effect without the added expense and effort.

Fun Themes

You could adapt this idea to any occasion–a baby shower, bridal gift, teacher appreciation, or birthday. I see a theme tube as well–maybe a group gift of several gift cards tied to the ribbon. Or a movie gift card tube including snacks and movie tickets with theater wrapping paper on the tube itself. A baseball themed tube with sports page wrapping and baseball cards, sunflower seeds, cracker jacks, and an MLB gift card inside. Oh, a tennis ball canister would work great here as well. Uh-oh, I’m starting to trip over myself with gift card ideas! Seriously, who doesn’t want to open a string of goodies to get to a gift card??! So many possibilities.

Speaking of Michaels

Speaking of Michaels, don’t forget to answer the Valentine’s Day poll to be entered in the $25 Michaels Gift Card drawing. You just might win and then you can march yourself down to Michaels to make your own Valentine’s Day tube! Good stuff!

A Gift Card for the Ages--All Ages!

My girlfriend Shannon just turned 40 and she’s amazing. She’s one of those gals who has style–you know who they are. Her house is arranged just so, she’s always dressed nicely without being overdone, and everything she does looks artistic and polished. I love being around her.

So Shannon’s mom threw a surprise birthday brunch complete with fresh squeezed juice and a frittata fresh out of the oven. Everything just as delightful as the guest of honor. As much as I loved the atmosphere, though, a gift from Shannon’s sister captured my full attention! So simple, so personal, so gift-cardable!

This sweet sibling filled a jar called “40 Things I love About You” with sentiments about their relationship as friends, as sisters, as daughters of God, and mothers of little angels. We all oohed and ahhed as Shannon read a few of the notes through weepy eyes.

I love the idea and wanted to add a gift card spin–drop a $40 dollar gift card into the jar of 40 sentiments. And don’t be caught up on age. This idea can be tailored to any birthday – 23 things I love about you and a $23 gift card to the yogurt shop. 38 things I like about you and a 38 dollar gift card to the sandwich shop. Or change it from a birthday gift to Mother’s Day, a thank you gift, or a group gift where everybody adds a note to the recipient.

So clever. So stylish. So Shannon. I love it.

Parents required to buy $5000 in gift cards?

In this article about a school’s gift card fundraising program, Sarah Lorge Butler writes that she is not only required to participate, but is obligated to buy $5,000 worth of gift cards to net the school $250. While Butler has the option to write a check to the school for $250, the program gives parents a way to buy things they’d normally buy without spending additional money. In other words, buy $5000 in gift cards to the grocery store, hardware store, office supply store, and so forth. Then use the cards every time you shop. Proponents of the plan say it’s better than pressuring parents into buying wrapping paper, cookie dough, or other fundraising products they don’t need. I get it. But the limit is way too steep for my budget.

In addition to personal shopping, here are a few ways Butler can meet her obligation:

1. Offer to buy the group gift. Think about upcoming baby showers, bridal showers, coach gift, teacher gifts, and other occassions where people pitch in to buy one big gift. Collect money from participants and buy the gift card through the fundraiser program.
2. Give gift cards to her kids. I use gift cards to teach my kids about money because it helps them learn that plastic money (credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards) isn’t limitless. It may seem that way to little eyes when mom pulls a card out at every cash register, but not so. Gift cards help kids learn to shop within a budget. So Butler might consider getting gift cards for times when she might otherwise give her kids cash–allowance, vacation spending money, birthdays, etc.
3. Plan ahead. Think holidays, birthdays, graduation for the year and buy gift cards in advance so you don’t end up buying other things at the last minute. Don’t worry that gift cards will feel impersonal, most people love to receive them and you can add a personal touch using one of my many ideas. And don’t worry about these gift cards expiring because gift card laws have changed. No fees for a year and no expiration for at least five.
4. Build a stash. Buy extra gift cards to pull out for birthdays and special occasions you hadn’t planned for. I usually have a few extra iTunes gift cards on hand because it is a gift card nearly everybody enjoys and can be used anywhere. Amazon.com, Fandango, and online bookstores would also be good.

For any gift card purchased, I’d be sure to enter and track them in an app like Tango Card. This will not only help Butler use the cards purchased, but could speed check out processes that sometimes work faster if you know the balance on the card before starting the transaction.

In Family Fun magazine, I saw another version of the teacher appreciation group gift we’ve talked about a few times. I liked what they did, but wanted to take the idea UP a notch in thoughtfulness and DOWN a notch in effort. (Original instructions here).

Here’s what I did differently:

1. First, I simplified the crafting by creating a downloadable set of colorful flower gift card holders. All you have to do is print, cut, and glue.
2. There are three downloads available:
   • Flower Front: The flowers you see here. Cut and glue to flower backs.
   • Flower Back: The back of the flowers, needed to make a pocket.
   • Blank Flowers: I made an extra set of blank flowers so you can use this teacher appreciation idea for other occasions.
3. Second, I taped each flower pocket to a bamboo skewer. It’s a little less artistic than the wire bending recommended by Family Fun, but a lot less work.
4. Lastly, I wanted each gift card to go with a particular thought. So for example, “Thanks for beings so sweet!” should go with a gift card to the candy store, a dessert restaurant, or a local shop with the word “sweet” in it–like Bittersweet Cafe in our area. In my example, I used a gift card to See’s Candy.
5. Several ideas for each gift card are listed on the flower front paper. More good stuff like…
   • “Thanks for all your hard work” – gift card to Home Depot, Staples, etc.
   • “You’re so much fun” – gift card to the movies or video store.
   • “You’re our favorite” – gift card to her favorite place, free choice card!
   • “Thanks for keeping your cool” – gift card to the ice cream store.

I think it turned out pretty cute! This doesn’t have to be just a teacher gift. The gift card plant would make a welcome housewarming gift or starter set of gift cards for newlyweds. Have fun with it!

I’m all about making gift cards more personal, as you know. So I have to give some props to Gift Card Lab, a site that allows you to create your own Visa gift card. You can select from hundreds of canned images or upload a picture of your own.

With teacher appreciation coming up and the myriad of coaches I need to thank year round, I love the personal touch of putting a meaningful picture on the plastic.

Shown here is one of the teacher designs available on the site. Plus I uploaded a picture of my daughter’s basketball team to see what the gals would look like on a gift card. Darn cute.

My boys are playing Little League right now and I’m the team parent for my oldest. I’ve snapped some great shots of the kids already. At the end of the year, I’m thinking we’ll present each coach with a photo collage plus a photo gift card. Both memorable and now one picture can be useful as well.

This is also a great idea for bulk gift cards. Imagine handing customers a Visa gift card with your logo, tag line, or “cause” imprinted on it. Might make a bigger impact than a t-shirt.