Dressing up gift cards!

Merry Christmas!  Just wanted to share a special book that I made for my parents for their Christmas gift.  I purchased gift cards for them for Christmas, because they have everything, so what could I buy them?  And how boring are gift cards? I mean, they are wonderful to have.  The freedom to buy whatever you want, instead of getting something specific that you may not like, and have to return.  I personally love gift cards, but the presentation is usually lacking.  Until now!!!!

I bought them quite a few, because they are awesome, and deserve quite a few!  When I had them all in my hands, I thought, ok, I have to do SOMETHING cool for them!  I first thought of an advent calendar.  You open a door, and a gift card is behind it.  So, this is where that idea led to!

The Christmas Gift Card Holder Book!  LOL!  Ta dah!  ;D

 Here's the cover.  I used a regular white piece of paper, and white embossed the Dec. 25th.  Then I used red Smooch spray, green Tattered Angels spray, and white paint mixed w/ water to create a snowflake effect.  I sponged the edges w/ green Ranger Distress ink. And the snowflake is an MFT die!
The shape of this album is a shape found from svgcuts.com I believe?  Not sure....Simon Says Shapes I think is the name.

 Blogger is being ridiculous, so you'll have to tilt your head to look at this first page.  {eye roll}  I drew the entire oven.  I used copics to color.  White gel pen for the criss cross on the towel, silver gel pen for the oven racks.  The silver brads are "knobs" for the oven.  And above the oven are signs for panini's and soups from Panera Bread.....the first gift card!  The tile work behind the stove is actually just grid lines that I created w/ my ruler.  And I created the wood floor as well.

 This page is pretty easy.  I was tired by this point, so I made it super simple.  I created a bookmark, which my mom can peel off and use.  She still loves to turn the page of a regular book.  I love the touch of a button to turn the page!  ;D  Behind this bookmark are gift cards for Barnes & Noble. 
The stamps I used are from MFT's I {Heart} Books!  I colored her w/ copics.

 Again, this one was pretty simple.  I had too many ideas floating around in my head, I couldn't settle for just one.  I found these carrots from a Flourishes set that I colored w/ copics and cut out.  The turkey is from another set, I can't remember which one.  I think an Inkadinkado set for recipes, if I'm not mistaken.  The plate is resting on a "table".  To get the gift cards out for a series of restaurants, pull on the carrots and turkey!  I cut the words 'Bon Appetit!' on my cricket.

 This page was one of my favs!  I took two MFT sets w/ full dress showing and stamped them on paper.  For the robe, I applied a generous layer of glue and adhered pink flocking all over it.  Front and back!  For the dress, my dad had given me tons of fabric samples a few years ago. I still have them and use them when necessary.  I cut two sides of the dress, and glued them together.  For the skirt, I took a piece of suede material and cut it in half.  I took a sliver of pleather and created a belt.  I stamped the words 'Oooh La La!' and cut them out. 
The gift card is for Macy's and I have it peeking out from behind the clothes rack! 

 These next two were for my dad.  He received a few gift cards for Lands End.  Well, when I think of Lands End, I think of coats, hats, boots.....ah, boots!  That is actually what I created here!  I drew a template from paper, and adhered pleather to the toe and suede for the sides.  I used eyelets and brown ribbon for the laces.  On the inside, I wanted to make it nice and warm, so I put some liquid applique in there and heated it up right after I put it on!  I wanted to make it look like wool!

And the last page!  iTunes was the last gift card of choice.  I could have gone in so many different directions, but time was NOT on my side, so I had to keep it simple.  I found a sheet of music in my vintage folder, so that's my background.  I drew the notes and cut them out.  The gift cards are peeking out behind.

For all of the gift cards, I created a very simple envelope for them to sit in and keep them contained.  I tucked most of them behind the background paper to make it easier for my themes on each page!

I hope you enjoyed viewing this!  My parents LOVED it!  My mom even talked about putting it on her tree each year!  :D

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas!