Gift Cards Book

Do you have kids away at College or University? Or maybe a 20-something that you have no idea what to buy for?

I do.

And I saw the BEST idea on Pinterest the other day…

A gift cards booklet! (Which is just a small booklet filled with different gift cards)

Sure, one gift card you’d hang on the tree, or put in an envelope to give, but when you have multiple it needs presentation!

I found these gift cards books on Etsy:

and I don’t want to take away from small businesses or anything, but for what they are charging I could add an extra gift card (or more) to my handmade booklet.

How to make a gift cards booklet

Have you heard of Canva.com? It’s a graphic design site where you can use their pre-made templates for free, and just update images, fonts, or whatever else with your own choices.

I found a template that I liked and then changed out the colours and images to go with different gift cards.

I printed them off at “4 images per page” to make them small enough to fit on notecard envelopes. (I didn’t waste the extra print-offs and instead shared them with someone else with a hard-to-buy-for relative)

Cut them out and then attach them to the front of envelopes. (Amazon affiliate link, but you can buy them cheaper at the dollar store)

Ideas for filling your gift cards book:

For when you need new underwear: LaSenza, LaVie en Rose, Victoria’s Secret, Arie, do boys even buy underwear?
For when you need something other than residence food: grocery gift card (my daughter is desperate for fruit), local restaurant gift cards, Skip the Dishes, or Door Dash gift cards
For when you want to feel pretty: Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, Sephora, Ulta or a local barber/hairdresser
For when you miss home: a gift card for someplace that you always go together
For when you need cocoa on a cold day: Tim Horton’s, Starbucks
For when you need a break: Gift card for a pedicure, or haircut. Or gift cards for the movies or bookstore.
For when you want to celebrate: a gift card for LCBO (if they are of age), or enough for an extra-large pizza for them and their friends
For when you are ill: you can put in a gift card to a local drug store, OR you can tuck a sleeve of Tylenol cold & Sinus in instead.
For when you need anything else: Amazon gift cards are great for just about everything under the sun
For when you just need cash: Cash is king
For when it’s time to come home: gift card or cash for the train or bus back to you.

Assembling your gift cards book

Gather all of your envelopes together and punch holes in the top and bottom corners to run a Christmas ribbon through.

I added an extra envelope to act as a cover for my gift cards booklet.

I wrote the value of each gift card on the back of the envelope and on the gift card itself.

Where to buy gift cards

I know most stores have racks of gift cards for just about everything you could want, but if you are more of an online shopper and don’t want to face the crowds, Amazon does actually sell physical gift cards as well. Just type “gift cards” in the search bar and it will give you lots of options.

(My daughter calls me “Mumma” when she’s feeling crappy, wants something, or just wants to make me happy. Most days it’s “Clarkie” so “Mumma” is a treat for me)

Tuck your gift cards booklet in a box with tissue or krinkle paper (and a brick so they don’t know what’s inside), and you have the PERFECT gift to help with independent living.