Holiday Handmade with 504 Main

For some reason I always have the hardest time finding just  the right thing for my boy…especially as he grows older.

Last year I made some Valentines Cards that were inspired by one  of my favorite types of cards to receive as a kid. These cards had slots for dimes all over them, and I always thought I was rich after I received one! (I just did a search and found a few  on ebay even!) Well, I cannot find them anymore, apparently coins are not “hot gifts”…except in my house…they are – any money is still happily accepted!

So here’s the thing…you can make these cards with just about anything…crayons, markers, paint, scrap book paper!

For these cards I used watercolor cards bought at the  craft or art supply store and water colors.

*Cards (I used watercolor cards, about $8 for 10). You can get card stock cards for much less, about $6 for 25 or $8 for 50. You can also simply fold some paper in half (the good old-fashioned way!)

*Rubber cement or glue stick (I prefer rubber cement, but used purple glue stick in the tutorial so you could see it.)

*X-ACTO/Craft Utility Knife

*Cutting mat

*Ruler

(I have includes some more specific DIY under each type of card)

1. Determine design (Lay it out – you may want to sketch some ideas out). You can do just about anything you want…I will specifically refer to the dinosaur in this tutorial. Download the full size template here!

2. Transfer to card  and paint it on. Start light with the green water color, let dry slightly and then continue to make darker and accent in certain areas – there is no wrong way to do this (of course you can use regular paint or markers too)

3. Determine placement of coins: use light pencil marks to mark each side of the coin.

4. Use the Exacto/Craft knife to cut a slit from point to point.

5. Cut a piece of scrap book paper or cardstock that is the same size/slightly smaller than the front of your card (this is the backing). Just lay the card on a piece of paper and trace around it and cut.

6. Flip card over/open card and use rubber cement/glue stick. Apply glue to edges of the front of the card and throughout the middle. I made “U” shaped swipes around the slits on the back (see photo – I drew in the area to where I did not apply glue).

7. Take your scrap book paper/cardstock from step #5 and apply it to the back of the front cover (this is to cover the slits and money when you open the card. Press to adhere it.

While you are at it you can decorate the inside of the card – or not! With the scrapbook paper you may be able to see the outline of the coins when you open the card…card stock would make this less noticeable.

8. Let dry.

9. Place coins/giftcard into the slits – you may need to use a knife or skewer to loosen up the slit. I did not – they all slid in fine…but I also used rubber cement which has a little give to it.

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Thank you for that great idea Holly! Boy, am I lucky I stood next to you that day at Creative Estates. You are absolutely fabulous!