Dec 17 2007
A Card Player’s Gift Set and a Tiny Tutorial
Well, time has gotten away from me (again) and I’m working on some last minute Christmas gifts. Actually, they can hardly be called last minute because I’ve been planning on making them all along. It’s just that I waited until darn near the last minute to get started on them. Somehow I thought there were two weeks left till Christmas… I’m thinking some of the gifts I have to mail will arrive after Christmas. Please tell me I’m not the only one!
Pictured here is a set I made for our closest friends with whom we’ve been playing the occasional Saturday night card game for many years.
I’ve included a score pad, coaster box, four card deck boxes and two matching RSVP pens.
Taylor VanBruggen’s tutorial for the coaster box can be found here on Splitcoaststampers. I added the pen holder in the corner of it by forming a bottomless cardstock box that I adhered to the coaster box with Sticky Strip. I folded a border of designer paper over the top edge of the pen holder before I scored and formed the box–just to firm up the top edge.
The game we play most frequently requires four decks of cards, thus four card boxes. They fill up one side of the 4″ x 4″ coaster box nicely and the rest of the space is taken up with (what else?) chocolate. The designer paper for this project is American Traditional Designs’ Guy’s Life and the cool card suit chipboard pieces in varying sizes are self-adhesive by Creative Imaginations–all purchased at my local scrapbook store.
I discarded many different ideas for the score pad before I settled on this design. Most importantly it needed to be just the right size and refillable. Imagine my delight when I was enjoying the many wonderful sights to see on Nancy Riley’s blog, ISTAMP, and I saw these adorable Christmas wish lists. Nancy was inspired by Heather Nichols and has included a link to Heather’s original design, as well. So much great stuff to see everywhere you go! Isn’t all this sharing the most fun EVER? Nancy has provided a tutorial with all kinds of measurements. I used her basic idea but with a full junior legal pad so I just resized the design to fit. Here’s the inside:
I like the way it opens flat for easy access. I firmed up the spine with a strip of cardstock-covered lightweight cardboard. The junior legal pad is adhered to the cover with several pieces of Scotch brand repositionable double stick tape. It holds quite nicely. If you turned it upside down and shook it it would come loose, I suppose, but our card games don’t get that rough and tumble. I mean, we have a good time but we don’t get wild. One legal pad will last many a card game but can be easily replaced when the time comes.
As for the card deck boxes, that was not too difficult using a standard-size pre-made box for a guide. If, by any chance, you’d someday like to make one of these I’ve included a photo and brief instructions:
This is what it looks like after I cut and scored it. I’ve turned the flaps every which way so you can better see where all the cuts are.
1. Cut cardstock 5 3/4″ x 7″.
2. Score across the 5 3/4″ width at 3/4″, 3 1/4″, 4″ and 6 1/2″. Turn and score across the 7″ width at 3/4″, 4 1/4″ and 5″.
3. Use the photo as a guide for where you trim and clip. See those two little flaps at the top? Notice that they’re cut away just a smidgen from the score lines. This will allow the top box flap (lid) to slip closed more easily.
4. Adhere designer paper to box panels. Punch a half circle in the panel on the left end — this will be the front of the box.
5. Fold into box shape and adhere closed with Sticky Strip or any strong adhesive. Finish decorating box as desired.
That’s it for today’s project! Due to the Christmas rush I’ve had to postpone Ruby Tuesday. I hope I’ll have more projects posted before Christmas. Boy, am I ever hurrying now! Happy holidays!
What a fantastic gift.
what an amazing gift package Leslie–thanks for all the information.
What an absolutely fabulous gift set!!! AMAZING!!! I LOVE your colors and designs — this will be SO much appreciated!!! Your work is wonderful and always a treat to see!!!
So clever!! I just love it. Great work, I love your blog.
Hugs,
Joani
Wow– what a gorgeous gift for your friends — they will certainly love using it!!
WOW WOW WOW! This is AWESOME and just love the layout and the paper you used. You will be seeing this every week now. I hope you are making one for yourself. I might have to try this sweet project.
What a fabulous playing cards gift set, Leslie! I love your first coaster box, especially that nifty pen holder you designed. I’ve wanted to make one of those junior legal pad holders for ages. Now you have me curious - what card game you play that uses four decks of cards? Linda
Oh Wow this turned out so cool, they are going to just Love it!
OMG Leslie, the absolutely perfect gift for card playing friends. I have to share this with 2 of my gf’s in my hostess club, who are avid bridge players. Thanks for taking the time to do another wonderful and so easy to follow tutorial. Happy Holidays, Nancy
P.S. I still have 3 more desk calendars to make before Xmas…..yep, they might be late too
How super genious is that???
YOU ROCK!
You are so creative! I love the gift set idea and that paper couldn’t be more perfect for the project. Are you going to submit this idea to a magazine? You really should!
You are definitely NOT the only one whose packages will arrive after Christmas. It looks that way for my Christmas cards, but oh well! It’s not like there’s a punishment for late cards, right?
I love this project and that paper! What a wonderful gift idea. I really like the pen holder in the coaster box, and the attention to details covering the inside of the notepad holder not just the outside. You continue to blow my mind with the projects and cards you share on your blog:)
Dee
Wow!! What an amazing gift set!
What a fabulous gift.
Wow! What a great set!!
What a gorgeous and classy gift set–great job, Leslie!
This is the perfect gift set for your couples friends! I’m positive that your friends will find these to be extra special!! The patterned paper is just perfect! What a too-cool coaster box, Leslie … not to mention that scorepad! DH & I also play cards or dominoes with 3 other couples … hmmm some day … but not for Christmas this year! It’s coming toooooo quickly!
Merry Christmas, Leslie!
~Bev
Wow that’s a wonderful gift!!Alot of work put into that!!! Great job!!!
This is an awesome gift. I love it!
Wow…your card playing friends will absolutely LOVE this set! So awesome, Leslie!!
Wow - what a great gift set!
what a fun set!!!! darling, Leslie!!
Girl!!!!! What a fabulous and outstanding gift!!! Oh my goodness — WOWZERS!
Leslie, this gift set is a brilliant idea, and very attractive too! Thanks for the link! MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!
Such a class act - as usual! I forgot about that coaster box tutorial! You’ve just inspired me for my next project night!! Thanks for your inspiration! Wowzer!
This is such a neat idea for a gift! Love it!!!
What great gifts for your friends, Leslie — I’m sure they loved thisd! So original!
FABULOUS gift set!! Love the card box tutorial. Thank you so much, Leslie. I’ve already printed it off and already know who I will be making some for.
[…] masculine, it has enough ribbon to keep me happy. This is the playing card box I designed for this gift set at Christmas time. There’s a how-to with pictures in that post but if you’d like to […]
Is that piercing template still available? I can’t seem to find it in the catalogue……………thanks, dorothy in bc by the sea
Wow!
What a great set I will try now. It seems very simple to make it.