Thursday, October 9, 2014

Re-Gifting a Used Up Gift Card

My great niece in Atlanta is getting married soon. I was tasked with making cards for my sisters to give to her. Sista' Gail had a particular request (which is MUCH appreciated as making wedding cards give me HIVES!) They are my LEAST favorite card to make. Probably because I don't do 'traditional' very well. I do "mushy" even less well! Ask any family member...I did not inherit any sentimentality gene. I have no "Woo". My Omaha sister requested a 'celebration explosion' card (here).

My 'usual' response to a wedding card request isn't "pretty". As those around me know...I would rather make a card for a tampon factory retiree or a card congratulating someone on making it into a roller derby team than a wedding card. You would be hard pressed to find a wedding card post on this blog that does NOT include a fair bit of whining about making the card....

But...whatca' gonna do? Requests from my dear sissies for a sweet niece... Can't say, "NO!" That would never do....  I might want to pull the "tit for tat" card. Gail...a fabulous quilt maker... and Sista' Judy....well her talents include not only outstanding applique and quilt-making, but man can she cook!!!! I'm happy to make a card per her request...you never know when I may NEED a heaping helping of my favorite meal of her meatloaf and cheesy taters!!!! Or an emergency quilt from Omaha! So when they request a card...I comply. I may grouse about it (and for some reason this does not surprise either of them) but I do get their cards made.

The card I made for Judy to give to Tori  (here) was inspired by all the broach bouquets I saw on Pinterest.  I then realized I would also need a card to send down "Georgia-way". I made my niece a card. It sits near the unwrapped gift. I was unhappy with the card but had NO ideas what to do to replace it. After all...I was SPENT! I was DONE IN! I had completed TWO - yes...count them TWO wedding cards. My brain was fried. MY muse had checked out! So there sat the card...Every time I walked by it I would target it with disparaging thoughts...You are an ugly, uninspired, tired, crappy card - you are more appropriate as a DIVORCE card than a wedding card! You are not worthy of a stamp! Tori deserves something better than THAT! Yes...I had mental conversations with this hapless inanimate item... Go ahead....JUDGE!

And then...this happened. Sissy Gail gave me a Hobby Lobby Christmas gift card for Christmas. I admit to being a "Gift Card Hoarder"... Not sure why. But I savor EVERY swipe of the card! I finally used the last coins of the card and actually LOOKED at the card. First I pondered why the heck she picked this particular card. Then for some reason I put it back in my purse instead of letting the store clerk toss it in the trash.

While cleaning out my purse I found the sadly depleted gift card. And THEN experienced a nearly EXPLOSIVE collision of thoughts! Depleted but very cute gift card...Nagging dissatisfaction with the card I was planning on sending.....then BOOM!!! Why not put the cute image to work! My only hope is that Tori doesn't think...uuuuoooooo....yeah!!!!! A gift card!!!! hehehehehehe...

So....this is the zero balance gift card.....


This is what happens when ideas collide: very cute, too cute to toss but very depleted gift card + very unsatisfactory prior card = idea light bulb!



Bye Bye Previously Unloved Card
~Base card - white PaperTrey Ink
~Layer of Colorblok Pattern Paper
~Layer of PaperTrey Ink Pink Patterns -  gift card framed with black card stock
~Layer of black card stock from DCWV Glitter Stack framed with pink card stock
~Black card stock flourishes using Cuttlebug and Spellbinders dies; highlighted with Wink of Stella
~Silver glitter washi tape
~All used up Hobby Lobby gift card - with store name covered with pink card stock punched with SU Word Window, stamped with "always" sentiment (let's hope that NEVER pops off!)
~Two pearls

Challenges | Inspirations
Mojo Monday - sketch
{Pin}inspirational - anything
Double Click - use  pink
Sisterhood of Crafters - pink
Sentimental Sunday - bling + sentiment
Milk Coffee - lots of layers
Crafty Hazelnuts - anything + pattern paper

Thanks for clicking by!

Here's to repurposing, whiny weddings, talented sisters, and adorable gift cards,

Nancy in Iowa

12 comments:

  1. You are a genius!!!! Who would have ever thought to use that - and yet it's just perfect on this card and makes it beautiful! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! Very creative!
    Lynn

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  2. Beautiful creation and wonderful design! Thanks so much for joining us at The Sisterhood’s ‘THINK PINK’ challenge and please come back again soon!
    Darlene
    one of the 'Sistahs'
    The Sisterhood of Crafters
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS

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  3. Absolutely beautiful l love the image and design of your card x

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  4. This is one cute card! Thanks for joining us over at DoubleClick Skittles Challenge!
    DT-Shirl

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  5. This is one cute card! Thanks for joining us over at DoubleClick Skittles Challenge!
    DT-Shirl

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  6. Ok, I have to say that when you showed the gift card I initially thought how on earth could you send someone a used gift card??????? now I've scrolled down further and seen the actual class I'm thinking AMAZING, such a fantabulous card! You are one clever cookie!

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  7. oooooh, now that's a thrifty idea. Absolutely ingenious. Thanks for playing along at DoubleClick Skittles Challenge.

    ~DT Barbara

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  8. What a great recycling idea! Such a lovely card too. Thank you for sharing this with us at Sentimental Sundays x

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  9. Fab card & great idea (I love recycling & re-purposing) :o)
    Thanks for joining us at Sentimental Sundays & I hope you will join us again.
    Hugs
    Tracey
    xx

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  10. Such a great card, and great way to recycle! Thanks for joining us over at the DoubleClick Skittles Challenge! DT Member Carri~Abusybee

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  11. Inspired! Thanks for joining in the Think Pink Challenge at The Sisterhood Of Crafters.
    Good Luck
    Hugs
    Dawn GDT xx

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  12. This card is just fabulous and so gorgeous :-))
    Thanks so much for playing along with us at Milk Coffee Challenges!!! Good Luck!
    Hugs, Andreja

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