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Rather than slipping a gift card into an envelop, and calling it a day, a mini Christmas book with several gift cards to their favorite places is such a fun little Christmas surprise they can flip through and enjoy during the holiday.

Whether you’re making a Christmas gift card book for your teenage son or daughter, grandchild, college student, adult children, best friend, coworker or a family member, it’s an easy DIY Christmas gift that can be personalized to the person receiving it. 

You don’t need to be especially crafty to make one, in this guide, I’ll show you what a Christmas gift card book is, what supplies you need, what gift cards to include, plenty of gift card puns to use, and how to put the whole thing together. 


HOW TO DIY A CHRISTMAS GIFT CARD BOOK


TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • What it is a christmas gift card book?
  • Christmas Gift Card Book Supplies
  • How to DIY a Christmas Gift Card Book
  • Get Your Gift Card Book Templates
  • Christmas Gift Card Book FAQs


WHAT IS A CHRISTMAS GIFT CARD BOOK?


A Christmas gift card book is a small handmade book filled with gift cards, with each gift card tucked into its own page which has a cute message, joke, or pun to go with each one.

For example, a restaurant gift card is paired with a food-related joke, a movie gift card is paired with a movie-night saying, and a gas gift card is paired with a fun saying.

The sillier or more personalized the pun, the more fun the book can be to flip through. However, in order to make the gift card book undeniably useful, think about the recipient.

A teenagers favorites might include fast-food, clothing, beauty, entertainment, and coffee gift cards. A college student might appreciate coffee, food delivery, and grocery gift cards, while an adult child or couple might enjoy restaurant, hobbies, movie, travel, bowling or weekend getaway gift cards. 

The possibilities are really only limited by the person you're making it for and that's what makes a Christmas gift card book such a fun DIY Christmas gift.


CHRISTMAS GIFT CARD BOOK SUPPLIES


  • A 5×7 Photo Album - This will be the base of your gift card book. A mini binder, or blank book will also work.
  • Cardstock or Scrapbook Paper - This gives you a sturdy surface for printing your gift card pages. I love using simple designs as it let the gift card puns and decorations do the talking.
  • Gift Cards - Start stocking up on the gift cards months ahead to make it easier on your wallet.
  • Printer - Print at home with a printer or use a local or online printing service like 
  • Adhesive - Glue dots, double sided tape, or craft adhesive are handy options to attach the gift cards to the book.
  • Scissors or Paper Trimmer - A good pair of scissors is enough for a perfectly straight edges, but a paper trimmer makes cutting cardstock and printable templates much quicker.
  • Pens, Markers, or Letter Stickers - This is what you use to write the recipient's name, or add little notes on each page. I like to keep everything simple with a black pen for a cleaner, more minimal design.
  • Binders, Ribbon or Twine - To tie the finished book together. You can use binder rings, a small book-binding system or punch holes and use ribbon or twine to bind the pages of the book together.
  • Christmas Gift Card Book Templates - If you don't want to design every page yourself, simply download, print the pages, follow the instructions to put the book together.

And that's really all you need to make the gift card book.


HOW TO DIY A CHRISTMAS GIFT CARD BOOK


Step 1: Gather Your Supplies Together 

Purchase your Christmas gift card book templates.


Step 2: Personalize Name & Message On Canva

Upload the editable template to Canva, and customize the name, messages, and blank pages.

There are up to eight cover designs to select from, with the option of one you can personalize with the recipient's name.

Next to it, is the message page, you can either use the message as is or come up with another one.

There are five blank templates you can 


Step 3: Download & Print 

Once you're done with step 2, download the designs.

Next, send the designs to your printer, and print them out on cardstock paper. After that, use the paper trimmer to cut the pages neatly to the photo album size.


Step 4: Match Each Gift Card With The Appropriate Pun

This is what makes your gift card book more fun, pair every gift card with its own little saying. The sayings hint at what the gift card is for without giving everything away immediately.

Secure each gift card on the pages using a double-sided or dot glue. But if you're using a removable pocket or holder, it makes it easier for the recipient to take the card out without damaging it.


Step 5: Arrange The Gift Card Pages 

Place the cover in front, as it's the first thing the recipient will see followed by the message page.

Next, arrange the gift card pages in the order you'd like the recipient to discover them.

You could start with a smaller gift card and save a favorite or larger gift card for the final page. Or arrange them so the gift cards alternate between practical and fun.


Step 6: Put Everything Together

Once all of your pages are finished, bind your pages together, using dot glues or binders then close your album, or secure your mini binder, and your DIY Christmas gift card book is ready to give before 25th of December! 



GET YOUR GIFT CARD BOOK TEMPLATE


These printables make it easy for you to assemble a gift card book without worrying about shipping fees. All you need to do is to print, download, and use. 



CHRISTMAS GIFT CARD BOOK FAQs


How many gift cards should I put in a gift card book?

You can put as many or as few gift cards as you want. FIve to ten gift cards is a great range for a standard Christmas gift card book, but you can make it smaller with 3–4 cards or turn it into a bigger 24 Days of Christmas gift card book with 24 different cards.

The number really comes down to your budget and the person you're making it for. A smaller collection of gift cards they genuinely love is better than filling the book with cards they'll never use.

What is a good amount to spend on each gift card?

There isn't a set amount you need to spend on each gift card. You can choose the amount based on your overall Christmas budget, the recipient, and the type of gift card.

For example, you might use smaller amounts for coffee, fast food, or ice cream and put a little more toward gift cards for shopping, restaurants, or larger purchases.

You can also mix different amounts throughout the book. A $5 coffee gift card can be just as fun to open as a $25 gift card when it's paired with a cute Christmas pun.

What can I use instead of a photo album?

A photo album is one of the easiest options, but you definitely don't need one to make a Christmas gift card book.

You can use a:

* Mini scrapbook
* Small binder
* Blank notebook
* Index-card binder
* Small photo book
* Cardstock pages
* Envelopes
* Premade gift card holders
* DIY cardstock pockets

You can even punch holes in individual cardstock pages and connect them with binder rings, ribbon, or twine to create your own little book.

Can I make a gift card book without a Cricut?

Absolutely! You don't need a Cricut or other cutting machine to make a Christmas gift card book.

A pair of scissors, paper trimmer, cardstock, adhesive, and some Christmas decorations are enough. If you're using printable gift card book templates, you can simply print them on your home printer, cut them out, and assemble your pages by hand.

The Cricut is helpful if you want to cut complicated shapes or make lots of books, but it's definitely not necessary for a one-off Christmas gift.

How do I attach gift cards without damaging them?

The safest option is to use a pocket, envelope, sleeve, or removable gift card holder so the actual gift card doesn't have adhesive placed directly on it.

You can attach the pocket or holder to the page using double-sided tape, glue, or adhesive dots, then slide the gift card inside.

If you're using a photo album with pockets, you may not need adhesive at all just decorate the page around the pocket and slide the gift card inside.

Can I make a gift card book for someone who doesn't like traditional Christmas gifts?

Yes! In fact, a gift card book can be a great option for someone who prefers experiences, practical gifts, or choosing their own things.

Instead of filling the book with traditional shopping gift cards, build it around what they actually enjoy.

The beauty of a gift card book is that it doesn't have to feel like a traditional Christmas present. 

You can build the entire book around the recipient's personality, interests, and lifestyle, making it feel much more personal than simply handing them a gift card in an envelope. 

Should I Buy a Printable Gift Card Book Template or a Physical Gift Card Book?

Both options can work, and the better choice really depends on how much time and personalization you want.

A printable template is a good option if you want to make the gift yourself. It's typically more budget-friendly and gives you the freedom to choose your own gift cards, add personal messages, and customize the book around the recipient. You can also print additional pages if you decide to add more gift cards.

The downside is that you'll need to do a little work yourself. You'll likely need a printer, cardstock, scissors, adhesive, and something to bind or hold the pages together. It also takes some time to print, cut, and assemble everything.

A physical gift card book is more convenient because it's already made for you. There's no printing, cutting, or crafting required, making it a great choice if you want something quick and polished. The tradeoff is that it can cost more and usually gives you less freedom to customize the pages, sayings, and number of gift cards.

If you enjoy DIY projects and want to make something personal for your teen, college student, grandchild, adult child, or a couple, a printable template gives you more creative freedom. If you simply want to grab something ready-made and fill it with gift cards, a physical book may be the easier choice.