Last-Minute Gifts: The Gift Card Solution

The gift card...most people either love it or hate it. Regardless of your feelings on it, there's no denying that the gift card is an incredibly popular choice around the holidays. 

But how to make it feel a little less impersonal? 
Simple. Stuff it in a fabric gift bag. Wrapping and a personal touch, all in one easy solution.

Here's a quick tutorial to make an incredibly simple one, shown here in this fun tree print from the Season's Greetings collection.

You'll need:
6" x 12" fabric rectangle
1 yard narrow red ribbon
Small safety pin
(yep, that's it!)

Step 1: In each of the four corners, fold the long edge in slightly wrong sides together (1/4" at corner, tapering as you get farther away from the corner) and press. Stitch from short end edge until stitching reaches the tapered edge.

Step 2: Fold one short edge over 1/4"wrong sides together and then 3/4" again. Stitch near the bottom edge to create the casing on each side. Repeat on opposite end.

Step 3: Fold the rectangle in half, wrong sides together, matching the folded casing edges at top. Pin in place and sew down both edges of the bag using a 3/8" seam allowance, stopping at the casing seam on each side so the top 3/4" is not stitched. (This is where you ribbon will feed through.)

Step 4: Turn bag right side out. Cut ribbon into two 18" lengths. Starting and ending on one side, attach a safety pin to the ribbon end and feed through the casing until it returns to starting point. Knot the two ribbon ends. Repeat on the opposite side. Trim drawstring ends if needed.

Step 5: Stuff with a gift card, candy, or some other small treasure!