Tuesday, 2 September 2025

Gift Card Holder Swaps using Jar of Joy

Hello and welcome to my blog! Today I am sharing the swap cards I made for an in person event I am attending - I do love swapping! The event for Demonstrators and is hosted by Helen Slimm, the UK Demonstrator Development Manager, in Lincoln.

My production line began a while ago and now the finished cards are ready to swap.

The design I chose was inspired by Artisan Design Team member Stacey Marsh. The mechanism caught my attention immediately so to start with I copied her card exactly to get me started.

I have used the same mechanism, although the proprtions of my card front are slightly different, and decorated the front with a different topper.

While I was completing the last few of my swap cards I took some step by step photos so that I could show you how my production line worked.

The elements required, using metric measurements are:

Pool Party card base 10.5cm x 29.7cm, scored at 6cm and 20.8cm
Pool Party Nests of Winter DSP 10.1cm x 5.5cm, 10.1cm x 8.4cm and 1.5cm strip for inside decoration
Pool Party Slider 8.5cm x 17cm, scored at 1.5cm and 13cm
Basic White 8cm x 10.5cm
Basic White Banner using Party Banner dies and embossed with Exposed Brick Embossing Folder
Circle cut using Stylish Shapes dies in Two-Tone Pool Party card
Scraps of Basic White and Real Red for stamping jar, lid and sentiment

To begin, stamp the jar and snowman in Basic Grey and add scarf/hat detail using Real Red. Stamp Pool Party snow flurries around the snowman. Using the Light Pool Party Blend colour in the walls of the glass jar to add dimension and extra snow beneath the snowman. The carrot nose is coloured with Peach Pie. Add sparkles using splatters from a Wink of Stella glitter brush. Cut a narrow strip (0.8cm tall) and then stamp sentiment in Basic Gray.

Next we construct the slider mechanism. Add the strip of DSP to the Basic White layer and in turn add that to the Pool Party Slider, positioning it under the narrow scoore line. Apply Tear & Tape as shown - it is important to apply the tape to the edges of the pockets to enable the slider to move.

The pockets are not closed flush so that it is easier to slide them and to insert the gift card into them. I placed a ruler between the layers to bevel the card as I was sticking them down.

Place the top of the slider up to the narrow score line and then close the top of the card down on to it. When the top of the card is opened the attached slider will move up too.

To complete the Gift Card Holder, fold the bottom pocket up enclosing the Slider. Again, making sure that there is room to allow free movement.

Using Dimensionals, add the elements for the topper ensuring that you only apply adhesive to the top of the banner!

Once the topper is in place the sentiment can be placed towards the bottom of the card. Finish with Peppermint embellishments.

Some of the cards were made with an alternative DSP. I used a Cloud Cover sheet from the Cheers & Sips pack which has a wintery feel to it.

After my production line to create them, I needed to lay them all out and record the achievement before packing them up ready to swap!

I am looking forward to swapping and being inspired (and maybe growing my wish list!). I hope you are feeling inspired to create something - let me know in the comments!

Do you need any of the products used on today's cards? If you live in the UK please take a look in my online Stampin' Up! shop. You can follow the link or click on the pictures below of the products I have used today.

Stay safe and as always, happy crafting,

If you would like to order any supplies, and you live in the UK, I would love to be your demonstrator. To place an order please visit my online shop HERE. The products I have used on today's project are linked from the images shown below.