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Dressing Up Gift Cards

By Sharon Naylor

Don't just walk into a bridal shower or a wedding with a plain envelope containing a Gift Card. Sure, what's inside is valuable, but you can dress it up a little bit for impressive and festive presentation:
Fill a pretty pitcher with kitchen utensils you've bought off the registry, and then tie the Gift Card to dangle from the wooden spoon
Fill a basket with colorful rose petals and stand the Gift Card up in the center of it
Tie the Gift Certificate to a bouquet of roses, tulips, peonies or sunflowers (tie the stems with wide ribbon for effect, and let the Gift Card dangle from a length of ribbon as well)
Give the couple a bouquet of flowers or a live, potted green plant with the Gift Card in the card-holder 'fork' standing out of it
Slide it into a colorful vellum envelope or a drawstring tulle pouch from the craft store
Place it in a jewelry box
Display the card in a pretty picture frame, such as an ornate, scrolled silver frame or a sleek Lucite frame that matches their style of decor
Tape the card to a front of a gorgeous tabletop mirror
Stand the Gift Card in a playful coffee mug with a funny or sentimental saying on it
Place the Gift Card on top of a fabulous throw pillow or cashmere blanket for the couple's home
Slip the Gift Card into a bright, playful purse or wallet the bride will use as a wardrobe accessory
Attach the Gift Card to the front of a blank journal, travel diary, book of quotes, or cookbook
Fill a playful bucket with the bride's favorite candies or mini wrapped chocolates, and stand the Gift Card up in the center of it
Slip a fabulous bottle of wine or champagne into a velvet wine bottle pouch, and tie on the Gift Card with a velvet or chiffon ribbon
For a shower gift, tuck the Gift Card visibly into the front of a pampering product pouch or basket
If you're giving a fabulous robe to the bride, the Gift Card can stick out of the pocket
Slip the Gift Card into a relaxing music CD's case
Get a great gift box. On the market today are innovative gift boxes in the following shapes; hearts, pyramids, pillows, triangles, star shapes, take-out type containers, and gable boxes that look like little lunch boxes with a handle.
Get crafty! Place the Gift Card into a pink cardboard gift box and hot-glue faux rose or daisy heads onto the top of the box
Wrap any plain white jewelry-type gift box with a fabulous ribbon like the following: chiffon, velvet, raffia, glitter metallic, gold-edged, 'wet look', oxford stripe (so pretty for a shower!), gingham, delicate sheers with just a hint of color, or lengths of fabric daisies. New 'drawstring bows' slide into the shape of a butterfly. The options are endless for dressing up even the most plain gift box or envelope
Sharon Naylor is the author of "How to Have a Fabulous Wedding for $10,000 or Less", "The Complete Outdoor Wedding Planner", and more than 20 other wedding books. Click here to view or purchase the books available at Bed Bath and Beyond.
 

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