What to Write on a Gift Card Like This
A pretty card is only half of a good gift. The other half is the words. If you stare at the four blank lines wondering what to say, here are some ideas for each one.
To
Use the person’s name, or a nickname they love. For a child, add something playful such as “Our Favourite Elf.” The red and green prompt on the card says (Recipient Name), so replace it with the real name or delete it and use a pen.
From
A first name is enough for friends, while a family can write “The Hendersons.” Companies can put a team name. The prompt reads (Sender Name).
Amount
The prompt reads ($). You can write a dollar value, or you can turn the line into a promise: “One Movie Night,” “Two Hours of Babysitting,” “A Batch of Cookies.” Promise-style cards are lovely for children to give.
Signature
This line is for the giver. For an official certificate from a business, a manager’s signature or a stamp adds credibility. For a personal gift, a signature with a drawn heart or a snowflake feels warm.
The Card Itself
The card is 8.5 x 4 inches in landscape. Its background is a very pale green, faintly patterned with snowflakes. Around the edge runs an elegant green scroll border with curled corners and thin lines. At the top left, the headline MERRY CHRISTMAS is shown in thick green letters topped with snow, and below it are the words A GIFT FOR YOU in a quiet serif type.
The picture on the right is crowded with cheer: a smiling Santa in a bright red coat waves, standing beside a big red sack that overflows with presents, candy canes and a bow. A little snowman with a red scarf and a pink nose peeks over the sack. The warm, busy picture contrasts with the calm text area on the left.
Customising and Printing
The prompts and labels are editable text. The big greeting and the Santa scene are pictures. Colours of the text can be changed to red or navy if you do not like green. Print on a light cream or white card stock of 250 to 300 gsm. The card is the full width of a letter sheet, so use Fit to page or trim from a bigger sheet.
Promise Cards Children Can Make
Children enjoy giving, and this card suits them. Print it, and let a child fill the lines with promises such as One Hug on Demand, Breakfast in Bed or Help With the Dishes. Keep each promise short, because the Amount line holds about three words at normal size. If you print in black and white, children can colour the green border and the Santa scene with pencils, which turns the gift into a craft activity too.
If you like Santa but prefer a creamier look, see the elegant border Christmas gift card. For a navy and gold option, look at the bell motif voucher. More ideas are in the Christmas gift certificate collection.
