A Letter-Style Gift Certificate
Some gift certificates look like coupons. This one looks more like a short letter. A clean white page, a red frame, flowing script and plenty of space around each line give it the air of a handwritten note. It suits people who want to give a certificate that feels personal and polished, without a loud picture.
How It Is Laid Out
The certificate is 5.28 x 2.38 inches in landscape. A thin red rectangle frames the right and lower part of the card, and at the top left a cluster of ornaments hangs from strings across the corner: red baubles with gold patterns, golden pine cones, small red bows and a string of beads that loops across the top. The ornaments overlap the frame, which gives the card depth.
Below the ornaments, the greeting reads Merry in a light gold script and Christmas in a large, black calligraphy style. At the top right, the words Gift for you are written in a script of the same family. Six lines follow, in small text: To, A Gift from, Amount, Date Issued, Expires and Voucher No. At the bottom right sit SAMPLE LOGO and a line for phone and email.
Filling in the Six Lines
| Line | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| To | The person’s name | Maria |
| A Gift from | The giver | Uncle Tom |
| Amount | Value or service | $30 or A facial |
| Date Issued | The day you sell or give it | 12 December |
| Expires | The last day to use it | 30 June |
| Voucher No. | A unique number | 00231 |
Where the Design Works Best
Boutiques, bakeries, bookshops, tea rooms and bridal or home decor stores like cards with this feel. Families also use it for adult gifts, such as a massage, a dinner or a weekend trip. Because the card is mostly white, handwriting in blue or black ink stands out, and the generous spacing makes it easy for people with large handwriting.
Editing Notes
All the line labels, the logo text and the contact line are editable. The ornaments and the Merry Christmas script are artwork, so to change the greeting you would delete the picture and add your own text. If you do not like the red frame, recolour it to gold or green to match your brand.
Print and Presentation
This is a light design, so it uses little ink and prints well on any printer. Use a smooth white or ivory card stock of 250 to 300 gsm. Trim to the outside of the frame, then slip the certificate into a narrow envelope, or tie it to a bottle of wine with a ribbon.
Handwriting on White
A black or dark blue gel pen shows best on the white background. For the Expires line, write the month in words, such as 30 June, to avoid confusion between day-month and month-day styles. Keep the Amount line short, because the line is long but the space above the ornaments is limited. A neat hand makes the card feel like a handwritten letter.
See similar certificates in the same size, such as the bunting and stars certificate and the ribbon corner design, or browse the Christmas gift certificate collection.
