In Case of Emergency Gift Card Frame Tutorial
As my kids get older, the days of easy gifts are over. It’s mostly gift cards now, but I still want to make it fun, which is where the in case of emergency gift card frame is the perfect compromise.
It’s super easy to do, and you can include anything in it that you prefer from cash to gift cards to promises for experiences and more. I’ve done it twice now, and my kids have been over the moon with it.
This is a great birthday gift for college kids, and you can ship it, as well, so send this as a fun care package either by itself or as part of a larger care package. As long as a box is at least a quarter of an inch high, you can ship it.
And again, if you have not ever used Pirate Ship, this is the cheapest way I have found to ship packages to anyone. I have no financial relationship with them at all – I just love them!
What Frame Do I Use?
When I wanted to put this together, initially I looked at various thrift stores, but I couldn’t find the right frame for what I wanted. I didn’t want to use real glass if I could avoid it, but more importantly, I wanted a lightweight frame that allowed me to easily swap out the inside.
I actually found the perfect frame at Walmart of all places. I purchased their 16×20 inche poster frame by Mainstays. All four edges just slide off, and it has a plastic front rather than glass.
These poster frames come in a variety of sizes, so you can go bigger or smaller, depending on how many items you want to put inside it. The Mainstays frame starts at 16×20, which worked perfectly for me, and has four other sizes up to 27×40 inches.
You can also get the Mainstays front loading frame that comes in a variety of sizes, but I probably wouldn’t go smaller than 8×10 inches for this project. The smaller the frame, the harder it is to fit the thicker gift cards inside and have the frame close again, so keep that in mind.
What Do I Include in the In Case of Emergency Gift Card Frame?
The frame is a great way to display a variety of gifts that are hard to wrap on their own. You can see examples of what I included for my kid, but the sky is the limit.
Some ideas include:
- Gift cards to their favorite restaurants, stores, etc in varying amounts
- Printed certificates for shared experiences like a spa day with you or tickets to a concert
- Cash is always good, and you can do as much or as little as you like. A fan of five $5 bills, for example, is a great display
- Certificates for items you plan to purchase or that wouldn’t fit. I did another one where I promised a gift subscription to the NY Times Games, which was a huge hit
No matter what you choose, make it fit your child and your budget. It doesn’t have to be huge, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.
How Do I Put It Together?
With a 16×20 inch frame, it’s difficult to print a single paper to make the background, so I created the “In Case of Emergency, Break Glass” in Canva and sized it so that it would fit.
I trimmed it after I printed it and then placed it inside the frame where I wanted it to go. If you want to use this file that works well for a 16×20 inch frame, this is the access to the Canva file.
Had I had more time and energy, I would have gone to my library and printed the letters out on vinyl with their Silhouette. That would have allowed me to put the letters on the outside of the “glass” first and is what I would do going forward to make it look more professional.
Once I had the frame open and the wording set, I played with the placement of the items until it looked the way I wanted. I had a variety of items with different sizes and thicknesses, so I made it more of an artsy offset look.
If you have just the gift cards with no packaging or all cash, you could line it up in the frame so that it’s a more structured look. Alternatively, if you have a smaller frame, you can overlap the gift cards so that it covers the entire area of the frame with the different items.
Once you have a layout, don’t simply put the glass on and call it a day. I tried that first and quickly realized – when I picked up the frame to admire my work – that the gift cards will slide around due to the varying thickness. Whoops.
If you have the little glue dots, that’s the perfect way to stick them in place. If you don’t have those, you can use tape loops and then put them right back into the design you created.
When I put the frame back together, obviously you want to line up the glass first. Once, you have the glass straight, you can start to reassemble the frame.
The Mainstays poster frames are a little unique in that they have four separate edges that slide on. I found it easiest to put the top edge on first and adjust anything I need to with the layout, then do the bottom edge before attaching the two sides.
From there, you’re ready to go to ship this as part of a care package, drop it off in a dorm room, or give it as a gift to anyone who would love it. My kid was over the moon to receive this gift, much more so than had I just given them gift cards.
Pro Tip: Earn Free Gift Cards
So here’s the thing: I have two kids in college and I’m married to a teacher. We do not have money growing on trees, so I’m always looking for creative ways to stretch my funds.
I use all the tips and tricks I can find to find ways to earn gift cards that I can share with my kids – and myself, for that matter. The good news is that there are a ton of programs out there, and many of them allow double dipping.
Fetch is my favorite, as it’s easy to take a picture of my receipts plus it connects to my online purchases both through my email and places like Amazon. AND you can play games through their portal that accrue points, as well.
If you use my code BAAQD to sign up, you get bonus points towards your first gift card. And the gift card choices are huge – everything from Amazon to Chipotle to Bath and Body Works and so much more.
I also use Swagbucks as my search engine and routinely earn enough points for more gift cards. They have also recently expanded to scanning receipts and playing games online.
The gift card choice isn’t quite as wide with Swagbucks, but they have the basics covered. And again, if you use my Swagbucks referral code, we both earn bonus points, so it’s a win/win.
Upside is another great source, which focuses on gas, retail, and grocery purchases. You find an offer near you and claim it, then you get cash back once you confirm that you paid.
I use this mostly for gas purchases – and I use it every time I buy gas, which adds up. They have recently added a lot more restaurants, but I’m not in the best habit – yet – of checking them. It’s easy to do and works. Use my invite code of GXKY9P, and you can earn a bonus on your first purchase.
There are so many more out there, but those ones – along with Ratuken, Ally, and more – are some of my favorites. It’s little things like this that add up and help me to create more fun gifts for my kids!
These In Case of Emergency Gift Card Frames Are Fun – What Would You Put in Yours?
