Create a DIY gift card holder using an old cassette tape case! Use Mod Podge and some pretty papers to surprise the recipient.

Hi! It’s Shannon from Rosyscription and today I want to share with you an idea for a recycled DIY gift card holder . . . from an old cassette tape case! It would be a fun craft to make this holiday season (here are 12 more DIY gift card holders you’ll love to give).

Now, I have to admit that I used to know the lyrics to the song Kokomo by the Beach Boys backwards and forwards. It was a long time ago, when I’d bop to the tune on my Walkman while wearing a side ponytail and tight rolled jeans.

So, I was feeling a little nostalgic when I saw a cassette tape for the Cocktail movie soundtrack at a thrift store this summer. It brought me right back to 1988.

But I didn’t pick up the tape because I wanted a trip down memory lane. No, I saw crafty potential! I thought the case would make a cute DIY gift card holder with a little decoupage magic.

Want to learn how to make your own?

Gift Card Holder

Supplies needed:

Old plastic cassette tape case

Decorative paper

Glitter

Glass paint (optional)

Mod Podge Satin or Mod Podge Gloss

Brushes

Scissors or paper cutter

Gold brad or button

Hot glue gun

Directions:

First you will need to remove the printed sleeve inside. Then, clean and dry your plastic cassette case. Separate the front and back pieces from each other so you can decorate each one.

Use the printed sleeve as a template and trace around it onto the back of the scrapbook paper. Cut the tracing out and fold the paper to mirror the original insert. If desired, cut a strip of contrasting paper the width of the paper/case, too.

Paint a stripe of Mod Podge along the outer, inside edge of the ‘top’ piece of the case and smooth the strip of red/contrasting paper on top.

Then, apply a bunch of Mod Podge along the interior surfaces of the top part of the case. Carefully place your folded piece of scrapbook paper inside the plastic.

Try to place it evenly and centered the first time, because it may be difficult to adjust the paper once it is in there.

Smooth out any bubbles in the paper and allow the glue to dry. Then, apply a coat of Mod Podge over the paper to help seal and secure it. Allow that to dry, too.

If you want to decorate the outside of your DIY gift card holder, glue a button or brad to the outside of the case.

Next, you need to decorate the ‘bottom’ half of the case. This section is a little trickier to tackle with the plastic spokes sticking up into the case. That is why I decided to use glitter and paint.

Spread a thick layer of Mod Podge on the bottom surface and spokes of the case. Sprinkle liberally with glitter and shake off any excess.

(If you wanted to, you could use glitter on sides of the case, too. But I tried to carefully avoid the sides because I wanted to paint those.)

Once the glitter and glue is dry, apply another coat of Mod Podge over the glitter to seal it. This will prevent any of of the sparkle from shedding.

After that is dry, use craft paint and paint the sides of the bottom half of the case with red paint. (I specifically chose glass paint because I knew it would adhere to the clear plastic.)

Allow that to dry and repeat if needed to achieve the desired color/opaqueness.

Once everything is dry, just reattach your two pieces together and add your gift card!

Now you have a pretty handmade gift card holder that can be reused again and again!

I bet you have an old cassette tape from your past that you can recycle into a fun gift. And I bet it will take you on trip down memory lane while you make it . . . because I can’t stop singing “Aruba . . . Jamaica . . . ”