In the sea of holiday cards you want yours to stand out. With just a small time investment you can make a card that is up to the challenge. The materials are inexpensive and easy to find. 

You will need:

• white card stock
• greeting card template
• color printer
• scissors or paper cutter
• craft knife
• ruler or other straight edge
• cutting board
• aluminum foil HVAC repair tape
• colored card stock
• glue stick
• chopsticks

The steps:

Print the template on card stock. Cut the card from the card stock using scissors or a paper cutter. Lay the card on a cutting board and use a craft knife and ruler or straight edge to carefully cut the box frame around the center of the card along the light gray lines. Do not cut the light gray lines that extend vertically from the top and bottom of the frame box to the outside edges of the card. 

Carefully release the center of the card from the border with the two vertical connections intact. With the printed side up, fold the far left edge away from you at the light gray vertical lines on the left. Fold the far right edge toward you at the light gray vertical lines on the right.

On the back side of the printed inner box place two strips of aluminum foil HVAC repair tape side by side horizontally, with the outside edges flush with the top and bottom of the box. Use strips long enough to overlap the sides slightly. Cut away any excess with a craft knife and ruler or straight edge.

Cut long strips of colored card stock about 1/2 cm wide. Cut a strip to fit over the center horizontal line of the foil box covering the seam between the two pieces of foil tape. Secure the strip in place with a glue stick. Cut another piece to fit vertically in the center of the box with the card closed. Secure the strip in place with glue stick.
Cut another long strip of colored card stock about 1/4" wide. Cut the strip to about 2 inches and create a loop with it about 1 inch long, overlapping the loose ends in the back. Cut another piece of the strip about 3/4” long and wrap it around the center of the longer loop with the loose ends in the back. Secure the small loop with glue stick creating a paper bow.

Attach the paper bow with glue stick to the intersection of the two long strips of card stock on the foil box. Use the thick end of one chopstick to hold the bow in place while rounding the loops of the bow with the narrow end of another chopstick. Allow to dry completely before proceeding.

Write a personalized greeting on the part of the card that is hidden by the fold when the card is closed. The card can be sent in standard #6, 3-5/8” x 6-1/2” envelopes.