Repurpose old sheet music into pretty envelopes for gift cards.

I needed to make a cute gift bag of some sort for the embroidery scissors from last week's giveaway. I came across an old sheet music book when tidying up that came in handy.

I bought book of music in a charity shop at least 30 years ago (eek) when as a teenager I was learning piano. My ridiculously optimistic teenager self thought I would be able to play anything if I practiced enough. Ha ha! The reality was I didn't practice enough and certainly never got to the point where I could play anything in this book! I had used a few sheets for card making a while ago and then forgotten all about it. 

I made this simple little flat gift bag and slipped the scissors inside ready to send to the lucky winner.

The gift bag turned out pretty cute and made me think a smaller version might make a nice envelope for giving gift vouchers.

To make you own sheet music gift card envelopes you will need:

• Old sheet music (any old books would work nicely too)

• Sewing Machine with an old needle

• Sewing thread

• Hole punch

• Lace or ribbon

• Optional - stamps and ink pads

Cut 2 8cm x 13cm pieces of sheet music.

Stitch round 3 sides, leaving 1 short side open. 

If you start stitching an inch or so down the side and immediately go backwards to the top, then stitch down the side you won't have to worry about the ends undoing but at the same time you are not perforating the paper more times than necessary.

If you want to, add a design or 2 using any stamps and ink you might have. I don't have masses of stamps, mainly ones that have been free gifts on magazines.

I found bolder, thicker designs worked best. Anything too fine and detailed didn't show well on the busy background. These were my tests on scrap bits of paper.

I like how the brighter colours came out too, I thought gold would be lovely but really it was just a bit disappointing. Maybe embossing it would work ... I'll try that next time.

Next use a hold punch to make 2 holes at the open edge. You could measure, I just eyeballed it. 

Pop in your gift card then thread a length of lace or ribbon through the holes and secure with a bow. A length of about 42cm should be about right. 

I tried lace, thin ribbon (those ribbon loops you get in new clothes are idea), embroidery thread and raffia.

I'm not sure which I like best, the ones with a stamp or the ones without. 

I suggest keeping a sewing machine needle especially for sewing with paper. I used the one I had wrecked a few weeks ago when I made my cork and fabric key ring. I'm now keeping it separately especially for projects like this. Don't ruin a new one!

If you like crafts with old books or music you might find these projects interesting: