How To Make A College Gift Card Book Printable
If you’re looking for the perfect going-away gift for your son or daughter heading to college as a college care pack, or need a unique graduation gift idea, this College Gift Card Book might just be what you need.
This thoughtful and practical gift is designed to provide new college students with everything they need, from self-care essentials to emergency funds.
In this guide, I will show you how to put together a college survival gift card book that meets new students needs and provides comfort, convenience, and joy during their college years.
DIY College Gift Card Book For Students
When my niece graduated from high school, my sister came to me with a special request. She asked me to create a College Gift Card Book as she loved the Christmas gift book I made.
Knowing how significant this new chapter was for her daughter, she wanted a gift that was not only practical but also packed with thoughtfulness and care.
It needed to be something that could help her navigate through her college years with a little ease and a lot of love. Each card in her book was chosen with her interests and needs in mind, from her favorite coffee shop to the bookstore she loves.
But Why A College Gift Card Book?
Think of it as a survival kit!
Heading off to college is a huge deal for any young adult. It’s packed with new challenges, exciting opportunities, and a whole lot of figuring things out on your own.
This book is like a little bridge from home to college life, making sure students are all set for whatever comes their way—whether it’s a late-night snack run or grabbing some last-minute supplies for a class project.
More than just a gift, it’s a heartfelt way to show you’re thinking about them from afar ❤️—not just giving money, but sending them off to college knowing they’re loved and remembered, offering comfort through an overwhelming transition.
What Goes Into a College Gift Card Book?
A college gift card holder book isn’t just a collection of gift cards—it’s a carefully curated selection of essentials, self-care treats, and emergency backups, all specifically tailored to meet the needs of a college student.
Essentials: Gift cards for places like Target or IKEA for dorm essentials to make their new space cozy and functional.
Food and Fun: Cards for their favorite eateries or coffee shops.
Self-Care: Packed with cards for wellness and self-care services to make sure they don’t forget to take care of their mental and physical health, even when college life gets busy.
Maybe include a spa day or a subscription to a meditation app.
Emergencies: Threw in a few gift cards for those just-in-case moments, like unexpected medical needs or a rush for last-minute school supplies.
DIY Your Own or Find Ready-Made Templates
Creating this book can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. You can DIY from scratch, decorating a notebook or a photo album, and slotting in the gift cards with little notes of encouragement.
Or, if you’re looking for a head start, you might want to check out some ready-made printable templates. I’ve got some nifty ones listed in my Etsy shop that make the process super easy. You can check them out here.
They come with a variety of designs (around 60) and ideal for both boys and girls.
How to Assemble Your College Gift Card Book
Assembling your Printable College Gift Card Book is simple and fun.
You can choose between two easy-to-make options: make a photo album or make a spiral notebook.
Option 1: How To Make A College Gift Card Photo Album
Things You’ll Need
- Printable college survival gift card book pages (DIY OR available on my Etsy listing)
- Gift cards of your choice
- Printer (Eco-tank for ink saving at home) or Print at store
- Card stock paper to print (5 x 7 in, 4 x 6 in, US letter) or matte photo paper
- A photo album (5 x 7 in, 4 x 6 in)
- Scissors (if needed)
- Glue dots or double-sided tape
- Decorative stickers, washi tape, or other embellishments (optional)
- Pens or markers
Print the Pages: Start by selecting the size you need from the available options. This file has 2 size options for photo album, 4 x 6 inches and 5x 7 inches.
Print the required pages of your gift card book on card stock or photo paper, either at home or at a local office store.
I have Ecotank for projects like this because it’s cost-effective and saves on ink. For this project, I printed on 5 x 7 inch card stock, but you can also use regular printer paper if you prefer.
Cut and Prepare: Cut out the individual pages, if needed, depending on the page size you used to print.
Attach Gift Cards: Use glue dots or double-sided tape to attach the gift cards to the corresponding pages.
Insert into Album: Slide each printed page into a slot in your photo album. I used this simple 5 x 7 in photo album which has a cover option. You can also choose a different size or style based on your preferences.
Ensure each page is secure and aligned properly.
Personalize: Add personal notes, stickers, or decorative tape to make the book even more special and unique.
Option 2: Spiral Notebook
Skip this part if you are going to get them spiral binds at the store.
You can buy this really cheap Mini 5-Hole Binding Machine kit (comes with 16 leaf binding strips) if you don’t want to buy separate tools. This makes putting this notebook really easy and hassle free!
Things You’ll Need
- Gift cards of your choice
- Printer (Eco-tank for ink saving) or Print at store
- Card stock paper to print (5 x 7 in, 4 x 6 in, US letter) or matte photo paper
- Spiral coils
- Needle cutters
- 6 hole punch
- Scissors (if needed)
- Glue dots or double-sided tape
- Decorative stickers, washi tape, or other embellishments (optional)
- Pens or markers
Print and Cut: Print the pages as described above.
Punch Hole and Bind: Use a hole puncher to create holes along the edges to fit the spiral binding. Place the pages in the correct order and bind them into the spiral notebook. If you prefer not to buy individual tools, you can get a mini 5-hole binding machine kit that comes with 16 leaf binding strips. It makes creating this book a breeze!
Attach Gift Cards: Use glue dots or double-sided tape to attach the gift cards to the corresponding pages.
Personalize: Add personal touches like handwritten notes, doodles, stickers, or decorative tape to make each page special.
Wrapping It Up
Once your book is ready, wrap it up nicely—maybe with a bow or a custom cover note.
It’s a heartwarming send-off gift that they’ll definitely appreciate as they embark on their college adventure.
So, whether you DIY from the ground up or start with a printable template, you’re creating something that will definitely make them feel loved and supported. Happy crafting!
More About My College Gift Card Book Printable
If you’re looking to simplify your gift-giving with a ready-to-use option, here’s what’s included in this printable:
- 60 Gift Card Options: Choose from a wide variety of gift cards to fit any college student’s needs.
- High-Quality PDFs in 3 Sizes: Choose from 4×6, 5×7, or 8.5×11 inches.
- Cover Designs: Two designs, each available in three colors (black, pink and blue), suitable for graduation or college-going gifts.
- Letters from Parents: Options for letters from ‘I’ or ‘we’ to inspire your student.
- Blank Templates: Create your own cards for a personal touch.
Whether it’s for graduation gift, a college care pack, or an in-case-of-emergency resource, this gift card book for college students is a must have!
