How to Make Homemade Coupon Books
Nothing says love more than a gift of your time. The next time you need a gift for someone special, consider creating a handmade coupon book. A hand-crafted coupon book can be designed so that it is perfectly suited for its recipient. Include as many coupons as you wish, for silly or practical things. These gifts are easy to make, with or without a computer.
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Things You'll Need
- Design template
- Paper
- Embellishments of your choice
- Heavy-duty stapler
- Hole punch
- Metal ring, thread, or yarn
- Gift box or bag
Instructions
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Decide on your design. Free templates are available for printable coupons on websites such as American Greetings and Kodak, or design your own using your computer. Add festive and colorful pictures to each page as desired, or consider drawing your own design and decorating the coupons by hand.
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Choose your gifts. List the coupons you intend to include, matching the reward with the intended recipient. For new parents, ideas include baby-sitting coupons for evenings out. For children, consider coupons for a trip to the zoo or the movies. For grandparents, coupons redeemable for yard work or other daunting tasks are generally always welcome.
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Create your coupons. Using free coupon templates at Microsoft, you can fit ten coupons on an 8.5 by 11 inch piece of paper. Use card stock for a more professional look. If using pre-made printable templates, add your item and hit print, adding any particulars as needed. Each coupon should start with the phrase "good for" or "redeemable for" so that your recipient understands its intent. Be sure to include the specific value and time-frame of the coupon, such as stating 'Good for Five Hours of Free Babysitting', rather than just indicating 'Babysitting' to avoid unwanted confusion.
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Design a cover for your book. If you are using templates such as those from American Greetings, there will be a cover that coordinates with your coupons included for you to print. If you are creating your own, be sure to create the cover using the same dimensions as the coupons. Decorate the cover appropriately. Add balloons and a cake for a birthday gift, a snowman and wreath for Christmas, or whatever is suitable for the occasion.
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Select the way you wish to finish the book. Use a metal ring to hold the pages together, or tie them together using thread or yarn for a fanciful, modern look. Alternatively, you can staple them together using a heavy-duty stapler. Choose a design and finish which will enhance the look of the book.
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Stack your pages and prepare them for finishing. If you are stapling them together, line up the edges carefully to avoid uneven pages. If using a tie or ring, punch a hole in each coupon to accommodate the closure. Be certain to put the hole in the exact place on each page so that the book will fit together well.
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Finish in the appropriate manner. Be sure if you are using a metal ring that there are no sharp edges.
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Finish by inserting your creation into a coordinated gift box or bag.
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Tips & Warnings
Little ones can give coupons for hugs and kisses, making a perfect gift for a grandparents.
