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It’s another day of Lawn Fawn’s Winter 2026 Inspiration and Release Week, and today we’re taking a closer look at the new Let It Shine Holiday Plaids Paper Collection, new cardstock, washi tape, Tiny Treasures and stickers!
For my first project today, I used the new A Gift for You Washi to create a colourful wrapped present – but there’s a little surprise hiding inside! Pull the tab and the new Build-A-Dog gradually pops up from behind the gift, bringing a gift card along with him.
I also have a second project to share today featuring the new Let It Shine Holiday Plaids Paper Collection and Tiny Treasures, so make sure to check out that post too!
The new Winter 2026 products will be available on October 1.
Project Gallery
I always enjoy adding those little finishing touches that make a project unique. Take a closer look and discover all the details that bring it to life.
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About This Project
For this card, I wanted to turn the new A Gift for You Washi into actual wrapping paper for a little present – and then turn that present into an interactive gift card holder!
To create the gift box, I first covered a piece of white cardstock with strips of A Gift for You Washi, placing them diagonally and varying the position of the different colours so that the pattern didn’t repeat in exactly the same way across the panel. I then used the rectangular window die from Ta-Da! Diorama! to cut out the main part of the gift box.
For the lid, I simply cut a rectangle slightly wider than the box and rounded the corners. Once the two pieces were assembled, I wrapped Red Hemp Twine around the present several times and added a large bow cut from Barn Red Cardstock using Put a Bow on It. I tucked a little Tiny Tags tag underneath the bow to finish the gift.
The new Build-A-Dog is peeking out from behind the present. I cut him from Kraft Cardstock, with Chocolate Bar Cardstock for his ears and Speckled Eggshell Cardstock for the lighter detail on his muzzle. I positioned his paws underneath his head so that he looks as though he’s resting them on the gift card holder while peeking over the top of the present. When the mechanism is closed, only the top of his head is visible – but pulling the tab gradually reveals the dog and the hidden gift card.
The gift card sits on a panel cut from Blush Cardstock using Large Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stackables. Its size works perfectly for a standard gift card, making it a useful base for the hidden part of the mechanism.
For the background, I used patterned paper from the Spiffy Speckles 12×12 Collection Pack, but layered Vellum over it to soften the pattern. This keeps the background subtle enough that it doesn’t compete with the colourful washi tape on the present. I framed the scene with a Stitched Rectangle Frame, also cut from Speckled Eggshell Cardstock.
For the pull mechanism, I used the Nordic Snowflake Border in a completely different way than originally intended. I die-cut it twice from sturdy cardstock and layered the two pieces together to create a long and stable pull tab. At the end, I added a small decorative tab cut from Blush and Kraft Cardstock using the tab die from Over the Rainbow. This provides an easy place to hold and pull the mechanism, while the little arrow also gives the recipient a visual hint that there’s something to pull and discover.
Finally, I stamped Enjoy and A little something for you from Tiny Tag Sayings in Lobster Ink to complete the gift theme.
Tips & Tricks
Creating the Interactive Gift Card Holder
This mechanism took a little bit of trial and error, but the basic idea is actually quite simple: the gift card and the little Build-A-Dog panel sit in a small pocket attached to the pull tab. As the tab is pulled upwards, the entire pocket moves with it, revealing both the dog and the gift card.
1. Creating the slot
I started by cutting a horizontal slot into my finished front panel – the Spiffy Speckles patterned paper with the layer of vellum on top. For this, I used the slot die from Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder. It is designed for a standard gift card, so it already has just the right width. The slot itself is slightly curved, but that doesn’t affect this mechanism.
On my card, the slot sits approximately 2¼" from the top of the panel. I arrived at this position mostly through trial and error, so I would recommend using this measurement only as a starting point and checking the placement with your own elements before die-cutting.
2. Making the gift card pocket
Next, I created a very simple pocket from a narrow strip of cardstock. I didn’t use exact measurements for this – I simply folded the strip around a gift card so that there was roughly ½" of cardstock on either side.
With the gift card temporarily sitting between the two layers, I added adhesive along the left and right edges and adhered the folded cardstock together, creating a little sleeve or pocket. I then trimmed away the excess cardstock at the sides, leaving enough room for a secure adhesive edge but keeping the pocket as compact as possible.
The gift card can simply slide in and out of this pocket, so there is no need to attach the actual gift card with adhesive.
3. Adding the dog panel
I cut the rounded rectangle from Blush Cardstock using Large Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stackables and added the Build-A-Dog at the top, positioning his paws underneath his head so that he looks as though he is peeking over the edge.
I also cut a second rounded rectangle from white cardstock and adhered it behind the Blush piece to make the moving panel sturdier.
The bottom of this double-layered panel is inserted into the same pocket that holds the gift card and adhered securely inside it. Just make sure to leave enough space for the gift card to slide freely in and out of the pocket.
4. Assembling the pull mechanism
The important part when assembling the mechanism is how the moving gift card panel passes through the slot. Most of the panel – together with the gift card – starts out hidden behind the card front, but the top of the Blush-coloured panel with the dog needs to be fed through the slot so that it already sits on the front of the card.
As mentioned above, I attached the bottom of the Blush-coloured dog panel inside the pocket and connected the pocket to the long pull tab made with the Nordic Snowflake Border. The pull tab and pocket remain behind the card front throughout the movement.
When you pull the tab upwards, the entire assembly moves upwards. Because the top of the dog panel has already been fed through the slot, the slot guides the moving panel from the back of the card to the front. First you see more of the dog, and as you continue pulling, the gift card itself passes through the slot and becomes visible on the front of the card.
The gift box isn’t actually necessary for the mechanism to work – it simply hides the slot and the small part of the moving panel that needs to remain visible when the mechanism is closed. This creates the illusion that the dog and gift card are appearing from inside the present.
The pocket behind the card front also acts as a built-in stopper. Because it is wider than the slot, it eventually reaches the back of the opening and cannot travel any further. By choosing where the pocket is attached to the pull tab, you can control how far the mechanism can be pulled upwards and where it stops. I positioned mine so that the dog panel and gift card are fully revealed when the pocket reaches the slot.
5. Hiding the mechanism behind the present
Once I was happy with the movement, I adhered the decorated gift box to the front of the card. I positioned it so that it completely hides the gift card when the mechanism is closed, while just the top of the dog’s head peeks out above the present.
It is important to add adhesive only below and around the slot and to make sure that no adhesive extends across the opening or into the path of the moving panel. Otherwise, the mechanism won’t be able to slide freely.
When the tab is pulled, the dog rises out of the present and the gift card appears with him. Push the tab back down and both disappear behind the gift again.
6. Giving the mechanism room to move
Finally, the card front needs some space behind it for the pocket and pull tab to move freely. I created this depth with several layers of cardstock, but foam tape would work just as well.
Whichever method you use, make sure there is enough clearance around the moving pieces and avoid placing adhesive anywhere along their path. Before permanently attaching the front panel to the card base, test the mechanism several times to make sure everything moves smoothly.
Supplies
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I truly appreciate your support!
Stamps
Dies
- Build-A-Dog
- Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder
- Large Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stackables
- Nordic Snowflake Border
- Over the Rainbow
- Put a Bow on It
- Stitched Rectangle Frames
- Ta-Da! Diorama!
- Tiny Tags
Other
- Cardstock: Barn Red, Blush, Chocolate Bar, Kraft, Speckled Eggshell
- Vellum
- Patterned Paper: Spiffy Speckles Collection Pack
- Red Hemp Twine
- Gifts for You Washi Tape
- Lawn Fawn Ink: Lobster
Let’s Make Something Cute!
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I'm always happy to help.
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