Fish on Hook Gift Card Holder

 

Create this memorable card for Father’s Day, 

or for any guy or gal who loves fishing. 

Suggestive details help this jumping fish look real, 

with stacked layers that provide depth to hide . . .

. . . a pull-out gift card slider or message. 

A simple but colorful lure hook provides the pull tab. 

Fish measures approx. 6.125” x 6.5” not including the lure pull. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A carrier base front panel

B carrier interior layers (7-9; quantity per depth test)

C carrier base back panel

D depth test strips (for determining interior layers; be

sure to cut these from the same stock as carrier shapes)

E fish silhouette base (shows thru as fins)

F fish silhouette overlay (shows as fin striations)

with eye window

G eye base inlay and pupil overlay

H fish underbelly overlay   I fish upper body overlay

J fish upper lip overlay

K pectoral fin inset with striation detail overlay

L lure shapes: hook, left and right overlays,

rivet for both front and back layers

M gift card front slider with ring reinforcement

N gift card back slider with ring reinforcement

O optional message card to substitute for gift card

2. As part of the cutting prep step, use the cut out

slider shapes and test strips to determine quantity

that will allow the carrier's slot to comfortably hold

the slider and plastic gift card. NOTE that if you are

using the optional message card substitute, use

that shape in place of the plastic gift card to gauge depth.

A) stack the slider shapes

B) place the plastic gift card on top of stack

C) stack the depth test strips, enough to equal

the height of the stack

NOTE that one way to know if the stacks are equal

is if the strips can be slid onto the card or not.

D) count the strips then add 2 for sliding allowance;

use this total number to cut the interior carrier shapes

that will be stacked to create the slider channel.

3. Identify the back (left) and front carrier panels.

4. Apply glue to one joining surface of the slider interior

shapes first pair to be joined, then layer them and adjust

so that ALL cut edges are aligned as precisely as possible.

Apply fingertip pressure all around edges, then . . .

. . . immediately place the stack under a flat heavy object

such as this thick book volume, possibly with something

else heavy on top to press the glued-up shape until

the next layer is ready to add onto the top of the stack.

This will help minimize warping or curling of the paper

when using liquid adhesive.

5. Continue to apply glue to the underside of successive

carrier shapes, then add them one by one to the assembly

in repetition of Step 4 above. Return the stack to be

pressed between each addition. When the stack is completed,

press the entire stack and allow to completely dry, usually

for several hours or over night.

6. When the interior glued shape is dry, apply glue

then position it over the backside of the back panel,

carefully aligning all matching edges precisely as before.

7. Apply glue to the upper surface of interior carrier shape

then position and attach the front panel.

Press the stack under a heavy flat weight until completely dry.

NOTE: place a plastic gift card into the opening of the channel

to keep the channel from collapsing under the weight.

8. Begin the fish assembly by positioning the striations

body layer over the top of the bas silhouette, matching

edges that align as precisely as possible.

9. Position and attach the eye inset into the cut out window.

(Apologies - this step was omitted in photo sequence

but MUST BE in place during this step.)

10. Add the lip overlay shape to the front of the assembly,

aligning and matching appropriate edges (throughout)

11. Add the upper body to the silhouette assembly.

12. Position and attach the lower body assembly,

abutting the shaped interior edge and lip edges

as well as other corresponding edges.

Press under a heavy flat weight as it dries.

13. Compete the pectoral fin assembly by positioning

and attaching the striations overlay on top,

with left shaped edges and right edges aligned,

and somewhat centered.

14. Position and attach the fin into the cut out window

and the pupil at the top of the eye cut out window.

15. Position the fish assembly over the top of the carrier

with narrow offset margin around most of the outer

edges, except . . .

. . . at the mouth front edge, where the fish and

the carrier edges should align precisely.

16. Prepare to assemble the lure pull tab which is

recommended to cut and assemble as two complete

front and back assemblies which are put together

back to back as shown.

Add the half accent shapes, one side then

the other . . .

. . . with the rivet set into the "window" near hook end.

Then reverse one to position and attach them

together back to back, aligning all cut edges

as precisely as possible. Press together, and

place under a flat weight until fully dried.

17. Complete the assembly of the GC slider by

first popping forward the holder tabs slightly

(NOTE there are no perf cuts to allow this bend

to be made too distinctly, so only barely bend them.)

This image is showing how to preview the arrangement.

Apply adhesive to the back only of the front panel,

including the pull ring, taking care NOT to apply glue 

to the backside of the holder tabs which 

must remain unattached.

Position the front and back sliders

with their backsides together, adjust so that

all outer and ring cut edges align, and join.

Position and attach the partial rings over the ring

extensions of the assembly, both front and back.

Lift the tabs slightly and slide the plastic GC

into position. This is a snug fit under the tabs,

and the slider is not much wider than the card.

18. Complete the card by carefully inserting

the non-ring end into the cavity opening at mouth edge.

Take care as the ring-end tab enters the slot so

that the tab slides into under the edge and does not

get caught and flip upward.

With the card fully inserted, position the hook through

the exposed ring, determine your desired positioning

(suggested: somewhat parallel to the mouth cut edge)

and securely glue in place at both spots where hook

and ring overlap - both front and behind.

If deemed desirable, it may be wise to instruct

the recipient to actually hold hook AND ring when

pulling the slider to the open position.