Offering our time and love can be the best gifts–and making a special “coupon book” for someone is a great way to share them. It’s easy, free, super-thoughtful and very cool!
- Materials
- + 2 sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper (printer or recycled)
- + 1 sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 heavy-weight paper like cover stock
- + scissors
- + pencil
- + ruler
- + stapler or a ribbon and hole-punch
- + stuff to decorate with: glitter pens, markers, stickers, fun bits of paper–whatever you like!
Print out the FGA coupon template below or make your own from recycled paper!
Step 1: Think about the person you are making the coupon book for–what would he or she appreciate most? Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Ideas for Grown-ups:
- House-cleaning, garden or kitchen helper.
- Clean out the car.
- Help bring in the groceries and put them away.
- Make a meal or favorite dessert.
- Walk the dog, feed pets or water plants.
- A big hug is always good!
- Ideas for Siblings:
- Help with a chore.
- Read aloud to them.
- Prepare a fave snack.
- Watch a movie with them.
- A fun project they would like – make something together!
- Playing a favorite game.
Write down your ideas and pick some favorites. Each of these will become a coupon.
Step 2: Make the Coupons. Here are a couple of ways to do this:
1. Use FGA Template – We’ve created a sheet you can print out and use to make your coupons. Print it out here, then cut along the light pink lines. You’ll get 3 coupons per sheet.
2. Make your Own – Reuse pages from old school assignments, drawings, doodles, back of junk mail, etc. Use a ruler and pencil to measure a 1 inch margin on all sides of an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet. Take the inside “rectangle” and mark it into 3 inch strips. Then, cut off only one of the 1 inch margins from the end and leave the other end alone. This will be the end you use to bind your book.
Measure and cut to make 3 coupons. Leave 1" margin on one end of each coupon.
Step 3: Make the book. Get your sheet of cover stock. Measure and cut out two stips a little larger than the width of your coupons (should end up 8 1/2″ long and a teeny bit over 3 inches wide.) Mark both with a line 1″ from one end. Fold over the 1″ piece on one strip – this is your back cover. Cut off the 1″ piece on the other – this is now your front cover.
Measure and cut 2 strips. Fold one and cut the other.
Step 4: Put it all together. Stack the coupons and place them on the back cover, sliding the stack under the fold. Slip the front cover under the fold and line it all up. Use a clip to hold the book together. Staple the book along the fold, or use a hole-pcnch to make two holes and run a ribbon or cord through.
Step 5: Decorate inside and out! Gently bend back the cover and fill in your coupons. Write your “gift” on each and decorate with fancy letters, drawings, stickers, etc. When you are done on the inside, decorate the cover with the person’s name. Tip: Let each page dry (ink, glue) before moving on to the next one, so your stuff doesn’t smear or stick.
Have fun decorating inside and out!
Step 6: Give your gift! Nice for all occasions…hang your coupon book on the Christmas Tree, wrap it up in a piece of tissue paper (recycled, of course!), make a special envelope…no matter how or when you give it, we promise the person receiving it will LOVE it!
AWESOME!!!
How come there is no back
AWESOME MY DAD WILL LOVE IT!
my mom will love this too
This is a great idea!
Love it, I just made one for my mom and dad for their Christmas present!
THIS IS COOL! I MADE IT FOR MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND HE WOULDN’T STOP HUGGING ME!! FLY ON! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
WISDOM RULES!
NO WORDS! ITS SOOO COOL :O 😀 WAS MY FIRST EXPRESSION!
MY SISTER WAS DELIGHTED TO KNOW I MADE IT FOR HER! SHE GAVE ME 10 LOLLIPOPS ON HER BIRTHDAY!! FLY ON! 🙂
This is such a great idea and its fun to make too.
This makes helping fun and shows how responsible you can be. Another thing that is good about giving it is that it might inspire the person to make it themselves. They will be glad to get it and I would like to thank you for doing this… You are a very kind person!
This makes helping fun and shows how responsible you can be. Another thing that is good about giving it is that it might inspire the person to make it themselves. They will be glad to get it and I would like to thank you for doing this… You are a very kind person! I know everyone will be glad!
You guys are lucky to have siblings that appreciate what you do. My brother just punches and kicks. But I’m sure one of my parents would like this!!
Aww Zoe, I’m sure your brother would appreciate it. My brother is the same way, but sometimes he shows his soft side. I’m making this for my friends and family for thanksgiving to show them I am thankful for them! (:
Oh GREAT idea
looks fun?!
It’s so fun!!!
Yeah well you could do twice as much work instead of spending time making coupons, and better yet not WASTE paper!
i think the coupons are fun u could give them to your moms for mothers day next year
AWESOME AND NICE!
Same here Zoe my brother just hits me and when his friends come over they gang up on me and distract me from my sleepover with my bff like come into my room and pull all my stuff of paper art and tear it all apart. 🙁
Or you could clean her living room, and wash her car, and not spend so much making useless stuff like that. My mom has always preferred me to clean instead of making useless crafts that are just going to be thrown away.
i thinking of making one for my sister
its not useless stuff, it just reflects on what you are like
you could just keep all your paper art stuff neatly in one place Alexis
Nancy you are being rude no offence but you may be insulting people
I agree with Nancy
Hi! I’m new. I actually made one of these for Mom as a Christmas present before I came here, so I’m not sure if this counts, but I clicked it anyway! 😉
I made this for my parents and they just LOVED it!
WISDOMS RULE!
I made 21 for all my friends.
Whew! That was hard!
This is a wonderful, loving, generous idea! I wish I’d thought of this as a child; I must confess I never did. God bless all of you who are doing this for family and friends!
I am making coupon books for my papa,ma,dadi,and sister.
*Dadi is paternal granma in India.