Today we are welcoming the New Year, looking out my window its a dull, wet, New Years day so I decided what better way to make the most of some down time than to up-cycle our Christmas cards by making your very own personalised Christmas gift tags.
Every year I say I will do this, and I never do. You don't have to be creative, its a great way to get the whole family together on a wet rainy day. Most importantly...you are saving the planet and saving yourselves money in preparation for Christmas.
Every year I say I will do this, and I never do. You don't have to be creative, its a great way to get the whole family together on a wet rainy day. Most importantly...you are saving the planet and saving yourselves money in preparation for Christmas.
Lets get started!
Gather all your lovely cards and select the ones that you can use the front designs to cut and shape into your gift tags. There are such beautiful cards out there now-a-days. One card can be used to create at least 2-3 gift tags.
What you may need:
- Scissors
- A hole punch
- Left over ribbon or gift wrap
- A ruler, pen or pencil
Optional:
Selection of rubber stamps & ink pad
Decorations
Plate or shape to use as an outline/guide for cutting
If you aren't great at cutting shapes, don't despair. I used the outline of the sellotape to make circles. I am not the greatest at drawing straight lines, so this is were your ruler will come in handy.
Look at the card and select areas of the design that would make pretty tags and start drawing your shapes with a pencil first just in-case you make a mistake, then cut out the designs.
Next hole punch the tag and add in ribbon or left over gift wrap so that your tag is all ready and prepared to be attached to your gift. I had left over fabric ribbon and curling ribbon, so I mixed and matched depending on the image. Make sure you leave enough ribbon so that your tag can be stuck onto your gift with ease.
Additional:
At this point you can leave these tags you have created and put them into a sandwich bag or box and put away with the rest of the decs ready for next year.
I wanted to add that something extra special to mine. I decided to stamp the reverse of some of my tags and on some I even stamped the front. One thing I will say about this stage is that you MUST allow the ink to dry properly on each tag. So don't pile them on top of each other. Leave then in single layers to dry thoroughly
.
I wanted to add that something extra special to mine. I decided to stamp the reverse of some of my tags and on some I even stamped the front. One thing I will say about this stage is that you MUST allow the ink to dry properly on each tag. So don't pile them on top of each other. Leave then in single layers to dry thoroughly
Finally...
You may have some present toppers or small decorations left over that you can stick onto each tag to finish them off and make them even more special. Tiny gift bows would look lovely used in the same way. I had some sticky backed snowflakes left over from another project. So I selected a few tags and added them to give them a luxury feel.
I think these are just so adorable, but what makes them even more special is that you have hand crafted them with love and time whilst saving the planet and up-cycling. Its a great project for all the family and a great way to educate the younger family members that with a small amount of time, plus the bonus of saving money you can create something that is a personalised finished project that can be recycled and used again for the next year.
Out of my pile of sent Christmas cards I managed to make 50 gift tags!! What a money saver and a lovely crafting project. Remember if you are like me, and worry you will forget you have made these. Add a reminder on your phone or on your calender for the beginning of December. You will be thankful come December.
As always I would love to hear how your crafting projects went.
As always I would love to hear how your crafting projects went.
Until next time.....
Love & sparkles
Caroline XX
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