DIY Gift Tag Ideas

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DIY Gift Tag Ideas

It's all in the detail! Dress up your gifts with these easy ideas for DIY gift tags.

These nifty gift tag ideas are sure to glam up gifts for all occasions.

Add your own greetings to personalise and raid your stash for supplies - zingy patterned papers & citrus ribbons work well to top them off!

Free Download Click Here

This is a 2 page pdf of tag ideas, first published in You Can Craft! magazine. As a special bonus, we've added the pdf set of shape templates from the same issue on this page as a bonus free download for you - print or trace them and they'll help you draw some of the tag shapes in this set, plus a hole host of other  shapes for your papercrafting.

Weekend Project - Gift Tags

Yuletide gift tags: a blender pen tutorial

I was first introduced to the blender pen by my husband, who used one to illustrate a small book for me for our first Valentines Day together. I was amazed at how easy it was to transfer and manipulate images using the pen, and it quickly became a craft supply staple! This year I have used it to create some simple gift tags, and I really love the simplicity of the black lettering with brown paper and string wrapped presents.
A blender pen traditionally does just that, blends. It is a pen filled with a clear ink that artists use to blend their pens, chalk, coloured pencil, etc and give it a water colour type look. However, the clear ink also reacts with toner ink (photocopied, laser printed or magazine images work) causing the ink to lift of the image and can then be transferred onto a new surface. You can use a blender pen to transfer images onto paper products, fabric, lino (we use it for preparing block prints) or even wood. Here's how....

Material You will need...
1. A Blender pen (you can find these at most craft stores, and some stationary stores)
2. A burnishing tool, we use a small spoon or the handles of some scissors.
3. Photocopied, laser printed or magazine images for transfer
(keep in mind the image will 'flip' and create a mirror image so make sure to
flip any text you have before printing)


Step One: Loosening
Cut out your image, and place it face down on the surface you wish to transfer it onto. If you are transferring onto regular paper (especially in a book), be aware that the ink can bleed through a bit. While holding the image in place (I recommend leaving a decent amount of white space when cutting out the image, so you have space to hold it still), take your blender pen and apply even strokes across the image until the paper is almost translucent. Do not move the paper (not even between step one and step two). You have now loosened the ink to be transferred.

Step two: Burnishing
Now, how soon you move onto step two will depend slightly on your blender pen. If you are using a brand spankin' new pen it is likely that quite a lot of ink will come out, and this can cause your image to be over saturated or to bleed. To prevent this from happening, wait a minute after step one before burnishing to let it dry a little. This is also a good reason to do a few practice runs!

Burnishing is the step that actually transfers the loosened ink onto it's new surface. To do this, take a small spoon, scissor handles, etc and rub it all over the back of your image in small motions. You want to make sure you get all of the image, and don't be afraid to press hard, you won't tear the paper. Still don't move the paper (I mean it).

Step three: Check While holding your image in place with one hand, carefully peel up the paper to check that it has transferred successfully. Now, carefully switch sides and check the rest of the image. If it is still a bit faded or patchy, then repeat step two. Or, if you're into faded and/or patchy then leave it at that!

Once you're happy with your image, slowly and carefully peel off the paper being careful not to smudge. The ink will still be a little wet so maybe leave it to dry for a couple minutes.
Voila! Lovely personalised gift tags ready to use for all your Christmas goodies.

Merry Christmas!

Potato Stamp Art - Christmas Cards

You will need...
1. mini cookie cutters I found (you can always draw your own design onto the potato),
2. one medium/large potato,
3. a pearing knife,
4. an ink pad,
5. and recycled homemade paper.

How to make the stamp...
1. First you cut the potato in half and take the cookie cutter of your choice, center it, and press down firmly into the potato.
2. With the cookie cutter still in the potato, cut about 1/4″ from the top, throwing away all the excess potato edges.
3. Remove the cookie cutter, and voila you have your stamp!



How to make your cards, tags, etc...
1. Next, choose your paper.
2. Cut the paper down to size (mine are 4″x6″ postcards) and stamp away!
3. Make sure to ink your stamp well the first time and maybe use some test paper too.

 

What do you think? While I was at it I also made some gift tags for Christmas presents! Try it yourself the possibilities are endless!

Handmade Gift Tags

Make All Your presents too pretty to open by adorning them with unique handmade gift tags.

Set of 6 handmade gift tags - perfect for gift giving

or adding to a scrapbook page as an embellishment

by ~ northern reflections

Monique-Elegant Black Dress Form GiftTag. All Occasion.

This elegant and oh-so-glamorous tag is perfect for the finishing touch

as a gift tag as a decoration around your home!

by ~  fabulous finds

Bonjour Gift Tags by GaGa4GiftTags on Etsy

French inspired Bonjour gift tags have been hand stamped and ink distressed

for a wonderful vintage look. Embellished with paper flower with a tiny

faux pearl bead in the center.

Set of 11 circle Gift tags - Poetic scrolls and fonts. 
Elegant pastel Gifttags - perfect for any occasion!
They are double layered with cardstock so you can write
your message on the back and they come with natural twine.

by ~ percival road

Find these great gift tags and more on Etsy !

Gift Tags...

6 carrot frond gift tags looks like mini Christmas trees



6 gift tags made from salvaged paper and box board and pressed carrot fronds that resemble tiny Christmas trees.

They each measure 2 3/4 x 1 3/4" (7cm x 4.5 cm) and have a pressed carrot frond.

Romantic, natural and simple these recycled gift tags will add a classy, thoughtful touch to any gift or be a great gift in themselves. I'm also sure any gardener, greenie or outdoors person will appreciate the natural beauty of these gift tags.

Thank you for choosing upcycled, salvaged and recycled goods.

Moon Light in Vermont

Check out this Great Etsy Treasury Upcycled, Recycled, Reused was featured in. Lots of potential here. Or check my shop for these pretty Purple Floral Gift Tags and More....