Transform Free Gift Tags into Spectacular Ones

Love a free gift tag but it seems a bit generic? Once you learn a few simple techniques, you can transform free gift tags into spectacular ones for any occasion.

Howdy! I’m Do (pronounced doe or dough) from Piggy Bank Parties where I share simple and affordable ideas to help you make CENTS of entertaining. I’m honored to be a part of Design Dazzle‘s Christmas Wonderful series again this year.

Gift wrapping is an official sport in my family and Christmas is our Olympic games. It’s where we can put all of the skills we have learned over the years into practice all under one tree. It’s a friendly competition and whomever receives each spectacularly wrapped present is the real winner!

To create your own spectacular gift tags, you’ll need to gather the following supplies:

SUPPLIES

Spectacular Christmas Gift Tags Free Download
Latest version of Adobe Reader (free download at www.adobe.com)
8.5″ x 11″ 60-80 lb. bright white cardstock or photo paper
Color printer or take to a print shop
Scissors
Hole Punch
Ribbon, Twine or Bows
Adhesive or 3D Foam Squares
[Optional] Embellishments and Scrapbook Paper

DIRECTIONS

Easy step-by-step directions are included in the Spectacular Christmas Gift Tags Free Download. My favorite paper to print on is 61 lb. matte photo paper which is available at office supply stores.

Here are four simple techniques even a non-Olympic gift wrapper can use to transform free gift tags into spectacular ones:

ATTACH A TIE-ON

A tie-on is an inexpensive embellishment you literally tie onto a gift. A tie-on can be an item you handcraft or an inexpensive embellishment you buy.

Use the graphics on free printables as inspiration. Add a white pom pom to a snowman tag or a jingle bell to a tag with a horse-drawn sleigh.

This tag featured a candy cane and holly which inspired me to attach handmade felt holly to the tag with a mini clothespin. Another easy idea would be to tie on a real candy cane.

LAYER WITH SCRAPBOOK PAPER

Attach your free printable gift tag to a piece of scrapbook paper. The extra layer frames the tag and visually pops it off of the gift. You can also pick a scrapbook paper which coordinates with any style of decorating you desire–farmhouse, bohemian, shabby chic, glitzy glam, etc.

MONEY SAVING TIP: Shop at home first! These Spectacular Gift Tags are a great way to use up scrap pieces of paper you have leftover from other projects.

To achieve this look, cut the scrapbook paper approximately ¼″ wider than the gift tag on all sides. For your convenience, I have included a template for the scrapbook paper layer in the Spectacular Christmas Gift Tags Free Download.

ADD A POP-UP ELEMENT

My favorite way to turn free gift tags into spectacular ones is to add a pop-up element. To make this pop-up element, I fussy cut* a wreath from a second tag then attached it to the original gift tag using 3D foam squares.

*DEFINITION: Fussy Cut = To cut pieces of fabric [or paper] so that a particular part of the printed design is centered or featured.

BONUS: Fussy cut elements are included on page 2 of the Spectacular Christmas Gift Tags Free Download in order to save you some paper and ink. More pennies for your piggy bank!

EMBELLISH IT

The final tag features three of the four ways you can transform free gift tags into spectacular ones. In addition to adding a layer of glittery scrapbook paper and two pop-up elements, the tag is embellished with a gold twine bow and silver sequin stars. A few embellishments turns a simple tag into a spectacular one!

Need more gift wrapping ideas and free printables? Pop over to the Piggy Bank Parties blog here to grab more free gift wrapping downloads under the Christmas section and see how easy they are to make.

I hope y’all have as much fun creating your own Spectacular Gift Tags as I had designing them for you! Merry Christmas!

Do Driver is half of the creative duo behind Piggy Bank Parties—a handcrafted and digital party goods company. This Midwestern girl shares her uncomplicated, accessible and affordable approach to entertaining on the Piggy Bank Parties blog where you’ll also find unique free downloads hand illustrated by her hilariously adorable husband.

Use #spectacularchristmasgifttags to share photos of your own Spectacular Christmas Gift Tags with us!