I'm a little bit anal about my Christmas tree. There is a theme to the colours and decorations and I like all the presents to be wrapped the same and preferably coordinate with the tree. Yes call me OCD if you like. As I'm not keen on spending a fortune on wrapping etc, each year I make my own complete with homemade Christmas gift tags. Last year I made salt dough gift tags which were a nice change and I assume biodegradable so environmentally-friendly too.
The year before it was reinbird tags which were quite a hit on Pinterest and so easy to make. This year I was a bit stuck for ideas but inspiration struck at the last minute and I came up with these simple little tags to match my gift wrap.
They were a cinch to make and I think look rather cute. The inspiration for this year's wrapping came on a recent trip to Bunnings (of which I think there is at least one a weekend now we have a yard) where I saw the big roll of jute webbing which is meant to be used for tying trees. I thought it would be brilliant for wrapping presents. The roll of 33m set me back $10 which I think is quite reasonable when you think how expensive ribbon is.
To make the gift tags you will need:
- white card
- jute webbing
- jute twine in a coordinating colour
- scissors
- a glue gun
- a hole punch
The first step was cutting out all the tags. If you're good at free-hand then just cut one and use it as a template. I had to print out a template to start with because I'm not a very good cutter.
Once you have the size, cut a piece of webbing for each tag. Work out how much string you'll need to tie one bow then cut a piece for each tag. The trickiest (ok maybe most annoying part) is tying all the bows but I managed to do 26 and all the cutting in an episode of Hostages.
Once everything is cut out, use a hot glue gun to stick it all together. I tried with craft glue first but it just wasn't tough enough. Just be carful pushing the jute down. Remember that it has holes in it so if you push directly where you applied the glue there will be hot-glue-to-skin-contact. I got my first ever craft burn making these.
Leave them to dry then punch a hole in each one and you will have a set of pretty little gift tags ready to tie to your presents.
What about you? Do you make your own gift tags?
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The Café Sucre Farine says
So cute and clever, Claire. I love to see a pretty tree with presents all coordinated. It reminds me of one year many moons ago. We had a fairly new dog. He was the worst and the best dog ever. He could get in SUCH trouble but he was so smart, so funny and so endearing. I had trimmed the tree, wrapped gifts to match. ironed and starched a lovely lace tree skirt. We went to church and when we came home it was a sight you wouldn't even believe. He had gotten most of the ornaments off the tree and they were strewn here, there and everywhere. He had wadded up the tree skirt in a tight, messy ball and eaten open many of the gifts, including a box of tea from all over the world. There was loose tea everywhere. It was the biggest mess you've ever seen in your whole life. It took me days to forgive him for that. But he kept looking at me with these big sad eyes and I finally was won back over and we were best friends again. :) Hope your lovely tree has no mishaps.
Claire says
Oh Chris what a disaster! I would have taken a while to forgive him too.
Danielle says
These are seriously cute and clever, what crafty thinking Claire ;-) I just checked out your previous years' gift tags and loved those too. I've done the very basic making tags out of old Xmas cards with pinking shears, but I think I need to step up my game in future!
Claire says
Thanks Danielle! Pinking shears are fantastic aren't they?!
Hotly Spiced says
My tree (when I get it) is a hotch-potch of decorations I have been given since very, very young. Some of them are 40 years old. It's a sentimental tree that's like a trip down memory lane and the decorations are so precious to me I can't part with them - even if the end result looks a bit chaotic! I love your gift tags and what a great idea to make you own xx
Claire says
That does sound lovely Charlie! x
Lisa the Gourmet Wog says
These are seriously cute!!
Claire says
Thanks!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I would never dare to show you my tree. Nothing matches!! I have Christmas tree shame now. :) Your tags are cute AND clever.
Claire says
Haha don't. I'm seriously OCD about my tree and Will is too. It's not a good combo!