“The trick-or-treaters aren’t even here!” is probably similar to something you’re shouting at your computer monitor right now. I know, I know, but think about how joyful you’ll be on December 20th, when you’re wrapping your gifts and you already have a huge store of lovely gift tags at your disposal.
I know it’s hard to get into a festive mood when it’s not even Halloween yet, but I’m going to challenge you to get ahead this year on your holiday preparation by making these simple gift tags. These projects are all very easy and can be done assembly-line style and in small chunks of time here and there...if you finish these by the end of October, you can be blissfully sipping eggnog by the fire in December!
All of the projects here use wooden punch-out tag shapes from Lara’s Crafts. They can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, depending on how you embellish them. These gift tags are also very forgiving—if you make a mistake, you can add another layer of paint and start again.
Framing family photos with cutout tags makes a good alternative to writing the gift recipient’s name on the tag, and well, they’ll probably know who it’s from, won’t they? Your family and friends can use them later to hang on the fridge or for a memento of this year’s family gathering. I suggest taking some surreptitious candid shots at your Thanksgiving gathering to use for just this purpose.
These tags just beg to be embellished with three-dimensional items. For example, on the tag for my mom, I added an angel charm, since she loves angels. None of these tags were sealed, but it might be a good idea to give them a coat of sealant, especially if you will be traveling in bad weather when delivering your gifts.
Don’t forget to sign and date the backs of your one-of-a-kind assemblages. Get creative with embellishing your tags—they’re also great for miniature collages. Hopefully these projects will help turn what can be quite a chore into some good creative time for you.
