This week’s In Detail post focuses on Gift Tags. I’m sharing several ways to create custom-made gift tags.
Before we get started, tags mean different things to papercrafters. Perhaps you’ve created a technique tag in a class, or for your own reference, with instructions for or descriptions of the technique written on the back of the tag. Many of the examples I show in the In Detail posts were created with #8 Manila tags on which I note key details on the back.
There’s also the “art tag” in which the creation is not dissimilar to a card; the tag is simply a different canvas than a card front. The tags showcased in the 12 Days of Feminine Tags series, which will run again in the CLASSroom this December, would be considered art tags.
The “real estate” on a gift tag is more limited than on an art tag. With that in mind, I wanted to explore ways to create interest in a limited amount of space without a lot of labor.
Pattern Paper & Pre-Printed Sentiments
An easy and quick custom gift tag can be created with patterned papers that include pre-printed sentiments.
With the tag dies from the Lawn Cuts Tag You're It set and the Lawn Fawn Petite Peace Joy Love Paper Pack, I cut a preprinted “to”/”from” element and a background paper, finishing the tag with Lawn Fawn Peppermint Hemp Cord. With just one sheet in the pad you can create eight different front tags.
Heat-Embossed One-Layer
No time to color a stamped image? Heat embossing is a way to add interest to a one-layer tag.
For the tag on the left, I stamped a sentiment and image from the Essentials by Ellen Tis the Season by Julie Ebersole set at the same time using the Fiskars Compact Stamp Press and then heat embossed. The second tag was created in the same manner with an image from the same set and a sentiment from Essentials by Ellen Cozy Christmas by Julie Ebersole.
Inlaid Die Cutting
Another fun way to add interest to a gift tag is with an inlaid die cut. (I described the technique in this In Detail post.) I nested the largest snowflake from the Penny Black Crystal Trio Snowflake set inside the tag from the My Favorite Things Die-namics Tag Builder Blueprints 1 set (see this In Detail post for more on that set) and cut the tag with my Big Shot.
I also cut a snowflake from white cardstock and replaced the Jawbreaker one. I stamped and heat embossed a Penny Black sentiment from Joy Filled.
In a similar manner, I used the Lawn Cuts Forest Border to cut Gumdrop and white cardstock.
After piecing the white sky with the green forest border, I taped the pieces on the back and cut the tag with the Lawn Cuts Tag You're It large tag die. I added a sentiment cut with the Lawn Cuts Scripty Joy to finish off the tag.
Add Dimension
Use dimension and metallic accents to add impact. I stamped and heat embossed the snowflake from Hero Arts Let It Snow set and cut it with its coordinating die cut.
I adhered the snowflake with dimensional adhesive to a tag cut from Curious Metallic Galvanized Cardstock using the Hero Arts Long and Cute Tags set. I heat embossed the tag with a sentiment from the same Hero Arts stamp and die set.
The Sizzix Snowfall and Falling Trees Embossing Folders by Tim Holtz can be used to add dimension and still leave room for a stamped sentiment. I cut a tag with the Lawn Cuts Tag You're It set and strategically placed it inside the Falling Trees embossing folder leaving plenty of room for the sentiment.
I stamped and heat embossed the tag with a sentiment from the Lawn Fawn Winter Gifts set (which coordinates with the Tag You’re It die set).
Personalize It
Want to mass-produce a tag, but at the same time add personalization? I stamped and heat embossed the Lawn Fawn Winter Gifts “from” sentiment with letters from Lawn Fawn Milo's ABCs to personalize the back of a tag. I lined up the sentiment and letters on the Fiskars Compact Stamp Press.
For the tag front, I used the inlaid technique with the Lawn Cuts Scripty Joy die.
Copic Coloring
The Lawn Fawn Winter Penguin and corresponding die Lawn Cuts Winter Penguin make it easy to add a Copic-colored element to a tag.
I cut the tag with the Lawn Cuts Tag You're It set from patterned paper in the Lawn Fawn Petite Peace Joy Love Paper Pack. I also used the tag die to cut white cardstock that had been cut with the Lawn Cuts Stitched Hillside Border set and stamped with a sentiment from the Lawn Fawn Winter Gifts set. I attached the snowy hill to the patterned paper tag and added the penguin with dimensional adhesive.
For these examples, I simply finished off the tags with twine. Obviously ribbons, bells and other embellishments could be added for even more texture, color, sparkle and shine!
--Jean
