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Personalized Homemade Gift Tags for Any Occasion

ByHannah
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Adding homemade gift tags to presents can elevate your gift-giving experience.

We tend to give gifts to celebrate or to make someone feel special or seen. When it comes down to it, gifting is more about the gesture of giving than it is about the actual gift. That’s why adding homemade gift tags is a great idea. When you put handmade gift tags on a present, you add a personal touch that elevates your offering and makes the receiver feel even more special. If you want to learn how to create your own gift tags, we’re here to show you what materials you’ll need and offer tips on getting started.

Why Choose Homemade Gift Tags?

Adding a homemade gift tag to your gifts can go a long way toward making someone feel special and elevate even the most simple items to something really memorable. For example, several years ago, when toilet paper was scarce, a neighbor gave everyone an individually wrapped roll with a cute and clever gift tag. Adorable and timely, and I still remember it to this day. 

The best gift tags are the ones you make yourself. Not only do DIY gift tags give you the ability to customize the design, color scheme, and words, but they also send an unspoken message—that you value the person enough to spend your time creating something just for them. Even if you make custom tags in bulk, they still add a touch of hand-crafted sentiment to a gift. 

Adding a homemade gift tag to your gifts can go a long way toward making someone feel special and elevate even the most simple items to something really memorable.

Gift Tag Materials You Need To Start

If you’re ready to create your own gift tags, here are a few of the things you will need to get started:

Choosing Your Paper

We recommend using a heavyweight cardstock as the base for your gift tags. Cardstock holds up better as you layer other elements on top, and it also won’t bend as easily if your tag gets tossed around a little bit en route to its recipient. 

We recommend using a heavyweight cardstock as the base for your gift tags. Cardstock holds up better as you layer other elements on top, and it also won’t bend as easily if your tag gets tossed around a little bit en route to its recipient.

Essential Tools and Supplies

Don’t stress if you don’t have an extensive craft supply closet at your disposal! You can get started making homemade gift tags with a few simple tools and supplies you may already have. The essentials are paper, something to cut with (we recommend using a paper trimmer, but scissors will do the trick, too), and some sort of adhesive. That’s it.

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There are also several nice-to-have items, such as string or ribbon to attach the tag, markers, and embellishments like jewels, or stamps. If you don’t have any of the “nice-to-have” items, don’t let that stop you from creating. It takes time to build up a collection of supplies, and you can make beautiful, thoughtful pieces with minimal tools and supplies.

There are also several nice-to-have items, such as string or ribbon to attach the tag, markers, and embellishments like jewels, or stamps. If you don’t have any of the “nice-to-have” items, don’t let that stop you from creating.

Gift Tag Sets

Gift tag sets are a great option for anyone who is new to gift tag making or just wants a quick and easy project. You can choose a set, like the Festive Tags Kit, that comes with everything you need to make several cute gift tags. If you’re looking to flex a little more creative muscle, design tag dies like these and these are an easy way to provide a blank canvas for your gift tag ideas.

Gift tag sets are a great option for anyone who is new to gift tag making or just wants a quick and easy project. You can choose a set, like the Festive Tags Kit, that comes with everything you need to make several cute gift tags

Quick Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Your Tags

Designing and making DIY gift tags doesn’t need to be an overly complicated process. The fact that it is such a simple project is what makes gift tags accessible to beginners while still holding endless opportunities for experienced crafters to customize them to their heart’s content. Here are the three basic steps to creating custom gift tags:

Step 1: Brainstorm Your Idea

Determining who the gift tag is for and what the occasion is will help you choose a direction to take your gift tag ideas. You can then decide your custom tag’s size, shape, color scheme, and basic layout. If you need a little inspiration, you can always browse the Stampin’ Up! Instagram account, or take a look at our YouTube channel or Facebook page to get your creative ideas flowing.

Once you’ve determined the general look and feel of your homemade gift tag, prepare your base. Your base should be sturdy as it often holds the rest of the design. You get to decide if it is colorful or plain and what shape it is.

Step 2: Start with a Base

Once you’ve determined the general look and feel of your homemade gift tag, prepare your base. Your base should be sturdy as it often holds the rest of the design. You get to decide if it is colorful or plain and what shape it is. For ease, you can use pre-cut shapes or tag dies or shape the tag by hand.

Step 3: Layer on Elements

With the basics out of the way, you’re free to layer on the other elements. This might mean putting other paper layers on the tag or using stamps, stickers, punch outs, ribbons, or freehanding words or designs. It’s your tag, so you get to decide how it looks and what it says.

With the basics out of the way, you’re free to layer on the other elements. This might mean putting other paper layers on the tag or using stamps, stickers, punch outs, ribbons, or freehanding words or designs.

Design Tips for Eye-Catching Tags

Here are some simple tips for creating cute and memorable designs for anyone new to designing decorative gift tags.

Color Coordination

When it comes to selecting a color palette for your gift tags, you have a few options. You can choose colors that complement the gift, colors that are commonly used for the occasion (i.e., Real Red and Garden Green for Christmas), or even the recipient’s favorite colors.

Adding Textures and Layers

Even if you’re not using adhesive foam dots to add literal dimension to your tags, adding ribbons, different colors or textures of paper, stamps, or other embellishments will give your homemade gift tags a more complete look. There’s no need to go overboard with these elements. A few well-placed textures and layers will go a long way to creating visual interest.

Even if you’re not using adhesive foam dots to add literal dimension to your tags, adding ribbons, different colors or textures of paper, stamps, or other embellishments will give your homemade gift tags a more complete look. There’s no need to go overboard with these elements. A few well-placed textures and layers will go a long way to creating visual interest.

Incorporating Personal Touches

The most important part of the creative process is finding a way to make the design more personal. This may mean adding handwriting, stamped messages, or even incorporating elements that speak to the recipient and the occasion. It’s the little touches that will make the tag stand out from something you can buy in the store.

Festive Tag Kits: A Great Place to Start

If you’re feeling hesitant about making your own gift tags, premade tag sets for crafting are a great place to start. DIY gift tag sets, like the Stampin’ Up! Festive Tags Kit comes with everything you need to make multiple handmade gift tags. You won’t need extra tools or know-how to get started. Each kit comes with precut paper, embellishments, adhesive, twine, and anything else you may need, as well as step-by-step instructions to help you bring the project to life.

If you’re feeling hesitant about making your own gift tags, premade tag sets for crafting are a great place to start. DIY gift tag sets, like the Stampin’ Up! Festive Tags Kit comes with everything you need to make multiple handmade gift tags.

While our kits are a great way for new crafters to learn how to make decorative gift tags, experienced crafters also like using them because they make quick and easy projects. And as Stampin’ Up! CEO Sara Douglass pointed out when she demonstrated how to use the Festive Tags Kit, that even with the kit and instructions, “Our projects may not look exactly the same, and that’s totally okay. Your personal touch and creativity are what make them special.” You get to decide whether you follow the directions exactly or take creative liberties and go your own way. No matter which choice you make, a gift tag kit can simplify the process of making custom tags for any occasion.

FAQ: Personalized Handmade Gift Tags

Still have questions about how to make your own gift tags? Here are a few answers to some of the questions we hear most often.

Q: How can I make my homemade gift tags stand out?

A: Layering different types of paper, shapes, and colors is an easy way to make your gift tags unique and fun. You can also use dimensional adhesive foam dots to make your custom tags stand out—literally.

Q: Tips for storing and organizing tag-making supplies?

A: The most important part of storing supplies is to pick a system and stick with it. You don’t need to buy mega cabinets or dedicate a room to your crafting supplies, but you should have a better method in place than throwing everything in a bin. Grouping supplies in containers or shoe boxes by use type or occasion is a good way to go.

Q: What materials do I need to make homemade gift tags?

A: There are a lot of supplies you CAN use to make homemade gift tags, but the only gift tag supplies you really need are paper, a cutting tool (scissors or this paper trimmer will work), and adhesive. Markers and colored pencils, stamps, embellishments, and more are also nice to have, but not essential to make homemade gift tags.

Q: How can I create personalized gift tags at home?

A: It’s easy to make your own gift tags at home. All you need is some basic supplies and a little creativity. If you’d like a little bit of guidance as you get started, this Festive Tag Kit is the perfect place to start.

Q: What are the benefits of using tag stamp sets for gift tags?

A: Using a tag stamp set for your gift tags will fast-track the creation process and help you make more gift tags and better-looking gift tags.

Q: How can decorative gift tags enhance my gift wrapping?

A: Decorative gift tags add a polished look to any gift. They also increase the personal element of the gift and make it more meaningful.

Q: What are some creative ways to use custom tags beyond gift wrapping?

A: In addition to putting homemade gift tags on traditionally wrapped presents, you can use them on party favors, hostess gifts, or anything that needs identifying.

In addition to putting homemade gift tags on traditionally wrapped presents, you can use them on party favors, hostess gifts, or anything that needs identifying.

Add a Tag to Make It Personal

Handmade gift tags are something both novice and experienced crafters can make to add an extra personal touch to any gift. While there are plenty of tag kits, tag stamp sets, tag die cuts, and other tools and supplies you can use, all you really need to create the best gift tags are a few simple supplies and your imagination. Everyone will appreciate the thought and effort you put into creating a custom gift tag, and it will add extra love to every present you give.

Want more ideas? Connect with a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator to get help with techniques and to get connected with our community of crafters.