collecting... life

 

I adore collections and a little collection under glass is a wonderful thing.  I am hesitating on my holiday decor this year.  We have a trip planned and between that and the work I have to complete before the holiday is enough to keep me busy for 2 months really!  I have a cloche in my living room that I need to reset, change up with new little mementos from the year that is about to be complete.  It is a fun chore but still a chore that gets pushed to the side in this holiday craziness!  

How about you are you holding out on the holiday madness or are you taking it all in with all of the magic all around you?  I promise when I do get to the decorations I will post some photos here for everyone to see again this year.  This is what we have done in years past.... 2010 and 2011. 

 

Inspiration: Handmade Holiday Gift Tags

One of the best ways you can add a special, personal touch to a gift is by adding a handcrafted gift tag. 

Whether you buy some premade tags from an artist, or decide to try your hand at making some yourself, 

holiday tags are a great way to make your packages extra special. 

You can make gift tags from all different types of materials. The most common are paper or cardstock. 

Upcycled materials such as old maps, old book pages or sheet music are great ways to add interest and 

charm to tags. Printed cardboard is another material that can be upcycled into a gift tag. How about last 

year's old Christmas cards? Some folks start with premade manila tags that you can find at office 
supply stores, while others cut their own tags with paper punches or die cutting machines. 

Creating your design 

Rubber stamps go together with gift tags like peanut butter goes with chocolate! What easier way 

to create tags than by hand-printing plain tags with a rubber stamp? Not only is this inexpensive, it's fast. 

Other ideas for designs are: copies of family photos and children's art.

Embellishing your tags 
I like gift tags that are simple and uncomplicated. It it's over-embellished, too busy, or simply overdone,

I tend to lose interest. It's just personal preference. Plus, super-fancy tags are harder to match up with 
gift wrap! My advice: keep it simple and stick with only one or two colors - three at most!  Some easy 
embellishments for tags include: glue and glitter, jingle bells, quality ribbon, natural elements such as 
small pine cones, acorns, twigs and sprigs, and buttons. Scrapbooking papers and fancy papers such 
as tissue paper, foil, and vellum make great additions to tags because they add texture and interest. 
When finished, use a hole punch to attach ribbon, twine, or yarn to your tag and you are finished! 

Check out some of my picks for the most pretty and unique tags, and maybe you'll be inspired to create your own!

Angel wing gift tags 

Pretty heart tag

Pretty pink trees with white holly

Cute button snowman by Scrappin' with DeeDee

Photo tags made from copies of vintage photos from Sweet Paul

Rubber stamped fabric tags tutorial from Crescendoh

Pretty paper trees by Patty Schaffer via Etsy

Handcrafted skinny tags from 2 Gypsy Girls

Stitched tags from Nice Package

Cute snowman tags by smatsunaka via Etsy

Chalkboard gift tags by The Examined Life

by TorisCustomCreations via Etsy

Christmas tree tags by Its A Stamp Thing

Joyeux tags

Organic Gingerbread tags by Andie's Specialty Sweets via Etsy

Do not enter gift tags by amaretto via Etsy

Presumptuous but kind of cute at the same time

Star tags (above and below) by noodleandlou via Etsy

Simple Peace tag via Flea Market Style

Lovely tags from folksy.com

This would be a nice way to display tags via Country Living

Musical snowman tag by Ms. Redo

The secret to making these manila office tags look old and worn: bake them in a 

warm oven. Check out my DIY tutorial for making tea stained and stamped hang tags

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What do you think? Do you make your own tags?

Creative Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas

Creating beautiful gift wrap is not only fun, it's a great way to express
your creativity and also personalize a gift at the same time. Take a
look at this collection of unique Christmas gift wrap and be inspired!

News print or old book pages = free wrap

4U

Recycle old maps and atlas pages into unique gift wrap

How to create a chalkboard paint look by Nashville Wraps

Gift wrap made with sheet music

A simple, pretty wreath

Glittery ribbon

Pretty package from redo 101




I love this bird with pears (above and below) from celebrate creativity

Beautiful burlap wrap and bow from May Arts



I love the old fashioned look of this wrap from Vignette Design

Shabby white Christmas

Lovely fabric roses from Pretty Petals




Decorate packages with old costume jewelry such as pin brooches

Personalize with rubber stamps by The Haystack Needle




Attach a photo of the recipient to their gift

This similar version uses old photos

Attach a branch with some pine cones




I love the felted mushrooms! from Home Living

Brown kraft paper makes the perfect blank canvas for gift wrap embellishments  

Create a snowflake from clothespins like this one from by Stephanie Lynn




How do you wrap creatively?