6 Reasons Why You Should Not Buy Christmas Gift Tags

Customized Free Printable Gift Tags to Fit Your Gift Giving Style

In this gift giving season, holiday gift tags can be bought everywhere from Target to your corner drug store. Today I am having a little fun, not only with the title of this post, but with many festive ideas on how you can make your own tags to accent every gift you give this year.

There is nothing wrong with buying holiday gift tags to attach to all the gifts you wrap for your friends and family. Personally, I like to make my own tags every year so that they are not only unique, but coordinate with the wrapping paper I am using.

Many free printable gift tags you can find on Pinterest have a lot of color. They’re pretty but also use a lot of expensive printer ink. I have used tags like this, but what I am sharing today is a bit different. Limited ink usage and a free printable gift tag template that can be used in different ways.

Here are 6+ ideas on how you can make your own gift tags this holiday or for any occasion, plus a free printable gift tag template for you to print out if you want quick and easy.

Get your gift wrap, paper cutter or scissors ready…

1. How to Make and Customize Christmas Gift Tags Using a Template

Gift Tag Making Template

This post came about after a long time reader, Susan, wrote to me asking where I got the gift tag template in the above photo.

About two years ago I posted about how I used the template to make gift tags using card stock or scrapbook paper.  I bought it at a craft store 25 years ago. Since I bought it so long ago, I couldn’t find a source for it.  So last week I made a free printable of the template to share with you.

• Free Printable Gift Tags with Square and Rounded Corners

This template can be used in a few different ways:

When printed out on a clear acetate sheet, you can create your own gift tag template that can be used over and over again.

1. Print the template out on a 8-1/2″ x 11″ piece of acetate/transparency sheet that you can get at any print shop or Staples. Cut out the tags using a paper trimmer or small pair of scissors. The template can then be used over and over again. to make a tag. Simply place it over any type of paper, trace the shape and cut out to make your own tags to coordinate with wrapping paper.

Note:  The fact that the template is see-thru allows you to position it over a pattern on paper to make sure you have it centered or on the part of the design on your paper you want for the tag.

You can use card stock (bought anywhere printer paper is sold), scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, sheet music…. any paper, even corrugated cardboard.  Use colorful ribbons, twine, string, raffia to tie the tags on the wrapped gifts.

I made this tag from cardboard I found inside packaging. Instead of throwing it away, I repurposed it. This is one reason I like to make my own tags. Less waste. :-)

Note: When cutting out the tags, I usually cut just inside the printed line, but if black is one of the colors in the gift wrap I am using, I cut just outside the lines which ends up looking like a design element.

Here is Another Way to Use The Free Printable Gift Tag Template

1. Print out the printable on any paper that is cut to 8-1/2″ x 11″ so it fits in your printer. Card stock works the best, but I have cut maps and paper bags. Look around to find creative paper options.
2. The paper above is green card stock from the craft store. To facilitate the tag cutting, I use a paper trimmer for the straight sides and a small pair of scissors for the rounded or angled sides. You can also use a ruler and a craft knife.

Since cutting the tags is mindless, I usually do it while binge watching Netflix.

Use a paper hole punch to create the hole.

Tie on a piece of twine and you have a very festive gift tag perfect for your gift wrapping style and needs.

For this tag, it is hard to see, but I brushed white glue on the edges and sprinkled glitter over the glue to add a little sparkle.

Using the template and printable is only one way I make gift tags. Here are a few other ways to make pretty gift tags not only for the holidays, but for any occasion.

2. How to Make Gift Tags Using Gift Wrap

The easiest and most budget friendly way to make a gift tag is to simply cut out an image on a scrap piece of gift wrap.  Like this snowman.

1. Cut around an image on gift wrap. Mount on card stock using spray glue. Then cut the image out in detail, making sure to leave paper on the top of the image as a place to use hole punch to make hole. String ribbon through hole.

3. How to Make Gift Tags Using Last Year’s Christmas Cards

1. Find pretty or cute images from the covers of last year’s Christmas cards. Remember to include some additional paper above the desired image so you don’t have to punch the hole into the image itself.  Tie gift tags on with sparkly tulle or ribbon.

4. How to Make Gift Tags Using Cardboard Numbers

Check out this post on how I made these Letter and Number Gift Tags

5. How to Make Monogram Gift Tags

Learn how to make these monogram tags using your computer and script fonts.

6. Use a Gift Tag Maker

Make Gift Tags Using a Handy Gift Tag Maker

Links to More Free Printable Gift Tags

• Vintage Christmas Gift Tags
• These Paper Tree Ornaments will make festive shaped gift tags

Giftwrapping takes a while but hopefully you’ll have fun finishing the packages off with tags in your own style. Have you decorated your house yet? Looking for some Christmas decorating inspiration?