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Crafting Christmas Gift Tags

Cardmaking has been a welcome stress reliever during my recovery from hip replacement surgery. I’m ending the year with two new hips.

A decorative gift tag featuring a clock motif surrounded by rose illustrations, with a purple ribbon and gold accents, set against lush green leaves.

I returned to my twice-weekly Pliates class today. It will take time to rebuild all the surrounding muscles, but I’m off to a decent start. It feels good to be moving again.

While recovering, I’ve been watching crafting videos. I often dozed between videos, feet elevated in my comfy chair. Once awake, I watched a few more. As the weeks passed, I felt comfortable sitting at my desk again and could practice new techniques with less fatigue.

I used my time to create 25 gift tags to accompany my sister Sharon’s gifts. At the height of the pandemic, with my sister living alone, working from home, and isolated from the world, I got the idea of delivering 25 small Christmas gifts, one for her to open each day throughout December. It’s been fun continuing that tradition. 

I created tags from simple to complex, applying new techniques and using the tried-and-true. I’ve been watching Natalie Brown videos for inspiration. She’s a talented artist and crafter based in the UK who shares tips on using what you have in creative ways, so her suggestions are a good fit for my aesthetic.

Here’s what I created:

These tags incorporate vintage postage. We’re originally from Canada, so I had fun using Canadian postage on the center of the trees. I used a block of purple postage on embossed purple metallic paper to suggest a wrapped gift. I tried my hand at a mixed-media card, using vintage French postage.

Natalie created videos using gilding flakes and pigment powder. Both create beautiful results, but they’re a bit of a mess to work with. It was fun getting out the supplies and using them to create these cards. 

I’m all about upcycling, so it was fun making one of these cards from the page of an old wall calendar. I removed the envelope lining from the card Mike gave me for my birthday and used it as a background. The paper is gorgeous. The third tag is cut from a piece of packaging. I like the thin, blue lines.

Using leftover rub-on transfers from last year’s 49 & Market release, I created several tags. I incorporated Distress Oxide ink, vellum, and embossing powder, all part of my crafting stash. It’s nice to take out the supplies and use them in different ways.

The following gallery fits into the ragtag category to round out the 25 I created this year. Sharon has the tags displayed on her wall and plans to save them for decorations next year. It’s fun seeing them together.

Earlier this season, I gathered a few leaves from our back garden Acer ‘Japanese Maple’. I used my die machine to create leaf impressions on water-colored paper. The combination made a nice and unexpected gift card.

A gift tag with the text 'Season's Greetings' surrounded by green leaf impressions, resting among lush green foliage.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and my warmest wishes for a more peaceful, centered, and compassionate new year.

33 thoughts on “Crafting Christmas Gift Tags”

  4. I do an Advent calendar of 25 gifts for my daughter every year but just use sticky labels to show the date. Your gift tags take the idea to a whole new level! They are lovely. And I am glad to hear that your recovery is going well. Well done for getting back to Pilates and rebuilding your strength. A friends Mum refused to keep doing the physio exercises saying it hurt and was hard so now she is unable to walk without a walker and often uses a wheelchair – such a shame.

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    • It’s nice to hear that you do this for your daughter as well. My tags have evolved over the years, and given how much I enjoyed making them this year, I will start earlier so I have them ready to go.

      I’m sorry to hear that your friend’s Mum gave up on physio. It is hard, painful, and tiring, especially at the beginning, but its critical for recovery. A client’s husband had back surgery, and told me he didn’t do his therapy, and now it’s really hard and he regrets it. I hope to remain strong and upright for many more years. The PT and Pilates, along with gardening, are all welcome parts of my life.

      Thank you for your wonderful comment.

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  8. I love every one of these. You have an artists eye for their creation. They do not appear to be just scrap but intentional and beautiful. I would love lessons and have bookmarked the videos. I’ll watch them in the new year while I start on the list of UFP’s It’s quite long. I’ve managed to hide my tissue paper from myself. Deep Sigh.

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    • Thank you, Marlene. I love trying new things, and even if I don’t try a technique, I appreciate the clever ideas of others. The gentle pace of Natalie’s videos are a soothing balm.

      I’m sorry you’re feeling overwhelmed. I hope you can give yourself some grace. Sending a big hug your way.

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  9. Absolutely lovely! And so thoughtful to give your sister something to look forward to each December. Glad to read you are recovering nicely from the surgery. A very merry Christmas to you and yours. I’m with Judy from New England Garden and Thread. My, it’s been a hard year.

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  13. The first featured tag with the lavender and gold looks so vintage and was my absolute favorite!

    l loved them all but that was just gorgeous!

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  15. I’ve tried 3 times to let you know how gorgeous I think these tags are. That first one, especially first one with the watch, and the soft lavender and green. You have such a gift!

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