Hip2Save This Holiday: Frugal Gift Tags
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Wednesday, December 19th, 2012 at 12:28 pm.
Hip2Save This Holiday Guest Post Submitted By Reader Jill…
I love to receive holiday cards….and, I always keep and display the photo cards but have lots of other beautiful cards. A great way to recycle these cards is to use them to make pretty and basically FREE gift tags! The only supplies you will need are those that you likely already have:
*holiday cards
*scissors (or a paper cutter if you have one)
*glue stick, glue
*any type of ribbon and a hole punch if you want to make tie-on tags
*tape if you want to attach the tags to the gift
The second step is to cut out cardstock squares – any size – that can be used to make the actual tag. You will need a variety of sizes for your various deigns. If possible, I use the cardstock from the same holiday cards (using the back or any other part that isn’t written on). I keep a stack of these pre-cut in white, ivory and any other color available to make this process easy. You can even use the back of envelopes if the paper is thick enough – or, the front of the card if possible.
The first step is to gather your cards and cut out the holiday designs and words. I like to have some designs that are smaller and some that are larger. Anything at all will work! Below is an example of a card with lots of cardstock to use!
The third step is to glue the designs onto the cardstock squares. You can leave it as a flat card if you will use as a tie-on – or, you can fold the card over and actually make a small card to attach to a package with tape.
If you wish to make a tie-on, I simply punch a hole in the upper corner and tie ribbon to the tag. These tie-ons are great to use on gift bags, wine bottles and homemade treats that you might be giving – and, really adds a pretty touch to the package! I have received so many compliments on these beautiful tags. They look just like some of the expensive tie-ons that are sold in card stores – and, it only takes a few minutes to make them!
This is also an idea to use year round…..using birthday cards, valentine’s cards, etc to make tie-ons and tags for many different occasions! Happy Holidays!! Hope you have fun making them!!
For more information on my Hip2Save This Holiday series and to learn how you can participate in the fun, click here!
Retta says:
I LOVE this! What a great way to use old cards…
avnva says:
great idea!
Corina says:
Wow, I have been doing this for a while.
Jodi says:
My grandma did this for years. I skip the step of glueing into card stock.
mel says:
same here.
Karen says:
I skip that step as well unless there is writing on the back of the card where I cut it out.
Ashley57 says:
Me too…but I might start doing it. Looks cute. My grandmother does this, and I started doing it too. Saving money and recycling!
Merideth says:
I do this too!
Ann says:
Cute idea. The cards I get come with kids pictures on them usually though.
Emily says:
This is a good idea! This year I took an empty pepsi carton and plastered the free to/from labels that I got from charities in the mail onto them and cut around the labels based on what was on the tag. For example one had stockings toward the bottom of the label so I cut the 3 edges of the label to the label but cut around the bottom of the stockings and made that the bottom of the tag instead of another straight cut. It was a super cute tag, and the back side of it was the pepsi box blue.
Jacque says:
I do this too! I usually use my big craft punches to make gift tags. This has save a ton on tags for all the birthday gifts my kids have to give.
Heather says:
Cute! I’m going to start doing this!
Betty says:
best idea ever!!
Holly Marie says:
I do this too
I also love to use the comic section of the newspaper to wrap gifts. It’s always a hit.
Jen says:
Now THAT’s a smart and creative idea!
Amanda says:
I love this idea! This year instead of using wrapping paper, I have been getting paper bags every time i go to the grocery store and I will be wrapping my gifts with them. These tags will be the perfect addition!
LisaR says:
I just did this with Snowman cards from last year? My Son is wrapping his GF’s gifts in different Snowman Paper!!
Jean says:
I also do a lazy version of this too. I just hate throwing all those pretty Christmas cards in the trash every year.
Jessica says:
I LOVE this idea! I save the boxes and sometimes the wrapping paper or even the tissue paper, but I have never thought about recycling the cards.
Rachel says:
Love it! I do the same thing & I also make bookmarks out of the cards too!
mosley mom says:
this is a GREAT idea! I’m part of a book club and this would be a really nice surprise for the ladies!
Chelsey says:
I have some jewelry to sell and used old cards to make the jewelry display cards. I was also able to use them for barrettes and clips by using an exacto knife to put slits in the cards and fasten the hair stuff on them.
Jessica says:
Also, on a side note – when using gift tags and things like this – instead of writing directly on them, put a piece or a couple pieces of clear tape on it first and use a sharpie to write on the tape; that way whoever you give it to can re-use them to by simply taking off the tape.
kym says:
genius…love it, thank you!
Linda Phelps says:
Love that it featured the Creative Memories Personal Trimmer (the blue tool with the blade). They have actually been improved upon and have a longer blade for larger cards/paper. I am an independent Creative Memories consultant and can point you in the right direction if you’re interesting in purchasing one. It’s a great investment!
Suzanne says:
yes, I’ve been doing this for years
Alea says:
Super cute!!
Jen says:
Sometimes if I get a really pretty card, and I have plain red or green paper, I cut the picture of the card out and tape it to the package, gives it a really nice look, plus I don’t make nice bows! : )
chrissy says:
We have been doing this since I was a little girl…used to love cutting the cute pictures out of the cards. We just tape it to the gift though, no glue to cardstock. When people see it, they love it! Way cuter than those sticker tabs
onepoormomma says:
I did these this year, but used cookie cutters to make shapes, so each one is unique:?) I used up a lot of cards I hadn’t needed to send out in previous years, so no writing was inside:?)
cristal says:
THANK YOUS…I buy small blank cards whenever cheap and my 6 year old daughter has fun cutting off the pretty parts of holiday card and making thank yous for her holiday presents after Christmas. Recycle and stress the importance of being grateful.
luvtnco says:
I love this idea! I just received the most beautiful Christmas card today, and it will be perfect for one of my large packages next year. Thanks for posting!