Hey there friends…happy week before Christmas. I hope all of you had a peaceful weekend, surrounded by those you love. I know I had a hard time letting my babies out of my sight, and tears kept popping up unexpectedly, so a big dose of family was much needed. My heart and prayers go out to all of you affected by this unfathomable tragedy. We shed tears of sorrow with you.
In light of these recent tragedies, it seems silly and frivolous to be posting about gift tags made of felt. But sitting at the table with my children this weekend, cutting and gluing felt on to pieces of cardboard, was comforting and safe. With no plans or agenda, we just sat and created, enjoying the peace and each other.
My clever and super-creative aunt (the one responsible for these stripes and these ornaments) made similar tags 14 years ago, and I loved mine so much I still hang it on my tree every year. So this year we made our own, fun and easy gift tags. Draw shapes on paper, and cut them out as templates. I chose ornaments and mittens.
Using your template, cut the shape out of stiff decorative paper (this is the back of your tag, and base for the felt), and glue to felt. Once it’s dry, cut the felt as well.
Now is the fun part, with no rules, or rights and wrongs. Just decorate with ribbon, pom poms, ric rac…anything you can find. I used pinking sheers to cut strips out of felt scraps, too. I chose supplies in the same color palette as my wrapping paper, so all the tags coordinated well with any package.
It takes several minutes for the glue to set, so I found it easier to let everything dry before trimming the excess ribbons from the edges. Then just punch a hole, thread a string, and tie them to your
packages. We were at it for several hours, and only stopped because we
ran out of glue (making them is addictive!). Here are a few of my
favorites in each shape (made cuter by displaying them on my No-Sew Pom Pom Tree Skirt!).
All the wrapping paper is jewel tones, to match our theme this year, and the tags make the packages even more bright and festive.
Regardless of what’s inside, how could you not be excited to receive a cute present like this!?
Can you tell by the overload of pictures that I’m smitten? How’s the wrapping going on your end? I’m just about done, and I’ve got a sore back as proof!
These are PRECIOUS! And listen..I haven't wrapped one gift. Not one. And my Christmas cards haven't gone out yet. I'm so ashamed.
these are super cute! i've totally slacked on gift wrapping so far this year, but there is still time!! 🙂
Smitten as well ~ those are darling! I've proven to be good at a marathon wrapping sessions when it gets down to the wire! 🙂
Cassie, that's about the cutest thing I've seen all season! For sure Pinning! I too felt like doing something safe and crafty at home this weekend. I have fabric-wrapped books to show for this:)
There's no better way to spend this past weekend than the way you did–with your precious kiddos. I'm Pinning this & can't wait to craft these w/ Quinn next year!!
Wow, those are really freakin' cute! They even look adorable on yout tree skirt!
Super cute and I love even more with the added sentimental bonus!
These are completely adorable. So fun that you did them with the kids. I am smitten with your mittens. Darling.
These are so cute! And they would also make fantastic tree ornaments, maybe for a kiddo tree?
And I'm just dying over your wrapping paper! So gorgeous!! I usually stick with kraft paper and use bright colored ribbon to dress it up, but this has me thinking about a change!!
These are so cute! I really need to step up my gift wrapping skills!
Those are so cute and I love all of your pictures! Thanks for the great idea!
I like that they have a retro look. I will be making these! Thanks for sharing.
Obviously waaay behind on blog reading…
These are precious! I made something very similar for Christmas last year, although they were sewn ornaments instead of gift tags (http://www.tatumgreatindoors.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-crafts.html).
Erin @ The Great Indoors