DIY Vintage-Inspired Christmas Gift Tags & Ornaments
There's something extra special about a beautifully wrapped Christmas present. The paper, the ribbon, the little finishing touches — sometimes the wrapping is almost as exciting as what's inside. Almost.
And while I love a good gift tag, I've always thought it was a shame that something so pretty usually ends up in the trash along with the wrapping paper.
So, why not make one worth keeping?
Using the free vintage-inspired Christmas printables from The Paper Stash No. 001: The Christmas Junk Drawer, I created these colorful, slightly sparkly, perfectly imperfect wooden gift tags that can be used year after year.
I especially love the idea of making a special tag for someone you love and using it on their gifts every Christmas. Eventually, they'll recognize it before they even read their name. They'll know that's their present. You know, the GOOD one.
And when it's not attached to a present? Hang it on the Christmas tree! These little guys are just as cute as ornaments, and I think they'd make pretty sweet keepsakes to pass down someday.
The best part? The printable papers are completely FREE!
What you'll need:
Mod Podge (I used Matte)
Small paintbrush
Scissors
X-Acto knife
Scrap cardboard or a cutting mat
Hair dryer (optional)
Small piece of paper towel
Wax rhinestone pickup pencil (comes with the pack linked above)
Tweezers (also comes with the pack linked above)
Super glue
Small textured jump rings (closed, if possible)
Fine matte gold and silver glitter
Decorative twine or cord (approximately 7" per tag - I used the color Champagne)
Instructions:
Step 1: Start by cutting pieces of your printed paper slightly larger than your wooden blanks.
You can use just about any section of the patterns, but take a minute to think about how you want the finished tag to look. If there's a particular stripe, color combination, or part of the design you want to feature, make sure you're positioning your paper accordingly. A little planning here will save you some disappointment later. Trust me.
Step 2: Apply a generous coat of Mod Podge to one side of your wooden blank. I used the matte finish for this project.
Place your paper onto the blank, printed side facing up, and gently smooth out any air bubbles.
Here's something I learned along the way: don't be stingy with the Mod Podge! I didn't use quite enough on my first attempt and had to go back and fix a few spots.
You want enough to get good adhesion across the entire surface, but not so much that you're completely saturating and tearing the paper.
It also helps to gently crease the paper around the edges of the wooden blank. This makes it easier to see exactly where your design will sit and helps everything stay aligned.
Step 3: Once your paper is in place, apply another generous coat of Mod Podge over the printed side, covering the entire area attached to the wood. Let it dry completely. I used my hair dryer on a low, warm setting to speed things along because patience has never been my strongest crafting skill.
Once dry, apply a second coat of Mod Podge and let that dry completely as well.
Step 4: Now it's time to clean up those edges!
Place your blank face down on a piece of scrap cardboard or a cutting mat. Using a sharp X-Acto knife, carefully cut along the edges of the wood, using the blank itself as your guide. Gently remove the excess paper until you're left with a nice, clean shape.
Don't forget the hole! Using your X-Acto knife, carefully pierce the paper through the existing hole from the front toward the back. This pushes any rough or torn paper toward the back of the tag rather than the pretty side. Work carefully and keep your fingers out of the blade's path.
You might notice that the freshly cut paper edges look a little fuzzy. Totally normal!
I went back with one more light coat of Mod Podge, paying special attention to the edges. I used my finger to gently smooth the paper down and bring a little Mod Podge over the sides.
This helps everything look a bit more finished and keeps those tiny paper fibers in place.
Step 5: Time to make these look a little less brand-new.
I used FolkArt Sugar Metallic Acrylic Paint in Quartz Fume to add some age and a subtle metallic sheen around the edges. Rather than using a brush, I tore off a small piece of paper towel, dipped its rough edge into the paint, and lightly stippled around the corners and sides of each tag.
You don't need to be particularly precise here. In fact, I think they look better when the finish is a little uneven.The paint gives them a soft, antique-looking shimmer without making everything too shiny or perfect. Let the paint dry before moving on.
Step 6: Now for my favorite part. Rhinestones! I started by laying out my rhinestones with a wax pickup pencil, experimenting with different arrangements until I found something I liked.
Once I was happy with the placement, I used tweezers and a tiny amount of super glue to attach each rhinestone individually. A little glue goes a long way, and super glue dries quickly, so you'll want to work carefully. I found it easiest to pick up each rhinestone with my tweezers, touch the back to a small amount of glue, and place it directly onto the tag. This is where each piece really starts to develop its own personality.
Step 7: Next, I added small textured jump rings around the holes.
If you have closed jump rings, I'd recommend using those. I couldn't find mine, so I used open jump rings and made sure the ends were pressed together as tightly and evenly as possible.
I secured each ring around the hole with a small amount of super glue.
It's such a tiny detail, but I love how it makes the tags feel a little more like actual ornaments.
Step 8: What's a Christmas craft without a little glitter?
To finish the edges, I used my finger to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge around the sides of each tag, bringing it just slightly onto the front. Then I sprinkled on a mixture of fine matte gold and silver glitter and tapped off the excess.
I mixed the two colors myself, and I really love the result. Gold alone can feel a little too warm, and silver alone a little too cool, but together they create this beautiful antique sparkle. I think mixing different glitter colors is such an easy way to create a finish that feels a little more unique.
Once the glitter dried, I stippled another light coat of Mod Podge directly over it to help seal everything in place. It does knock down the sparkle just a touch, but since I was using matte glitter anyway, I actually liked the effect. And more importantly, it helps keep glitter from shedding everywhere each time you pull these out at Christmas. Because as much as I love glitter, I don't necessarily need to find it in my carpet until Easter.
Step 9: Almost done!
I cut approximately 7 inches of my favorite golden twine for each tag. I found this particular twine from a specialty shop on Etsy, and it's one of those little supplies I find myself reaching for over and over.
Fold the twine in half to create a loop, thread the folded end through the jump ring, and pull the loose ends through the loop to secure it. Tie the loose ends together to create a hanger.
And that's it! Your very own vintage-inspired Christmas gift tags, ready for wrapping, hanging, and hopefully keeping for many Christmases to come.
Make Them Your Own!
There are so many ways to customize these little tags.
Write someone's name or a special message on the back. Cover the reverse side with another piece of patterned paper. Make them double-sided. Add a date so you can remember the Christmas they were made.
They're also a sweet finishing touch for homemade cookies, treats for neighbors, or a little holiday gift for a friend. Some are even large enough to write a short note on the back, almost like a miniature Christmas card.
And don't forget, The Paper Stash No. 001 also includes a sheet of nine vintage-inspired Christmas cutouts that I didn't use in this particular project. Those would be adorable layered over patterned paper or added to a painted wooden blank.
But what I love most is the possibility that these won't just be gift tags.
Maybe one becomes the tag you use on your daughter's Christmas present every year. Maybe one gets tucked away with the ornaments after the gifts have been opened. Maybe twenty years from now, someone is hanging it on their own Christmas tree and remembering the person who made it. Those are the kind of Christmas decoration I love most. Something a little quirky, a little worn, and full of memories.
So go make a mess, add a few rhinestones, and make something worth keeping!
You can download all the papers for this project completely free in The Paper Stash No. 001: The Christmas Junk Drawer.
And if you make your own, please tag me on Instagram @anothermessbyjess. I'd love to see what you create!
Happy crafting, and don't forget to clean up your mess. 😉
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