Hello Carrie This Home readers! My name is Jamie and today I’m visiting from my blog, anderson + grant. I’m so excited that Carrie invited me here to share a Christmas project with you.
I’ve found that when people know that you are a creative individual, they tend to give you strange items to make something out of. Today’s project was created from one of those “donations.”
My aunt had a bunch of Formica samples leftover from a recent kitchen remodeling project. Rather than throw them away, she decided there had to be something I could make out of them.
There are times that I have to really think about what an item can become, but as soon as I saw these thick plastic samples I knew they would make perfect Christmas gift tag ornaments. They are the perfect size and shape for tags and are heavy duty enough to be reused later on as an ornament for the Christmas tree.
I love making packages look special for the recipient. Doesn’t it make a gift feel more important when someone has taken the time to put a little extra effort in wrapping it? These tags add a little handmade touch and actually serve as an additional gift since they can be reused.
To make my gift tag ornaments, I painted the front of each sample with a creamy white color, and then traced a picture on each one using carbon paper. (The pattern appears in a link below). Then I painted on the pictures with acrylic craft paint.
Rather than painting the back of the tag, I cut out pieces of scrapbook paper, wrote TO and FROM with a white gel pen, and used Mod Podge to attach the paper to the back of the tag.
To finish off the gift tags, I coated the front of each one with a thin layer of Mod Podge and dusted on some iridescent glitter.
While you may not have a pile of Formica samples lying around (and no, I’m not condoning running over to Lowe’s and stocking up on them!), gift tags can be created out of just about anything. You can use shipping tags from the office supply store, thin cardboard, or even empty cereal boxes! And if you don’t enjoy painting, these tags can just be colored in with colored pencils or give them to your kids with a box of crayons!
If you’d like to make some of these tags for yourself this Christmas, click here for the pattern. I’ve included each of the four pictures as well as the fancy TO and FROM for your tags.
I hope that I’ve inspired you to be a little creative in creating gift tags for the gifts you’ll be giving this year. Thank you for letting me share with you! I’d love for you to visit my blog, anderson + grant, to see the other great projects, recipes, and decorating tips I’ve been sharing. Enjoy the rest of your week!
This post shared at: Thrifty Thursday, Inspire Me Please, Link Party Palooza, The Best DIY Projects and Recipes, Saturday Sharefest, Project Parade, Creative Spark, Work It Wednesday, Share Your Creativity, and Think and Make Thursday.
Such beautiful gift tags. I just had to feature them on Creative Spark Link Party this week. Hope you will stop by again today and link up! http://bit.ly/1yf1bP4
Love this ‘upcycle’ idea for Christmas gift tags. I also love the additional idea of using them again on the Christmas tree. I have used old Christmas cards for this purpose but these would have much longer life and durability. Very creative! Visiting via SITSShareFest.
Using Christmas cards is also a great idea! Maybe even using a Christmas card and a counter top sample together would make it really durable. Thanks so much for stopping by Barb!
Neat! I love it! You totally can’t tell they are swatches. I’m stopping by from SITS & I hope your having a great day!
I was really surprised when Jamie told me the tags were really counter top swatches. She did a fabulous job!
Cute idea! The last few years we have traveled at Christmas so I really haven’t done much of anything crafty, but this year we are home, so I’m kind of getting in craft mode! VIsiting from SITS today…have a great weekend!
I bet you’re really looking forward to a nice Christmas at home so you can spend time with family and craft!
You painted these by hand? Wow, that is amazing, they are really beautiful. I love ideas like this to save things form the bin.
I guess anyone not quite so artistic could glue scrap book paper on instead and get a similar result, or even just print out your lovely illustrations for a black and white version.
Jamie did a great job painting, didn’t she? I love your idea to glue scrapbook paper on instead of painting–you should try it!
Thanks for providing the artistry. If I’m not supposed to use that I’ll use stickers or something on tags. This is such a cute idea and recycling something people tend to throw away. Believe it or not I had these samples from when we lived in KY and we’ve been here for over 10 yrs. (here is west of Grand Junction,CO)
I Just happen to have a few of those little tags/samples so will be able to get started tomorrow on them. I’d say tonight but trying to finish one project before I start another, sometimes I’ll have 2 or 3 things going in different stages. Doggone it we were right there by Lowe’s today, could have gotten some more. Ah well maybe by time I use up what I have will have enough of them. (maybe) and I mean that. maybe.
I love these blog hops and all the outstanding ideas I’ve been getting. It’s ok if I make these to sell isn’t it? (please reply to email address).
I’d better get back to my project. Making little Christmas signs. Happy crafting and Happy Season
It’s funny how we hang on to those little counter top samples! I held on to mine for many years also! Have fun making your tags this weekend!
Wish I had saved those samples! These are darling. Such a great idea to reuse.
I know–I had tons of those samples years ago that I just threw away. At least we both know what we can do with them next time!
Super cute!
I have to agree with you there, Erin! Jamie did a great job making something beautiful out of objects most people would just throw away 🙂