Tuesday 15 November 2016

Handmade Christmas Tags ~ Sew Your Own with Paper

How organised am I. It's only November and I've whipped up a few Christmas tags! They literally take minutes to make.

Make your own Christmas tags. All you need is a little card stock and a sewing machine. Tutorial at Threading My Way

Funny story behind these tags - I fully intended to make a card, joining in with the 12 Days of Christmas Challenges #4: Handmade Cards from Boxes. It always pays to thoroughly read instructions! I read the bit about supplies you find in your home, but the not the main part about using cereal (or other) boxes.

Not a problem - I still have a bunch of Christmas tags that utilise materials I had on hand. Nothing new bought!


I bought several packets of very thin card stock ages ago. Measuring 6" x 4", it's perfect for tags - the right price, colour, size and thickness.

  • Fold card stock in half.
  • Type and print the required words
  • Cut around the words
  • Sew rectangle of paper onto the front of the card.

I just held the paper in place as I sewed - no need to adhere it in any way to the card stock.

Precision is not necessary to make cute tags. If you look closely, you'll notice that some of my stitching is a little wonky and I just eyeballed cutting out the rectangles. It's the overall look that counts. 

I still have a few more to make. Think I'll change the text to red for the next lot.


I used a jeans needle, because that's what was in my machine. If not, I would have swapped to a quilting needle or another sharp point needle. You may need to experiment with needle types, depending on your sewing machine and the card stock weight. If it doesn't sound right, try a different needle.

Make sure you change the needle when you next sew with fabric, as the card stock will blunt the needle quickly.

For more details on sewing with card stock, check out my bunting card. There's lots of links to information on sewing cards with paper and card stock.


Thanks to Joy for commenting on my bunting card with the tip to use large stitches. I set my machine to 3.

Make your own Christmas tags. All you need is a little card stock and a sewing machine. Tutorial at Threading My Way

My Christmas tags were a bit of an experiment, and one that paid off. For next to no cost, and with very little effort, I've made a bunch of unique tags I'm very happy with.

I'll be adding my tags to the Gift Wrapping link party here at Threading My Way, and to Ho Ho Ho and on We Sew when it opens on 18th.

Have you ever experimented with sewing cards?

... Pam





I'd love you to share this post on social media!

13 comments:

  1. Great idea, I may even have some cards like that, somewhere! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  2. When I'm organized and think of it, I like to stitch up a little card with a scrap from the project I'm gifting :) Admittedly, I'm rarely that organized, but one can always hope ... :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have always preferred the simple look in cards. Often simple is more and these cards just prove it! :) They look great and are indeed faster to make than go and buy them. :D I have never tried sewing paper (except when practicing sewing in the beginning of primary school), have to remember that. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. You know, I've never done this but I may have to give it try since seeing yours has given me some ideas. I would try a zig-zag stitch and maybe add some accent shapes in felt...

    ReplyDelete
  5. All my sewing friends get the occasional fabric postcard utilizing my scrap basket and wonky sewing. It is faster to make a card than go buy one. I use basting stitches (longer) so it doesn't create a perforated look - unless this is the look you are going for - lol.
    You can mail your fabric postcards too! If it's under 1/4" in thickness, than you can treat as a letter plus a non-machinable charge. I find it costs me 89 cents to mail within the USA and about $2.36 for international.
    Another idea is to cut out some tree shapes, stack three together and sew (attach) a line from top to bottom. Then you can fold out the trees to create a more 3-D look.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would never have thought to stitch card but it looks really effective. I like the idea of not worrying about making them perfect either, it definitely adds to their charm to make these by eye.

    Thank you for sharing with me on #Trash2Treasure

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love them, did something similar with Alice in wonderland. Sewing on paper is fun but good tip about the needle

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love this idea for creating name place settings for the Christmas table.
    #HandmadeMonday

    Angela - Garden Tea Cakes and Me

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gift tags, mini cards, or as Angela has commented above, great place setting cards. Just a little bit cuter than just writing them. I'm now imagining a mix between this and your fabric gift tags, fabric stitched on the card front, then a printed message stitched on top.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very cute. I think they will give a nice finishing touch to any gift. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love this idea! Thank you for sharing with us at the To Grandma's house we go link party! Hope to see you tomorrow when the next party starts!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pam, I love this and I've featured it at A Tray of Bliss today. Thanks for sharing at Five Star Frou-Frou. Love, Mimi xxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very effective and give a professional look to your tages. #Trash2Treasure

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I love reading your comments and try to reply to all of them via email. If you don't receive an email reply from me, check back here.