Turn beautiful greeting cards, whether they are from a holiday or just a note, into gift tags. Share the joy of the greeting card’s picture with others when creating homemade gift tags. Make a minimum of one gift tag from each greeting card. Greeting cards with multiple pictures or a large picture may be separated into individual areas to create numerous gift tags.
Things You’ll Need:
1 old greeting card
Scissors
1 sheet colored or white paper
1 sheet cardstock (optional)
1 large-eyed sewing needle
Embroidery floss or metallic thread
Instructions:
Step 1 – Look at the greeting card and determine what portion or portions of the picture you would like to use for the gift tag. For example, the greeting card has a picture of a Christmas tree on one side and a sleigh on the other. Both sections may be cut out to create two gift tags or cut the entire picture out to create one.
Step 2 – Cut around the predetermined area using a geometric or organic shape creating a 1/4-inch boarder around the outside edge that frames the area. A geometric shape are shapes such as a circle, square, rectangle, or triangle. An organic shape is one that is curvy and follows the shape of main picture.
Step 3 – Place the cutout shape on a piece of colored or white paper. Position the cutout shape so it is approximately 1/2-inch from the edge of the paper. Draw the same shape as the cutout approximately 1/4-inch from the cutout’s edge. Cut the same shape from the paper. Repeat Step 3 with the cutout piece of paper on the back of the greeting card only if you have enough room to complete the process. If not, place the cutout piece of paper on a sheet of cardstock and repeat Step 3.
Step 5 – Place the largest shape on a flat work surface – this will either be the shape cut from the back of the greeting card back or cardstock. Position and place the medium size paper cutout next and the design cut from the greeting card last. Move the pieces so the outline of the shapes are in the same location. The paper cutout and the greeting card back of cardstock acts like a matted frame to the picture.
Step 6 – Thread a large-eyed sewing needle with 36-inches of embroidery floss or metallic thread.
Step 7 – Hold the three layers together. Decide which area is the top of the gift tag. Sew the three layers together by inserting the needle just to the right of the top center of the main picture. Pierce through all three layers leaving a 6 to 8 inch tail of embroidery floss or metallic thread.
Step 8 – Flip the greeting card gift tag over. Insert the needle through the back of the card approximately ΒΌ-inch from the first piercing. Pull the thread through the greeting card until it is flush with the back of the greeting card.
Step 9 – Flip the gift tag so you are looking at the front. Cut the thread so both ends are between 6 to 8-inches long. Tie a bow with the two ends of thread. Cut the thread to leave the desired tail length. I recommend 1-to 2- inches. Use the remaining embroidery floss or metallic thread to sew more recycled greeting card gift tags.
Tips: Use scrapbooking scissors that cut different shapes around the edge of the three gift tag pieces. Squeeze a line of glitter paint around the edges for added sparkle.
