You probably know I’m not a natural at every DIY project. I’ve accepted that—and you’ve humored me since 2007. Still, every now and then I try something new. I’ve even surprised myself by making a few lamps in the past, but for the most part elaborate crafting isn’t my specialty.
A few months ago Jamin and Ashley Mills of The Handmade Home invited me to join a 10-blogger challenge to create something using art from one of their books. I admit I double-checked the invitation—sure it was meant for me? Eventually I said yes, even though I felt out of my depth. I wanted to be part of that talented group and figured I’d give it a shot.
Choosing a project was harder than I expected. I put it off and procrastinated until the last minute, scrolling through ideas and feeling overwhelmed. The other bloggers had already completed and photographed their projects while I was still deciding. I wanted to try everything, but I also wanted to avoid complicated steps or anything involving power tools or a high risk of damage.
I admired Ashley’s incredible Mariners Compass made from a brass plate and other creative projects from the group, but I knew those were beyond my patience and skill level this time. After ruling out projects that required many steps, heavy tools, or the possibility of disaster, I settled on something simple and sweet: gift tags.
They turned out adorable and were easy to make—perfect for someone who prefers low-risk crafting. I found pre-cut sturdy wooden gift tags at Michaels, which was a relief since I didn’t have to cut or shape anything. The pre-cut pieces kept the project quick and clean, and I managed to avoid paper cuts and splinters.
These tags are lovely tied to presents, jars, or baskets, and I’m even planning to hang a few on a small mini tree for the holidays. The art book provided plenty of patterns and printable images to choose from, and I photocopied the pages onto regular paper so I could experiment without worrying about ruining the originals.
There were so many inspiring prints in the book that I came up with a handful of other projects, but those will wait for another day. For now, these paper-backed wood tags are a quick, satisfying craft you can finish in an afternoon.
These are simple enough for nearly anyone to make. Here’s how I made mine:
DIY PAPER-BACKED WOOD GIFT TAGS:
1. Buy pre-cut wooden gift tags at a craft store—mine were from Michaels, near the paper and Martha Stewart craft supplies.
2. Choose the pattern or image you want. I photocopied a page from Jamin and Ashley’s Art for the Contemporary Home onto regular printer paper so I could cut and use it freely.
3. Use a tag as a template and cut the paper to fit. You can cover both sides, use different designs on each side, or leave one side as raw wood for contrast.
4. Brush Mod Podge or a similar adhesive onto the wood, smooth the paper onto the tag, then apply one or more coats of Mod Podge over the top to seal it. For extra durability you can add a clear topcoat, but I skipped that step.
5. Use a small hole punch or carefully pierce the paper over the tag hole so the ribbon can pass through.
6. Thread ribbon, twine, or string through the hole and tie it on. That’s it—ready to use or gift!
Enjoy making these—simple, charming, and approachable even for the least experienced DIY-er. The art books offer lots of printable designs to try, so once you get comfortable, you can experiment with different papers and finishes for unique results.
Thank you, Jamin and Ashley, for inviting me to join the challenge. I had fun and learned a lot from the beautiful art in your book.