YI’m not naturally skilled at every DIY project, and I’ve made my peace with that. Since 2007 you’ve kindly tolerated my limitations, and while I’ve surprised myself with a few successes (like a lamp or two), most crafting still isn’t my forte.
So when the talented Jamin and Ashley Mills of The Handmade Home invited me months ago to join a 10-blogger challenge to create something inspired by the art in one of their books, I double-checked the invitation to make sure it wasn’t a mistake. After a little procrastination and denial, I finally said yes. I wanted to be part of that creative circle—even if it felt intimidating.
Deciding what to make took forever. I procrastinated, panicked, and nearly froze. I’m not great at creating on demand, even though Jamin and Ashley were anything but demanding. While everyone else photographed finished projects, I was still scrolling Pinterest and nibbling Halloween candy, trying to choose one idea from so many possibilities.
I kept thinking about Ashley’s incredible DIY Mariners Compass she made from a random brass plate I sent her—an example of the craftsmanship I admire in this group. Ultimately I ruled out anything involving power tools, extensive steps, or projects that might cause permanent damage to my home. In the end I chose something simple and safe: gift tags.
They turned out adorable and were very easy to make—a huge relief. I found pre-cut wooden gift tags at Michael’s, which meant no cutting or heavy tools. I made a stack of handcrafted tags without a single paper cut or splinter. They’ll be lovely on gift boxes, jars, baskets, or even strung together as garland. I’m planning to use some on a small Christmas tree this year.
The art books from Jamin and Ashley are full of inspiring images and patterns. I photocopied pages from Art for the Contemporary Home onto regular printer paper, which worked perfectly for this project. There were so many prints I loved that I came up with additional project ideas, but those will have to wait for another day when I have more time.
This project is simple and perfect for anyone who’s a little DIY-averse. Here’s how I made them:
DIY PAPER-BACKED WOOD GIFT TAGS:
1. Pick up pre-cut wooden gift tags at a craft store—mine were at Michael’s near the Martha Stewart craft section.
2. Choose the pattern or image to use. I photocopied a page from Art for the Contemporary Home onto regular printer paper.
3. Use the wooden tags as a template and cut the paper to fit. You can cover both sides, mix images, or leave one side natural wood.
4. Adhere the paper with Mod Podge or a similar glue using a foam brush, and apply one or more coats over the top. For extra durability you can add a topcoat, but I skipped that for now.
5. Pierce the paper at the tag hole with a small hole punch to expose the hole.
6. Thread ribbon, twine, or string through the hole for hanging.
ENJOY! These tags are a quick, stylish craft that doesn’t require advanced skills or tools. I hope they inspire you to try a few of your own. The rest of the bloggers in the challenge created wonderful projects—definitely worth checking out for ideas.
Thanks to Jamin and Ashley for inviting me to participate in this creative challenge—you two are wonderful.