The holiday season is here, and with it comes the joy of connection, creativity, and crossing things off the ever-growing to-do list. What better way to combine all three than gathering with a few close friends or family members for coffee, conversation, and crafting? This past weekend, we dove into the festive spirit by creating DIY gift tags—a holiday essential that adds a personal touch to every gift. It was the perfect way to slow down, catch up, and sprinkle a little creativity into the season while tackling a task that’s often left for the last minute. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just love the idea of making something personal, this project is a joyful way to embrace the holiday spirit.
Gathering Supplies and Moments
The holidays can be a whirlwind of to-do lists and last-minute errands, but sometimes, the best memories come from the simplest moments. That’s exactly what this project was all about—coming together, sharing, and creating. When it came to supplies, we all “brought something to the table,” both literally and figuratively. Between the five of us, we pooled a wonderful variety of materials:
- Assorted sheets of watercolor paper
- Watercolor paints (cakes and tubes)
- Paint brushes
- Pencils and pens
- Q-tips
- Glue
- Decorative string
- Hole punch
- Table salt (for snow effects and a mottled watercolor finish)
- Holiday cookie cutters
- Ink pad and stamps
Of course, no crafting session is complete without snacks and sips! We had those essentials on hand as well: a hot pot of coffee, steaming tea, bagels with cream cheese, a mini charcuterie platter and plenty of conversation. For an added seasonal touch, we warmed a holiday fragrance simmer on the stovetop (recipe link is below). This wasn’t an exercise in perfection; it was a joyful time spent crafting simple, handmade love notes disguised as DIY gift tags. Your supplies don’t have to look like ours—use what you have on hand, and embrace the spirit of connection and creativity!
Fun and Simple Methods for Your DIY Gift Tags
Winter Berries with a Simple Q-Tip Technique:
One of the simplest and most enjoyable techniques we tried was using Q-tips to create beautiful, whimsical winter berries. It’s a fun way to add texture and color to your DIY gift tags, and the best part is that no two berries are alike! Start by dipping the end of a Q-tip into watercolor paint that has been wetted with a brush, then gently print the berry shapes on your watercolor paper. Experiment with varying amounts of water in the paint to create different berry tones—some light, some dark, and some with a perfect in-between hue.
You can then bring your berries to life by connecting them with a colored pencil or marker, forming a delicate swag of little branches. Or, if you’re feeling festive, tuck them between hand-painted holly leaves for a classic winter look. Another fun idea is to lightly trace a circle with a pencil, then place your Q-tip berries around the circle to create a wreath. The berries can be sparse for a light touch, or overlapped to create a fuller, more vibrant design. It’s a creative and joyful way to decorate your tags, and everyone will love the uniqueness of each little berry.
Create Festive Designs with Cookie Cutters:
Cookie cutters aren’t just for baking—they’re also perfect for creating whimsical shapes on your DIY gift tags. Start by lightly penciling around the edge of your cookie cutter—think candy canes, snowmen, or any festive shapes that catch your eye. Once your outline is in place, fill it in with watercolors. For a bit of fun, try painting directly onto the cookie cutter with strong watercolor paint and then stamping it onto your watercolor paper.
Once you have your shape stamped, use a wet brush to gently pull the watercolor paint into the interior of the outline, letting it blend and spread. This will give your design beautiful variation and depth. For added character, play with different water levels to make some areas darker and others lighter. If you’d like to create a bit of texture, sprinkle some table salt onto the wet paint—it will pull the color and create a lovely snow-swept effect, adding even more charm to your DIY gift tags. It’s a simple, creative technique that can be used again and again for fun, one-of-a-kind designs.
Adding Seasonal Charm with Ink Pads:
Holiday stamps are a fantastic way to add charm and personality to your DIY gift tags. There are so many festive stamps available, from snowflakes to ornaments to sweet little messages. For our project, we kept it simple with a tiny black stamp pad that we all shared, plus a few small stamps that fit perfectly on our tags. One of our favorites was a string of holiday lights—such a fun way to add a little sparkle to our creations!
After stamping the lights, we used a watercolor pen to draw in the string, giving it a colorful, painterly touch. To add extra texture, we glued a festive red and white string along the lights, giving them a three-dimensional pop. We also stamped “Merry Christmas” multiple times on the tags, creating a message that was as colorful as it was fun. Adding a splash of watercolor around the words brought everything together beautifully.
Stamps are a simple way to add a bit of whimsy and personality to your artwork, turning each gift tag into a unique creation. Whether you go for a playful design or a heartfelt message, these stamps can help you create a little holiday magic in every tag!
Sharing our DIY Gift Tags
Our afternoon of crafting wasn’t just about making DIY gift tags—it was about creating little love notes that would bring joy to the holiday season. Our afternoon was filled with joy, creativity and camaraderie! As we sat around sipping coffee, we shared ideas and laughter while crafting tags inspired by reindeer, snowmen, and holly berries. Each tag was a unique reflection of our personal touch, and the best part? The designs were simple enough that anyone can make them, regardless of whether you choose to stamp, freehand, or trace your creations. You can borrow inspiration from our designs or venture off on your own creative journey—the beauty of these tags is in their simplicity.
Creating Memories with DIY Gift Tags
As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of shopping and decorating, but taking a step back to craft something personal—like DIY gift tags—can remind us of what truly matters. These handmade tags are a simple, yet meaningful way to add a personal touch to every gift you give. Whether you stamp, paint, or trace your designs, the beauty lies in their simplicity and the joy they bring to the recipient.
What made our craft time even more special was the chance to connect with family and friends over coffee, laughter, and creativity. In a busy world, it’s these moments that make the holidays feel truly magical. So, gather your loved ones, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and take a few moments to make some DIY gift tags that will bring a little extra holiday cheer to your season. I’d love it if you’d share your creations!
You may also enjoy these other holiday DIYs:
